The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-27 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

HEALTH COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held
at half•past two o'clock yesterday, in the Town Hall, Mr.
Alderman Dover in the chair. Other members present—
Messrs. Shell, M•Guffie, Beckwith, Godfrey, Johnson,
Anthony, Haydock, aria Stith

The minutes of the last Meeting were read and con-
firmed.

EALTEI OF THE TOWN.
The following important report from Dr. Duncan,
medical officer, was read :

ARPowt,

During the year (.52 weeks) ending 27th of December last,
11,575 deaths were registered in the borough, being 931 fewer
than in the preceding year, and giving a levier rate elf mortality
than has ever proviousl been received in Liverpool. In 1850,
as a consequence of the high mortality from cholera in the
previous year, the deaths were fewer in number; but, allowing
for increase of population, the mortality of 1856 was a fraction
lower than in 1850. During the previous ten years the deaths
averaged 35 annually in every 1,000 of the population ; in the
last five years of this term they were 31 in 1,000; last, year
they were 27 in 1,000 of the population. prom diseases of
the zymotic or epidemic and contagious class the deaths were
3,670 ; the average of the previous five years being 3,530.
With the exception elf scarletina in the iirst and second quar-
ters of the year, and diarrbeel, which caused a large
infantile mortality in the hot weeks of summer, no disease of
this class was more than usually prevalent. Typhus, which
TM formerly the opprobrium of Liverpool, and the prevalence
of which is usually considered the teat of a low sanitary
condition, caused only 342 deaths, being 61 fewer
then thellumber in the previous year which was itself the
lowest ever recorded up to thht time. ft is satisfactory to know
that this diminished mortality from fever is not, apparently,
dependant upon casual or accidental causes; for, if an average
of years he taken for comparison, the decrease is Meat obvions
and decided. In the four years (1837-40) immediately
subsequent to the passing of-the Registrat:on Ac`, one in about
450 of the inhabitants of Liverpool died annually from fever ;
while, in the last four years (1853-56) the yearly deaths were •
not more than one in 1,035. In the meteor:flit, dining.the
same periods, the fever deaths were one in 690, and one in 987
respectively. The contrast is gratifying, and may be taken as
an index of the extent to which sanitary operations have been
carried out in the respective places. Last year (1856), the
deaths from fever in Liverpool, were one in 1,236, and
in the metropolis, one in 989 of the population. Diarrhoea
caused 776 deaths, of which 661 were in the case of infants or
children; and nearly one half of the whole took place in the six
weeks between 2nd August and 13th September. Of 643 fatal
cases of scarlatina, 428 occurred in the March and December
quarters; hooping cough caused 444 deaths ; measels, 310;
croup, 158 ; arnall-pox, 98, of which 2.4 were reported as after
vaccination ; syphilis, 65 ; dysentery, 60 ; infantile and remit-
tent fever, 55 ; erysipelas, 46 ; thrush and canker, 29; cholera,
26; impure, 9; scurvy, 6 ; mumps, 5 ; influenza, 4 ; chicken-
pox, 4 ; ague, 1. From hooping cough, intermittant fever,
cholera, and purpnra, the deaths were exactly the same in
number as in the previous year ; in the other diseases of this
class there was a decrease, with the exception of diarrheea,
already mentioned, and of small-pox, which caused four deaths
more than in the year preceding. This disease at present shows
some disposition to increase ; the deaths in the last five quarters
having been respectively 15, 17, 18, 28, 35 ; and in the first
eight weeks of the, present year, 32. Diseases of the lungs
caused 3,420 deaths, including 1,406 from consumption. The
average of the preceding eight years was 3,513, including from
consumption 1,470. The mortality in each Quarter was as
follows, viz. :

Dts. Lungs,
All causes. and Consurnp,
March Quarter........... 3 145
June do.
Sept. do. .. 3 04l
Dec. do. 2 762

The deaths from consumption in the four quarters con-
secutively were 408, 385, 311, 302. Inquests were held on
643 cases of sudden or violent deaths (449 male, 194
female-233 children, 410. adults). Of these there were
from—
Excessive drinking 43
Ptarvation and cold
Want of assistance at birth .. 1
Accidentally poisoned
Burns and scalds
Flang,cl for murder
Suffocation
Drowning.....
Accidentally killed
Murder
Manslaughter . . 18
Natural disease (specified)
Ditto, (not specified)
Suicides, 21 ; of which by
Banging and strangling
Drowning 1
Poison .. . .. .. 3
Cut throat.. . ..... .
Jumping from window 3

Of the suicides, 18 were males and 3 females (2 of these
unmarried). The poison used was—in two cases leudanum,
in one prnsic acid. Ten of those who committed suicide were
persons in good circumstances. The extreme ages were 19
and 70. Of the cases of accidental drowning 34 occurred in
the docks, 18 in the river, and 9 in the canal. Of those
accidentally killed, 24 were by carte and carriages, and 7 by
railway accidents. 65 deaths (one less than in the
previous year) were ascribed to the direct effects of
intemperance ; besides which, seven fatal accidents occurred to
persons in a state of intoxication—five of those being married
women. Of the entire numher 45 were males, and 37
females ; and of those last 18 were married, 3 were widows, 3
unmarried, and 3 unknown. Eight were from 20 to 30 years
of age; twenty two from 30 to 40 ; twenty eight from 40 to
50; twelve from 50 to 60 ; and two were respectively 65 and
68. A married woman, October 27th, died from the long
continued use of Initial. The rate of mortality, of course,
varied much in the different districts of the borough, ranging
from 21 in 1,000 in North Tuxteth Ward, to 39 in 1,000 in
Vauxhall ; the latter, as has been invariably the case, present-
ing the highest death rate. The following table, in which
corrections have been made for deaths in workhouses and
hospitals, shows the relative mortality of the different dis-
tricts :

In 1,000
Wards, &c. Deaths. inhabitants.
Vauxhall . . 863 394
Bt. Anne's
Exchange
Scotland
Lime street..
St. Paul's
Great George..
Castle street ' 199 276
Pitt street
•
Abercromby .. ...,. 435 283
Rodney street
St. Peter's..
Workhouse and Fever Hospital
Hospitals
Parish of Liverpool.. 8181.............21,9
Everton and Kirkdale 1065 '247
South Toxteth
West Derby .. .. . 581 2ll
North Toxteth .... . •
Workhouse and Fever Hospital ...... 196 .. •• ....
Kirkdale Gaol -
Industrial School . 9 ..
Out townships
Borough of Liverpool ..11574 273

Of all who died during the year, 6,062 were males, 6,513
females ; the death rate being for the former 296, and for the
latter 253 in 1,000. 'no ages at death were—

, -
Below one year .. ,,,,„3,017
One to two years
Two to five years
Five to fifteen years 746
Fifteen to twenty years
Twenty to forty years ..
Forty to sixty years ......1,640
Sixty to eighty years .... . 1,04S
Above eighty years .. l7B
Unknown .. . ...... .. . 33

Of 16 persons who died at the age of ninety and upwards,
14 were females; one of these, formerly a domestic servant,
being recorded as about 100 yer.rs" old at the time of her
death. The births registered during the year in the parish
were 9,870, being 80 more than in the preceding year, and
giving an excess of 1,089 over the deaths. In the out townships
the births were about 5,684, or 240 more than in the year
preceding, and giving an excess over deaths of 2,191. The
total births in the borough were thus 14,854 and the excess
of births over deaths, 3,2Bo,being about double that amount to
be added to the popula,ion of Liverpool by immigrants from
other places, The births were in the proportion of 35 to every
1,000 inhabitants ; in the. metropolis the proportion 'was 33
in 1000, W. H. DUNCAN, Medical Officer of Health.
26th Feb., 18.57.

Several complaints in reference to the dirty state of the
streets, were read. _ _

Mr. Davis, assistant surveyor, explained that it resulted
solely from the changeable character of the weather.
More street sweepings were carted away in the last three
months than in the corresponding period of the past year.
A number of gentlemen waited on the committee to
request that a diagonal crossing may be made across
Exchange•street East, from the Exchange to Lancaster
Buildings. in Tithebarn•street. The matter gave rise to
considerable discussion, the committee being of opinion
that a diagonal crossing in such close proximity to other
crossings in a narrow street like Exchange-street East,
through which so much traffic flowed, would be exceed-
ingly dangerous to horses. It was finally referred to the
borough engineer to report on.
The tenders of Richard Smith, Isaac Dixon, and George
Bower, for sewerinr, were accepted. _

Tenders for paving, from Thomas Abram and Abraham
Thomas, were also accepted.
In all cases the tenders accepted were the lowest.
The borough engineer, building surveyor, and inspector
of nuisances, reported various particulars of the opera.
tions in their several departments during the week, from
which it appeared that 75 nuisances complained of by
inhabitants, had been inspected, and means taken to
remedy them, and that 963 houses in the unhealthiest
districts, containing 3,317 apartments, and 606 cellars,
had been put under examination with the view of improv-
ing their sanitary condition.
This concluded the public business.

DOCK COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of this Committee was held
at one o'clock yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner in the
chair. The other gentlemen present, were—Messrs.
Rankin,' Palmer, Robinson, Brocklebank, Ronnthwaite,
Lockett, Holme, Barber Bubback, Monde'', Clint,
Anderson, Halhead, Bold, Chilton? Smith, Rathbone, and
Evans,

Tenders were accepted, on the recdniniefidation of the
t'Orks sub-committee, from Messrs. John Wilson and
Co„ for leather, and Thomas Irving and Son, soft soap.
The Chairman read a letter from Mr. James Cowie,
complaining that, as one of the candidates for the office
of superintendent of the Stanley dock warehouses,
recently filled up, he had not been called before the
committee, and expressing an opinion that there must
have been some mistake as to his qualifications. The
Chairman said, the letter cias dated a week back, but
having been mislaid, was not laid before the Committee
last week. He added, that Mr. Cowie was the gentle-
man who recently brought before the committee some
very large plans regarding approaches to the river and
warehouses.

