The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-08 00:00:00

HEALTH COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY

The usual weekly meeting of the committee was held at
half-past two o'clock, yesterday, in the council chamber,
town-hall, Mr. Dover in the chair.

Other members present--Messrs. Beckwith, Godfrey,
Hodson, Robertson Gladstone, M'Guffie, Haydock,
Halhead, Johnson, Sheil, J. Holme, Crosthwaite.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN.
The Medical Officer of Health reported that the health
of the town was in a satisfactory condition. The mor-
tality of last week was lower than in any week of the
last three months, the deaths from zymotic diseases
having been fewer than for six months, and for typhus
less than for twelve months, previously. The deaths
from all causes were 214, of which 144 were in the parish,
and 70 in the out-townships. The corrected average of
the same week of the seven years preceding was 236. Of
51 deaths from zymotic diseases 23 were from hooping
cough, 12 from scarlatina, 3 from measles, 2 from
typhus, 5 from diarrhoea, and 1 from cholera. No death
was registered from smallpox. From diseases of the
lungs the deaths were 75, being 24 less than in the
previous week. Three deaths were registered from
rheumatism. The temperature of the week was two and
a-half degrees lower than the average.
The Borough Engineer, building surveyor and in-
spector of nuisances, reported various particulars of the
operations in their several departments, during the week
from which it appeared that 119 nuisances complained
of by inhabitants had been inspected and means taken
to remedy them. 1047 houses in the unhealthiest dis-
tricts, containing 3330 apartments and 650 cellars had
been put under examination with the view of improving
their sanitary condition, and 70 lodging-houses had also
been examined and reported upon.

THE SMOKE NUISANCE.
Mr. Beckwith said that during the past week their
officers had carefully watched the town and the landing-
stage, and that they had reported they could not And a
case in which they were called on either to issue a
summons or caution the parties on account of the
nuisance from smoke. He conceived that that showed,
first, that the committee had no desire to harass manu-
facturers, or steam boat owners, and secondly, that the
act was working beneficially in Liveroool.
The Chairman expressed gratification at Mr. Beck-
with's statement, and said he believed that the general
feeling among manufacturers now was that the opera-
tion of the act as carried out by the committee had been
beneficial to them in compelling their servants to con-
sume no more fuel than was requisite for their business.
A lengthened conversation took place in reference to
the nuisance caused by the deposits of gas refuse and
chemical works. It was stated that the wor=t feature of
this nuisance is that it lasts for years, and that even
where the deposit had been covered over with sand and
earth, the mass below continues to smoulder, and emits
an intolerable stench. Houses and courts built on such
land are found to be very unhealthy, and the borough
engineer stated that rihen excavating in such places for
the purpose of sewering. the men employed on the work
are always attacked with serious illness. The deputy
town-clerk was directed to report next week on the most
effectual means of suppressing the nuisance: