The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-18 00:00:00

DRURY.LANE.

This Errata°, M CKITII. Mesas. Batty Sullivan.
11341,..r. M•lntyre, Barrett, J. Johnstone, Ae. Mesdames Her-
man Vern, B. lama. and A. l'uuk.—.tud THE MILLEII AND
ills Sir. K Phelps; SIB, &nth Stuart.

HAYMARKIT.
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raninaora
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MAIM
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LONDON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18.

WHAT are the results which have hitherto been
gained in various parts of England by works and
regulations designed to promote the public health ?
This question forms the subject of an article by
Dr. BUCHANAN in the Ninth Report of the Medical
Officer of the Privy Council. It is now upwards
of twenty years since attention was really first
directed with energy to the grave need for
reform in sanitary matters. Since that time
doctors and philanthropists have waged an in-
cessant war upon the indolent, the incredulous,
and those still more numerous and sturdy oppo-
nents of improvement, the practical men, who
" want none of your science, sir." It was rea-
sonable, therefore, that an inquiry should be made
at the present time into some of the results of the
numerous works which bear witness in town after
town to the efficacy of the steady pressure so
long kept up. Dr. BUCHANAN has done this, and
his report is calculated, we think, to surprise even
the most sanguine of those who predicted great
things from sanitary reform.
Twenty-five towns have been visited. These
were not chosen, be it remarked, for any pre-
viously ascertained improvement in health, but
because they were places where structural sanitary
works had been most thoroughly done, and had
been longest in operation. They contain an aggre-
gate population of 606,186 persons, and range in
size from small places of 3,000 or 4,000 inhabi-
tants up to one which had 160,714 inhabitants at
the last census. It is somewhat paradoxical, per-
haps, and not wholly satisfactory, that the varia-
tions in public health have to be judged by the re-
turns of deaths. This, however, chances to be the
only practicable method, for we have no registra-
tion of sickness in England. It is, then, by a com-
parison of the number of deaths that improvement
or the reverse in the health of towns is estimated.
The earlier death-rate represents a time when
sanitary reform was not ; the later rate refers to
the last few years when works of utility have for
the most part been in action for a considerable
time. Before referring to these comparative rates
it is well to note the nature of the sanitary ope-
rations which have been carried out. These have
usually consisted of some or all of the following :
Drainage works affecting surface, subsoil, or
houses. Improvements in water supply, amend-
ing or extending previous sources or adding new
ones. Measures designed for the removal of de-
composing organic matters, or for preventing
contamination of air and water thereby, and
more or less completely fulfilling these objects.
These measures were usually either the substitu-
tion of a water-closet system for cesspools and
middens, or the draining and improvement of
middens. Improved paving, scavenging, and
public cleanliness. Lastly, amendment in the
lodgment of the inhabitants, the regulation of
common lodging-houses, and the repression of over-
crowding.

Of the twenty-five towns visited and reported
upon no leas than nineteen show a reduction on
the earlier death-rate ; four are probably sta•
tionary ; two only show an increase. In several
of these towns the cholera of 1849 played great
havoc. This was before the present works were
constructed, or at least completed. If we include
the mortality from cholera in the earlier death-
rate the amount of reduction is of course much
increased, but even if this item be omitted the
decrease is still very remarkable. In Cardiff and
Newport, for instance, this reduction is no less
than 32 per cent., or, omitting cholera, 24 per
cent. Croydon, Macclesfield, and Salisbury show
a decrease of 20 per cent. Merthyr, Brynmawr?,
Ely, and Banbury, have declined at various rates
ranging from 18 to 12i per cent. The remaining
towns show a reduction varying from 9 per cent.
to 1 or 2 per cent.

The towns which exhibit no decrease in spite of
the construction of sanitary works are Penrith,
Worthing, Penzance, and Ottery St. Mary. It is
interesting to inquire how far this want of improve-
ment is capable of being explained. As regards
Penrith, we are informed that the water supply is
now ample and good. It was not so formerly, how-
ever, and Dr. BUCHANAN refers to a fact in con-
nexion with this subject which would be amusing
if it were not lamentable. It seems that in 1853
a new supply of water was got from the River
Eamont, above the town, at • point where it was
free from contamination. The quality of the water
was not to be surpassed, but it was soon discovered
that the quantity was quite inadequate to the
wants of the town. At a great expense, therefore,
in 1862, the waterworks were extended.