Tokyo, Jan. 15.
Production of silk cocoons in 1987 totalled 85,970,943 kan (one kan equalling 3.75 kilograms) valued at Y.419,600,875, an increase of 3,078,750 kan worth Y.32,960,083 over the previous year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced Music Mistress Dies From Burns When Slip Catches Suggestions about the guarding of electric fires were made by Mr. Charles Webb, the Brighton coroner on Dec. 17, states the "Evening Standard."
He recorded a verdict of Death by Misadventure on Miss Gertrude Margery Cunningham, aged 45, music mistress at Roedean, who died after her clothing caught fire in her home in Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, on Dec. 15.
Miss Cunningham was a pianist and had frequently broadcast. She was found dead on her bedroom floor by Mrs. Maud Button, the occupant of a flat in the same building.
"I tried to push open the door, but could open it only a little way," said Mrs. Button at the inquest. "I noticed that the electric light was still switched on and an electric fire was still burning Miss Cunningham was lying just inside the door."
Dr. Ernest Miskin said that death had taken place several hours before. Tt looked as if when Miss Cunningham's clothes caught alight she tried to smother the flames and ran to the door:
Dr. L. R. Janes, pathologist at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, said that death took place from shock and partial asphyxia following severe burns.
Chief Officer Charles Birch, of the Brighton Fire Brigade, said it appeared that as Miss Cunningham got up from the chair at her writing desk her silk slip Brushed against the electric fire and caught alight.
Mr. Webb, recording his verdict, said, "It is perfectly clear that under normal circumstances electric fires are not dangerous, "Some kind of protectión is always fitted, but strands of wire like those fitted in this case, which may protect the elements from danger and give some protection agaitist people passing by are not sufficient protection if a person happens to stand even for a moment or two quite clóse to the fire in clothing of an inflammable nature.
"I have no doubt that manufacturers will consider whether in the case of these small fires it would not be better to have proper basket guards fitted."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.