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Liverpool the annual rate of mortality from these diseases was last month equal to 5'1 per 1,000.

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The causes of 312 of the 12,976 deaths registered in the twenty-eight towns during the four weeks of June were not certified, either by medical practitioners or by coroThese uncertified deaths were equal to 2'4 per cent. of the total deaths, and corresponded with the rate in the preceding month. In London the proportion of uncertified deaths did not exceed 1.2 per cent., whereas in the twenty. seven provincial towns it averaged 34, and ranged from 09 and 10 in Brighton and Portsmouth, to 6'0 in Halifax, 6.3 in Sheffield, and 8.1 in Oldham.

Among the population living in the outer ring of suburban districts around London, estimated at rather more than a million persons, the annual death-rate during June from all causes was equal to 15.2 per 1,000, against 143 and 141 in the corresponding periods of 1882 and 1883. During the four weeks ending the 28th ult., 50 fatal cases of whooping-cough, 34 of measles, 22 of smallpox, 16 of scarlet fever, 16 of diphtheria, 14 of diarrhoea, and 8 of fever' were, recorded in the outer ring. These 160 deaths were equal to an annual rate of 19 per 1,000, which was slightly below the rate recorded in the preceding month. The fatality of whooping-cough, measles, and diphtheria showed a decline. Measles, however, showed fatal prevalence in Edmonton and Bromley. The 22 deaths from small-pox registered in the outer ring included 16 in West Ham district (of which 10 were of London residents recorded in the Metropolitan Asylum Hospital at Dartford, 4 in Edmonton, and 2 in Isleworth sub-districts.

SEWAGE AS AN EVANGELISING AGENT.-The Sanitary Engineer of New York is responsible for the following amusing mixture :—A reporter had to attend two meetings, one for the conversion of the Jews to Christianity, and the other, which followed immediately after, was on the subject of conversion of sewage into lime and cement. In the printer's hands the folios got mixed up, and the report read: The chairman, after the meeting had been opened with prayer, explained that the conversion of the Jews was one of the greatest works that could engage the attention of our sanitary authorities. Filtration was the most perfect method that could be adopted for purification, but a filter had its limits. There was a popular notion that the sewage contained a vast amount of wealth, but the sludge must be taken out of it for purposes of irrigation, as it otherwise choked the pores of the land, and they were a wandering race spread over the whole face of the habitable globe. They were denied the inimitable blessings of Christianity, which might be counted by thousands of tons per annum allowed to run to waste, when by a judicious admixture of lime and clay, the benighted Hebrews who sat in darkness might easily be converted into lime and cement for building purposes, and if thus deodorised, after being first dried and burned in a kiln, this ancient race would once more take its proud position among the nations of the world. Subscriptions were earnestly solicited for the purpose, though he (the speaker) disclaimed any idea of making a profit out of the process, and, in conclusion, he urged increased efforts in the good work, showing that, thus deodorised by a very novel process of evangelisation in large tanks constructed for the purpose, the grateful Hebrews might flow over the land without injury to vegetation, while the expense of conversion, which was progressing as rapidly as the best friends of Christianity could wish, would be more than repaid by the sale of the phosphate of lime and valuable cement for building purposes. In the last number of the Revue d'Anthropologie is a paper by M. Charpy on the xiphoid angle, which incidentally exemplifies the mischief done to the natural symmetry of the female figure by tight lacing and other vicious customs in the matter of dress. They more or less falsify all measures of the thorax taken after thirty years of 2ge, and reduce the angle in question from its normal 75° to 52° or even 45°.

SPECIAL REPORTS.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COAL GAS.

(BY OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER.) SINCE its first introduction, gas has year by year increased in consumption, notwithstanding that it has been more vilified than any other illuminant invented. True, it blackens our ceilings and is injurious. to our gildings and hangings; and the abominable smell constantly being sent forth from gasworks by the withdrawal of the lime used in the process of purification and highly charged with sulphuretted hydrogen, which permeates the atmosphere for a considerable distance, is decidedly injurious to health. What, then, is the cause of this constantly increasing consumption of gas, in spite of the disadvantages attendant upon its use. The reason is that it is found to be the simplest means of providing a brilliant light, as well as a heating agent, a great economiser of time and trouble, as compared with other illuminants. It is at all times ready when wanted-a trusty servant that never fails us. It is affirmed by experts that gas is even yet in its infancy. If a gas can be made without the disadvantage of polluting the air with sulphuretted hydrogen, and where the gas itself can be manufactured of a purer quality, the greatest objections to its use are at once removed, and corresponding advantages from a sanitary standpoint are all gas companies: it cannot be said within the reach of obtained. This desideratum is now within the reach of all gas consumers, as, unless manufacturers of gas will avail themselves of it, consumers cannot share in its benefits. It is in the purification of gas that the greatest objection on public grounds lies, when the purifiers are opened, and the lime charged with the objectionable chemical already mentioned is discharged into the atmosphere. If a change in this direction is to be effected an alteration in the mode of purification must take place. That lime has an important influence for this purpose is well known, but the question has arisen whether it has been made use of at the proper duced the wet lime process of purification, and, broadly stage of manufacture. It was in 1812 that Clegg intro. speaking, this is the system that has been in general use ever since; but of late years attempts have been made to introduce the lime at an earlier stage in the manufacture. But it has been reserved for Mr. W. J. Cooper to reduce improved process introduces the lime in the first part of the deductions into a practical form. The inventor of the the operation instead of in the last. No alteration of plant is required, no expense even of the most trivial character is necessary, and it is difficult to understand how any gas company, having even its own interests only in view, can hesitate to adopt the new plan when its advantages are properly set forth.

At the Tunbridge Wells Gas Works, which by the visiting, the Cooper system has been in use for the last ten courtesy of the directors I have had an opportunity of months, to the entire satisfaction of the engineer, Mr. Dougall, and the inhabitants of the town. The testimony and experience of Professor Wanklyn, and Mr. R. P. Spice, C.E., who have closely watched the making of gas at these works by the Cooper process, are strongly in its favour. Mr. Cooper uses limed' coal instead of 'pure' coal for his process. The limed coal is made by taking quicklime, slaking it, and then mixing it with the coal, the proportions recommended being 2 parts of quicklime to 100 parts of coal.

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of the old system. The advantages of using limed coal are, according to Professor Wanklyn (in which, however, it is only fair to say that Mr. Spice is perfectly in accord), as follows:-The coal yields a larger fraction of its nitrogen in the form of ammonia; it also yields a slightly larger fraction of its carbon in the form of the volatile compounds. It gives a very much smaller portion of its sulphur in volatile forms, and the non-volatile residuum, the coke, is found to be considerably improved in quality. In the distillation of the coal the lime forms, with the sulphur in it, sulphuret of calcium, which becomes so incorporated with the coke as to be quite inseparable from it, and when burnt this sulphuret of calcium, being in the presence of an excess of lime, remains in the ash, thus preventing the sulphur which it contains being given off in sulphurous acid, as is the case with coke made from coal only. Small as is the addition of lime to the coal and its after appearance in the coke, as above described, it has the effect of promoting combustion, as it acts as a conductor of oxygen, and causes the coke to burn more brightly and cheerfully-in fact, considerably better than ordinary gas-coke ever did or can burn. There has been no difficulty in selling this coke in the town, and the inhabitants speak highly of it. Having thus given the effect of the 'liming' on the coal, we find nothing different in the mode of manufacture until we reach the purifiers, the last process. Tunbridge Wells, for the size of the works, is remarkably well provided with purifiers, which has no doubt helped the engineer materially. In these purifiers, instead of the layer of oxide of iron and of lime, we find oxide of iron only in use, and these purifiers have not been opened for the purpose of revivifying or changing the material for nine months, and Mr. Dougall, the engineer, is of opinion that they may run another six months without requiring to be disturbed. A revivifying process is constantly in operation consisting of the admission of a little fresh air to the purifiers. By this means the process of revivification of the oxide of iron goes on simultaneously with that of purification, oxygen being taken up from the air, and admitted, and sulphur deposited in the free state in the material.' Consequently, as Mr. Spice observes, the manufacture of gas is carried on entirely in closed vessels, with the comfort of knowing that if the lime process is adopted generally the olfactory nerves will never more be disgusted with the smell of sulphuretted hydrogen, or health injured by its inhalation, for it is one of the most important features in this arrangement that noxious gas is not given off by the purifiers. As to the quality of the gas, I have already said that one of the advantages of the limed Cooper system is that it yields avery much smaller fraction of sulphur in volatile form. It is well known that sulphur exists in crude gas principally in the form of sulphuretted hydrogen; but partly, also, of other volatile sulphur compounds. The present regulations in London permit of 17 grains per 100 cubic feet in summer and 22 grains in winter. In the provinces the sulphur compounds rise in some instances to 40 and even to 60 grains.' At Tunbridge Wells the amount of sulphur compounds in the gas has been as low as 3; but the average may be taken at about 12 all the year round. It must, however, be remembered, that this process is in its early infancy; and, in the opinion of the experts who have experimented with it, it is possible to reduce this product to nil with a little extra care. In fact, in one experiment made in the laboratory by the inventor, and related by Professor Wanklyn in a paper read by him before the Society of Chemical Industry, Manchester Section, Jan. 8, 1884, the absence of sulphur compounds was so marked that he recognised the gas as being fragrant rather than fœtid; thus it appears that, by the limed coal mode of manufac ture, it is possible to produce a perfectly pure gas, which, of course, obviates all objection to gas. Three important conditions in which the public are interested are fulfilled by the introduction of the limed coal process.

The air in the neighbourhood of gas-works is rendered pure by the non-evaporation of sulphuretted hydrogen, and the public health thus benefited. The gas rendered comparatively pure, and, probably, before long, absolutely pure, is free from the objections hitherto urged against it, while the advantages gained by the production of the improved coke are scarcely less than the others stated. A prospect of preventing the production of smoke without interfering with the susceptibilities of those who like their open fires, is opened up by placing within their reach a fuel that is not subject to any of the objections to ordinary coke, and is withal smokeless. Had the late Dr. Siemens seen this coke he would have been delighted to find one of his most cherished notions so soon brought to a state of realisation. In looking at the commercial aspect of this invention, although it has no right to be weighed against public benefit, it is satisfactory to find that its adoption is beneficial to gas companies by the increased quantity of the products given off. There is a decided increase in the quantity of ammoniacal liquor, but this has varied at different gasworks where tests have been made, and, in Professor Wanklyn's opinion, the arrangements for the collection and storage of the gas liquor in most gasworks, particularly the old ones, is very inadequate. Experiments made in the laboratory with limed and unlimed coal have shown that the former is capable of more than doubling the yield of ammonia ; and the authority last quoted is of opinion that even on a large scale in gasworks similar results will soon be obtained, but at present the highest quantity realised has been about 9 lbs. per ton of coal, which is half as much more than the yield from unlimed coal. The increase in the quantity of tar at Tunbridge Wells has amounted to only two-tenths of a gallon per ton of coal, but on a large quantity of coal carbonised this gain would amount to a considerable item annually. The opponents of the process have urged that less gas can be obtained from the limed coal, but Mr. R. P. Spice has, I think, effectively proved that this is not the case, for in a special test made with 200 tons of limed coal and the same quantity of unlimed, 10 feet more gas was actually made, so the quantities made by either process may be put on a par, and the illuminating power of the limed coal gas is so very near to the other as, for all lighting purposes, to be practically the same. It is in reality some o.14 in candle power less, its average light being 15.63 against 15.77 of the unlimed coal. This difference is too minute to be appreciable by consumers. This invention is very important from a sanitary point of view, and I know that many of your readers have the power in their hands to facilitate its adoption. Thoroughly convinced of the value of the system, Mr. Dougall at Tunbridge Wells will readily show every detail of the process. Although the limed process is applicable to every condition of gas making, I consider it of great value to those who manufacture it on a small scale, such as owners of mansions, factories, &c., the relief gained through not having to open the purifiers and discharge the highly-charged lime, and the absence of smell being great recommendations. A company has been formed to let the right for using Mr. Cooper's patents by royalty, named 'The Coal Distillation Company (Cooper's patents), Limited,' 18 Finsbury Circus, E.C., from whom all particulars can be obtained. undertaking is being watched with interest by many, and it would be well if all authorities who are connected with the department of public health would inquire into the working of the Cooper process, with a view to obtaining its adoption in the districts in which they carry on their labours.

This

THE Conseil d'Hygiène et de Salubrité de la Seine has elected MM. Brouardel, Hardy, and Bezançon as their representatives at the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, which will be held at the Hague on August 17 and 31.

COTTON SIZING IN ITS INFLUENCE ON HEALTH.

THE report of the commissioners, Messrs. J. H. Bridges and E. H. Osborn, who were appointed by the Home Department to inquire into the effects of heavy sizing in cotton weaving upon the health of the operatives employed has now been issued. The starting-point of the investigation, which was the outcome of a memorial presented by the Trade Union Congress, complaining of the injury inflicted on the workpeople by over-sizing and by the introduction of steam into the weaving sheds, was the report of Dr. Buchanan, who made an investigation into the subject as far back as 1872. Since that date many and marked changes have taken place. The practice of artificial sizing has steadily increased, and the demand for articles so prepared is much more extensive than formerly, while the quality of the size has changed not less than its quantity. The use of china clay, which, in the period described by Dr. Buchanan, entered into the composition of the size to the extent of 33 to 37 per cent., has very largely increased of late years. It is obvious, then, that had the amount of dust in the sheds been increased in proportion, the atmosphere would have been incompatible with respiration. This result has, however, not followed, since the manufacturers, though not, perhaps, on the ground of health, have taken extreme pains so to prepare the size that as little as possible of it shall be lost in the weaving. This object has been obtained by the addition of substances possessing an affinity for moisture by special processes of preparation. By rendering the atmosphere of the weaving shed artificially moist, the fibres of the warp are enabled to retain their weight of clay, with no greater loss by dust than was observed in the primitive days of clay sizing. With but two exceptions, dust was a notable feature in most of the weaving sheds. In one there was no occasion for heavy sizing, and in the other, where the proportion of size was very great, there was, however, but little dust. This was effected by the adoption of special modes of preparing and putting on the size, and it must therefore be admitted that the problem of weaving heavily-sized material without diffusion of dust is a soluble problem, and one indeed, where special skill has been used, that has actually been solved. An examination of the air, with reference to moisture, showed that the average amount of moisture in the weaving sheds was 5.38 grains per cubic foot, and the average percentage of saturation 76, a distinct increase as compared with the average moisture recorded in 1872, which was 45 grains. The excess over the moisture in the atmosphere outside was, in Dr. Buchanan's observations, 12 grains, while in the present instance it represented 2.38. This points unquestionably to an extension in the means adopted for damping the atmosphere of weaving sheds, which has tended to create a climate of a somewhat tropical and relaxing kind. In a series of observations made in 1873 of the air in the spinning-rooms of cotton factories, it was found that the average percentage of saturation in a large number of instances did not exceed 43, a state of things contrasting very forcibly with the percentage of 76 found in the sheds during the present inquiry. It was frequently stated by the workpeople that their clothing never felt really dry even in the morning until after it had been washed; and to meet this difficulty it is suggested that the outer clothing worn by the operatives should be hung outside the weaving shed, so as to be free from dust and moisture during the hours of work. Particular reference is made in the report to the very imperfect ventilation of the workshops, and of great need that exists for improvement in this direction. The satisfactory ventilation of these large spaces can be no easy matter, but the commissioners lay stress upon the fact that with exceedingly few exceptions no adequate attempt to solve the problem has been made.

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As regards the injury inflicted upon the operatives, inquiry was made of twenty-seven persons selected at random

by the commissioners, and of twenty-nine brought before them by the Weavers Association. The evidence, as might be expected, differed considerably. Out of the first group seventeen made no complaint, but five had known of others who had suffered from the damp or from dust, though they themselves had not been affected. The remaining ten stated that they had suffered more or less from the damp, principally in the form of bronchitis, rheumatism, and neuralgia. The more prominent symptoms of the twenty-nine persons brought forward by the Association were dyspepsia, nausea, vertigo, rheumatism, and bronchitis; and, as far as the nature of the inquiry permitted a judgment, it would seem probable that the state of illhealth had been-if not caused, yet at least considerably aggravated by the conditions of their work. The report goes on to say: 'It seems to be evident that these conditions are not such as to prevent that large proportion of workpeople whose constitutions are naturally vigorous from following their calling without serious inconvenience. But there remains the proportion, also very considerable, who have a constitutional tendency to one form or other of rheumatic, phthisical, or dyspeptic ailment. Such tendencies cannot fail to be intensified by working continuously in an ill-ventilated atmosphere, whether pervaded by mineral dust or rendered artificially damp. In summarising the results of their investigation, the commissioners recommend-(a) that the processes by which very large quantities of size can be incorporated with the warp without necessitating the diffusion either of dust or of moisture should become generally known and applied; and (b) that the sheds should be thoroughly and effectually ventilated. They are convinced that if this last object be realised, complaints of injury from dust and steam would shrink to insignificant proportions.

PROFIT IN STREET REFUSE.

AN AMERICAN DESTRUCtor.

To turn street sweepings and house refuse of all sorts into money is the object of a strange machine now ready for work at the Jackson Street (East River) wharf, New York, of the Street Cleaning Department. Of course the conversion is not direct. Rags, old iron, broken glass, bones, cinders, and coal, are the media of change. The machine, according to the Metal Worker, is simply a vast rag and bone picker of many Italian-power, working by steam. The idea is a new one. Less than twelve months ago the machine was erected by a stock company on the Jackson Street wharf. Most of the intervening time has been given up to experiment, but now, it is said, the machine is perfected, and will sift and reduce to its elements all the refuse of whatever description that may be brought to it, to the extent of 150 loads of 1,800 lbs. each in a day of ten hours. The average amount of stuff brought to this wharf is estimated at 40 loads per diem, so that the sifter cannot be worked to anything like its full capacity. Out of 100 loads of ordinary refuse thrown into the sifter, it is claimed, only about 30 loads remain to be sent down the bays in the scows, the rest heing utilised in one way or another.

The sifting-machine occupies a space about 40 feet long by 10 feet wide, covered with a shed on the end of the wharf. This shed is approached from the street end by an inclined plane which reaches nearly to its roof. The ash and garbage carts drive up this plane to a shute, through which they discharge their contents into the sifter within the shed. The matter falls on a tray, which has a resemblance to an old-fashioned Venetian blind extended horizontally. The weathers are so arranged that only narrow slits remain between them, through which nothing but fine dust can find its way. This tray is called the 'oscillator.' It moves to and fro in the direction of its length 250 times a minute, and, as it rocks, the stuff that has been thrown on it is distributed automatically along its entire length, which is about 10 feet. Two or three Italians stand alongside, and pick all the rags and scraps

of paper out of the mass. These are spread out near by to dry. All the fine dust falls through the slits in the oscillator into a narrow trough called the conveyor,' which will be further described presently. The solid residuum on the tray of the oscillator - the dust and the rags having been removed-is passed automatically into a vat of water called a 'washer.' The passage of a load of refuse through the oscillator takes about four minutes. In the washer the solid mass that comes from the oscillator is rapidly stirred up. All the straw, fragments of leather, vegetable refuse, and other light material rises to the surface, whence it is removed by Italians to a cremating furnace, and reduced to fine ashes. The coal, cinder, iron, glass, and other heavy objects fall to the bottom of the washer. They are passed through a second vat to cleanse them thoroughly, and from this they emerge strewn on a broad rubber, which moves slowly over rollers. Italians stand on each side. They pick out the bones, pieces of iron, and glass, and stones. The belt discharges the coal and cinder, which remain in a heap. The fine dust which falls from the oscillator is kept in constant motion through the trough of the conveyor by means of a ribbon of metal twisted spirally about a shaft rotating lengthwise in the trough. The dust is taken up by automatic elevating buckets from the end of the conveyor, and by them discharged into the scow. The contrivance is said to be of advantage both to the city and to the stockholders, since, instead of 150 loads of stuff only 30 have to be transported. The stuff left is so clean and healthy that it can be used for any purpose. All the garbage is burnt, and only fine, dry dust put on board the scows. The rags fetch about 20 dollars a ton; the old iron 40 cents. per 100 lbs. ; broken glass is worth 30 cents. per 100 lbs. ; bones are more valuable. Out of every load of 1,800 lbs. about 400 lbs. of coal and cinder are got, which is all the fuel needed to keep the machinery going.

REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.

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'Something attempted, something done.' BERKSHIRE COMBINED.-Dr. Woodforde evidently devoted a large amount of attention during 1882 to the question of water-supply in this district, and he could scarcely have turned his energies to a better channel. was hardly to be expected that the high standard of health which was reached in 1881 would be maintained. Nevertheless the statistics cannot be considered by any means unsatisfactory. The rates for deaths and births per 1,000 population were relatively 16 and 31. In Bradfield the rate of mortality was only 13.8; in Wallingford Urban it was 249. The births in the Rural Division of Newbury amounted to but 26.7 per 1,000 living; in the Urban Division of this district they amounted to 34'5 per 1,000. Something over 13 per cent. of the total deaths, or 2.1 per 1,000, were registered from the principal zymotic diseases. The zymotic death-rate was lowest in Bradfield, where it was 4, and in Easthampstead Rural and Abingdon Urban it was only 17, but in Newbury Urban it was as high as 4'2. The most fatal of the disorders of this class in the district last referred to, as also in Hungerford, was scarlatina. Diphtheria was accountable for the heaviest deathroll in Newbury Rural, whooping-cough in Wallingford Rural and Maidenhead Urban, and measles in Windsor. The infantile mortality was at the rate of 98 deaths to every 1,000 births, while 32'9 per cent. of the deaths at all ages occurred in children under 5.

BETHNAL GREEN (ST. MATTHEW). It is much to be regretted that the Vestry of this parish did not adopt the excellent recommendation of Dr. Bate that there should be a house-to-house inspection of the whole district during 1882. As the medical officer very properly puts it, such an inspection is urgently required to ascertain the condi

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tion of the drainage and water-supply arrangements,' and until it is carried out a large number of serious sanitary defects will doubtless continue to exist. Another matter for regret in Dr. Bate's report is that he has still to include a disinfector among the sanitary requirements of the parish, and we heartily join with him in expressing a hope that the Vestry will shortly see its way to provide this very necessary apparatus.' The general health of the parish did not show much variation with that of the previous twelve months; indeed, the birth- and death-rates were practically the same as in that period, being respectively 41 and 24.1 per 1,000 population. There was a diminution in the zymotic death-rate, which, per 1,000 living, was 4'4, against 5.2, but an increase in the infantile mortality, which, per 1,000 births registered, was 1647, against 153.5. With regard to the zymotic mortality, the deaths from small-pox, measles, and, to a less degree, diarrhoea and enteric fever, were fewer than in the previous year, but those from scarlet fever and whoopingcough were in excess of the numbers recorded for 1881. Of the 555 deaths referred to the principal zymotic diseases, scarlet fever and whooping-cough together accounted for 361 deaths. In respect of the infantile mor tality, 27.3 per cent. of the deaths from all causes were those of children not twelve months old, and more than 50 per cent. those of children who had not attained their fifth year. Dr. Bate fortunately regards his duty of reporting to be not limited to a mere dry elucidation of the health statistics of the year. He discusses with much pains a variety of matters affecting the general sanitary welfare of the metropolis, and gives especially a very remarkable account of the present state of the disused burial-grounds of the parish.

