The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-26 00:00:00

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was
held yesterday at the Town-hall—Mr. Alderman Dover
presiding; and the other gentlemen present were
Messrs. Sheil, Haydock, Crosthwaite, Crellin, Nickson,
Stitt, Bowring, Steel, Beckwith, Avison, Job, Barton,
and Ridley.
The borough engineer, building surveyor, and
inspector of nuisances, reported various particulars of
the operatiOns in their several departments during the
week, from which it appeared that 184 nuisances com-
plained of by inhabitants, had been inspected, and
means taken to remedy them, and 1,387 houses in the
unhealthiest districts, containing 4,297 apartments, and
815 cellars, had been put under examination, with the
view of improving their sanitary condition.
The Medical 'Officer of Health reported a continuance
of the low rate of mortality which has prevailed sine
the spring of 1859. The deaths registered in the week
ending 20th inst. were 172 ' • while the average, without
correction of the same week of the preceding ten years,
was '209.--showing a difference of 37 in favour of last
week, and of 61 as comparedvith the corrected average,
In the parish the deaths were 124, and in the out-town-
ships, 48. Of 36 deaths caused by zymotic diseases (the
average being 76), 12 were from diarrhoea, 8 typhus, 5
scarlatina, 2 measles, 1 diphtheria. From diseases of
the lungs, the deaths were 59, nearly the average of the
season. During the quarter ending 29th September,
2,423 deaths were registered in Liverpool, including
212 sudden and violent deaths, and deaths in hospitals.
The mortality was lower than that of any previous,
quarter, and the actual number of deaths fewer than in
any previous one, with the exception of the June quarter
of 1850., The deaths were 748 less than the actual, and
1,002 less than the corrected average of the correspond-
ing period of the preceding ten years' 499 fewer than in
the same quarter of last year, 932 less than in that of
18.58, and 1,006 less than in 1857. The mortality

from diseases of the zymotic class was likewise lower
than in any corresponding quarter of former years.
The deaths were 528 ; the actual average (which in
this case differs little from the corrected one) being
1,186. There was a decrease in all the principal diseases
of this class excepting measles, which caused 84 deaths
against 16 in the same ,quarter of last year. From
typhus the deaths were 75—a smaller number than in.
any previous quarter, with two exceptions; from
scarlatina 32, (average 145,) dysentery 27, Cholera 7,
croup 19, diphtheria 11, pooping cough 11, (less than
in any previous quarter,) syphilis 15, thrush 6, scurvy
4, Carbuncle 2, purpura 1, quinsy 1. Not any death from
small pox was registered throughout the quarter, being
the only instance in,which this has been observed since the
Sanitary Act came into operation. The mortality from
bowel complaints was lower than in, any previous
summer quarter, diarrhoea having caused 222 deaths,
while the .smallest number ever previously registered
was 319 (in 1848). The deaths were less than one-half
of those in the summer of last year. This low mortality
from bowel complaints was undoubtedly due to the-
unusually low temperature of the season, which was
more than 11 degrees lower than any previously recorded,
nearly 5 degrees lower than last year, and 3-1 degrees
below the average of the same period of the preceding
ten years. Notwithstanding the low temperature the
deaths from diseases of the lungs, which- were 694,
although 16 more than last year, were about 20 less
than the corrected average. The mean temperature of
the quarter was about 571 degrees. Rain fell on fifty
days to the amount of 9.30 inches, a greater number of
days, with one exception, and a larger rain-fall, with two
exceptions, than in any previous corresponding quarter.
A memorial was read from the collectors of the rates,
requesting' that the preparation of the half year's
accounts might be dispensed with for the present, as it
would interfere with their collection at this time of the
year. The matter was referred to the General Purposes
Committee.
The report from the General Purposes Committee
stated that they had passed a resolution to the effect
that the thanks of that committee be presented to Mr.
Sheil, the chairman, for the admirable manner in which
he had discharged the duties of the office for the last
twelve months, and for the great trouble lie had taken
in gaining thorough information on all subjects coming
before the committee, and for the sound judgement he
had displayed in forwarding the. business of the com-
mittee.
The thanks of the whole committee were accorded to
Mr. Sheil.

THE CORNWALLIS-STREET OFFICES. '
The •following report was read from the sub-com-
mittee
That this committee cannot conclude the business of the
present municipal year without expressing their regret that
means are not taken by the council to Provide them with
proper accommodation for transacting the • business entrusted
to them, althotigh Parliament, more thou two years since, re-
cognised the necessity for same alter tion and sanctioned the
purchase of land for the erection of new buildings.
The present offices at Cornwallis-street have long been found
inadequate for the wo. k to be performed, and the evil becomes
daily more pressing from the increase of duty which is taking
place in every department located there, consequent on the
enlargement of the occupied area of the b wough.
The committee can only repeat the complaints, already
often stated; respecting the Inc nivenience to which the public
and themselves are now subjected. The committee are pre-
vented from exercising that supervision which could other-
wise be effected, and great vexation and loss of time are
caused by the servants of the corporation being called away
from their places of business, where the public properly expect
to find them, to attend committee meetings and other engage-
ments at the Town Hall.
The committee are of opinion that the public interests ren-
der it absolutely necessary that suitable accommodation should
without. further :delay be provided on the land purchased for