BIRKENHEAD. .-The ordinary sanitary operations,' Mr. Vacher states, 'received unremitting attention' during 1882. The medical officer refers to the fact that the department is not provided with a night inspector, and it is certainly desirable that such an addition should be made to the staff. The vital statistics, though they did not reach the high standard of the previous year, were more favourable than usual. The birth- and death-rates were respectively 36.45 and 2011; per 1,000. From all the zymotic diseases the rate of mortality was 3.68 per 1,000, and from the principal members of the group 2.9. Whooping-cough, of this class, accounted for the largest number of deaths. 'Fevers' also were attended with more than ordinary fatality. The deaths from diarrhoea were in excess of those for 1881, but within the average. Scarlatina and diphtheria were prevalent throughout the year, and measles particularly so in October and November, but the mortality from these diseases was lower, not only than the average of the previous quinquennium, but even than in 'the typi cally healthy year 1881.' A large amount of interest always attaches to infantile mortality. In this borough during 1882 the deaths of infants under one year were in the proportion of 144 to every 1,000 births, while 42 per cent. of the total mortality occurred in children not five years old. Mr. Vacher speaks in the highest terms of the usefulness of the compulsory notification of infectious diseases, which is in force in the borough.

BIRMINGHAM.-Sanitary work was carried on energetically in this borough during 1882, but Dr. Hill is not yet able to report an improvement in the condition of the street surfaces, and has again to urge the necessity of a more complete system of scavenging. The want of a Public Abattoir is still felt, and seeing that such an institution, apart from its desirability from a sanitary point of view, would, judging from the experience of other towns, return a very fair profit, it is somewhat surprising that the want has not been supplied long since. The general death-rate, 20.6 per 1,000, was slightly in excess of that for the two preceding years, but, with these exceptions, was the lowest on record. A greater number of cases of small-pox were reported than in any year since 1875. In the year under notice, it was fatal in 17 cases only, com

pared with 174 in 1875, and a decennial average of 125. The decrease in the fatality of the disease was no doubt due, in a very great measure, to the large extent to which the inhabitants of the borough avail themselves of vaccination. Scarlet fever caused 256 deaths, against an average of 403. Compared with the fatality of previous years, when the disease was particularly prevalent, the deaths in 1882 showed a marked diminution. Thus, during the epidemic of 1878, 995 deaths were registered, and during that of 1873-74, 1,324. It cannot be denied that the Borough Hospital has been largely instrumental in bringing about this very appreciable reduction in the number of fatal cases. Measles was more than ordinarily destructive, but diphtheria had not been so mild in any previous year. The death-rate from fever, o'21 per 1,000, though slightly above that for the preceding year, and showing no reduction upon that for 1880, was, with these exceptions, the lowest recorded since 1870. Diarrhoea contributed a larger number of deaths than in 1881-534 out of a total of 1,711 from all diseases of its class-but fewer than the decennial average. Of the total mortality, 20.3 per cent. was referable to zymotic diseases. The deaths among infants were at the rate of 165 to every 1,000 births, and nearly half the total mortality-47.2 per cent.-occurred in children under five. The birth-rate was 36.39 per 1,000. The sanitary work of the borough continues to be energetically pushed forward.

LOUTH UNION.-It is obviously most essential that the sanitary arrangements of any seaside resort should be satisfactory, and the officials of this district have done well in devoting a portion of their attention during 1883 to the town of Mabelthorpe. Improvements were effected in the drainage system, though there still remain several defects to be remedied, and, in addition, a thorough examination was made of the water supply, the result of which was apparently satisfactory, since, in the opinion of the medical officer, the salubrity of the locality 'is in no way impaired by the condition of the water supply.' The death-rate for the year was 15, and the birth-rate 26.7 per 1,000 of population. The rate of mortality from zymotic diseases was 1.28 per 1,000, which was higher than it had been for three years. The increase was due to an excessive fatality from scarlatina. The severity of the disease may be gauged from the fact that of the 30 deaths registered to zymotic diseases 16 were ascribed to scarlatina. Dr. Domenichetti attributes more than one outbreak to Great Grimsby, and, to judge from his report, the laxity of the authority of this town in the removal and isolation of patients from infectious diseases is deserving of censure. On two occasions, Dr. Domenichetti had to resort to the closing of a school, but, nevertheless, he records his opinion that it is inadvisable to close a school whenever a disease of an infectious nature makes its appearance, and, in proof of his contention, states that, in one village, although scarlatina prevailed extensively, the principle of excluding infected families was carried out with such beneficial results that only one death occurred during the epidemic. The infantile mortality was at the rate of 3'54 deaths to every 1,000 population.

MARTLEY UNION.-The year 1883 was the tenth anniversary of the appointment of health officers in this district, and Mr. Hyde has taken advantage of the circumstance to review the sanitary work accomplished during that period and its results as shown by vital statistics. To this retrospect we have already referred on page 553 in the present volume. With regard to the year 1883 itself there is but little to remark. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature in the year's history was the increase in the number of deaths from lung diseases among infants and aged persons. As a consequence, the death-rate-15.90 per 1,000-though still low, was higher than in any of the three preceding years.

MILE END OLD TOWN.-A large amount of useful sanitary work was done in this district during 1882-83, though there is nothing to refer to specially. At a time

when the housing of the poor is occupying such a large share of public attention, it may not be uninteresting to record Dr. Corner's opinion that the Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act (1868) has proved most successful in his district.' In the period under consideration the medical officer reported upon seven houses under this Act. The vital statistics cannot be regarded in an unfavourable light. The deaths, which occurred at the rate of 20.87 per 1,000 population, showed a decrease of 69 compared with the average of the five previous years, and this notwithstanding that there has been a large increase in the population. The infantile mortality, amounting to 28 per cent. of the total deaths, was, it must be admitted, excessive; but this heavy proportion is somewhat discounted when it is considered that the birth-rate was as high as 38.6 per 1,000. Scarlet fever was the most fatal of the chief zymotic diseases, the death-rate from which was 3.23 per 1,000, or, exclusive of diarrhoea, 2.68.

MONMOUTH, RURAL.-The fact that every part of this district was visited during the year by the medical officer, Dr. Willis, and the inspector is of itself a sufficient proof that sanitary matters were by no means neglected in 1883. Two incidents in the year's history are especially worthy of notice. One was a peculiar outbreak of bastard or German measles, which occurred at Lydbrook towards the end of December. As many as 200 children were suffering at one time with this complaint. There is little doubt that the infection was spread by the attendance at the Church School of children from the Ross Rural District, who were sickening with the malady, which was of such an infectious nature that in an extremely short space of time every child in that portion of Lydbrook which is within the Monmouth Rural District had contracted the complaint. Fortunately the disease was of an exceptionally mild type, and the greater number of the patients were confined to their beds for one day only. The second incident was the almost simultaneous sickening and death of three children of a certain family residing in West Dean. The nature of the illness was very obscure; apparently the cases were dysenteric; the children were all imbecile; and on investigation the conclusion arrived at was that they had possibly eaten some poisonous plants in the woods which they frequented. The general death-rate for the year was 17.05. The most noticeable feature with regard to zymotic diseases was the prevalence of scarlet fever and whooping-cough, particularly of the former, which was widespread throughout the district during the year.

NEWINGTON. Sanitary improvements were steadily carried on in this parish during 1882, but no work was accomplished of sufficient magnitude to warrant special reference to it in these pages. Taken as a whole, the vital statistics did not compare favourably with those of Dr. Iliff has to record the greatest previous years. number of deaths hitherto registered in a single yearviz. 2,704—which were equivalent to a rate of 24 80 per 1,000 population. The increase in the mortality was occurring in children under five years of age. In 716 of especially noticeable the among young, 1,333 deaths these cases death intervened before the completion of the first year. Zymotic diseases were fatal in 626 instances, 117 of which were referable to measles and 240 to whooping cough, both these disorders being exceptionally prevalent. There is nothing to mention with regard to the remaining zymotic diseases, unless it be that there was a considerable diminution in the mortality from diarrhoea. An outbreak of measles of an extremely malignant type occurred in the Newington Infirmary in May. The deaths in this institutions during the year (467 in all) showed, however, a decrease upon the numbers recorded in recent reports. On the other hand, the mortality among the outdoor poor was in excess of that of the two preceding years. As far as this individual class was concerned, small-pox, erysipelas, and insanity were on the decrease, but measles and whooping-cough on the in

crease.

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