Mr. Robinson said, the application was one of the 99
which were laid aside, The antecedents of Mr. Cowie
were not such as they thought suitable for the situation.
A letter was also read from Mr. Charles Holt, another
of the candidates, expressing his regret that his interest
in the dock estate must necessarily once, as he had not
received the appointment, and stated that many of the
plans carried out in the estate were originally suggested
by him. He added, that if the committee called that
backing of their friends, it was high time for .him to
give in ; and concluded by declaring that, if they had
accepted his services, they would have acted very wisely.
The Surveyor had not the honour of knowing Mr.
Holt.

The Marine Committee produced a report of the
Marine Surveyor upon the life boat, No 6 of the Angle-
sea) Life Boat Institution, and the life boat of the
National Institution, lying at Lytham. In addition to
the report, a letter was read from the Rev. James
Williams of Anglesea, upon the same subject, and ex-
pressing a general approval of the plan of the life boat
used by the dock committee with some improvements.
Mr. Brocklebank said, the committee brought forward
those letters to show the public, that the question was
still, under their consideration. The letter of Mr.
Williams went far to prove that their boats were capable
of being adapted.
The Secretary was directed to thank the Rev. Mr.
Williams for his communication.

The Marine Surveyor reported that the Point of Ayr
life boat had been again placed upon her station. It was
also reported that Herbert's patent buoy, ordered some
time ago, had been received, and it was intended to moor
it on the 2nd proximo, as a fair weather buoy at the
Queen's channel.

A memorial was read from the family of Henry Hudson,
piermaster, lately drowned in one of the docks, praying
for some aid from the committee.

Mr. Evans said if the man had died in his bed, the
committee would never have heard of any such applica,
lion. Some remarks had been made on his opposition
to the enormous gift of £5OO to the families of the life
boatmen. Now, wheneVer it happened that dny case
was laid before the public of a charitable nature, the
moment the authorities interfered they closed the pockets
of others. Oftener than once he had had occasion to refer
to what happened in Ireland in the days of the Irish
parliament. There was a charity supported by the
public, and receiving £6,000 a year for many years,
and it probably would have gone on so but that
at length the Parliament made a donation to it,
and the subscriptions at once went down to £3OO
or £4OO a year. If 'the committee were to take care .of
all the families of all the persons in their employment, it
would be an endless affair.

The petition was referred to the harbour masters' corn
mittee.

It was agreed that a reward of 20s should be given to
one of the gatemen of the Princes dock for having rescued
a man from drowning.
A letter was read from Messrs Gibbs, Bright, and Co.,
objecting to the amount of dock dues charged oa the
Great Britain. The letter was referred to the solicitor.
This closed the general business.

TRAFFIC IN HUMANITY-SALE OF A WIFE
IN LIVERPOOL.

FXrRAORDINARY CASF.—Yesterday at the morning sittings
before Mr. Mansfield, at the police court, the following strange
case came on for hearing. William Lownds, a sailor, belong-
iog to one of the Belfast steamers, was brought before his
worship by Inspector Duggan and officer 444, on a charge of
attempting to murder his wife. The inspector's statement
was, that he was passing along Scotland road, about one o'clock
on Wednesday, when he heard screams of " murder !" by a
woman who eame running into the street in a most fearful state
of excitement, with her hair bite " quills upon the fretful
porcupine." She rushed out of Ben Ledi street, followed by the
prisoner, who wielded an axe and appeared quite frantic with
rage. Officer 444 made a grasp at and seized the prisoner, who
pulled out his knife and swore he would cut his (the facet's)
head off. He was captured, when it was ascertained that the
quarrel arose out of the following singular circumstances. The
woman (prisoner's wife) is a stout good looking Scotch woman,
about 40 years of age, was well dressed, but dirty, and it
appeared that the prisoner and his wife lodged at the
house of Joseph Wright, 37, Ben Ledi street. This Mr.
Wright is a widower, 55 years of age, having one daughter.
The parties lodged in the house for three years, and it seemed
that great good feeling existed between them. Some short
time ago this happy family was clouded, as the countenance of
Lownds fell, and his suspicions of bad conduct, on the pot of
his wife, ripened into jealousy. Frequent bickerings took
place in consequence of this green eyed monster, and in order
to end those domestic calamities, the widower offered to pur-
chase the woman from Lownds. To this he readily consented,
thinking it a good opportunity of getting rid of the annoyance ;
and it further appeared that Mrs. Lownds expressed the utmost
satisfaction at the proposal. A bargain, after some " higgling,"
was arranged, and Wright gave Lownds a sovereign, in ex-
change for which he took possession of the fat, fair, and forty
Janet. This memorable traffic took place on the 17th
February, in the year 1857. Mrs. Lownds assumed the
office of Mrs. Wright, and Lownds was treated as a
lodgar, and all went " merry as a marriage bell"
until Wednesday, when the prisoner repented of his
bargain, and wished to have the woman hack again.
He therefore demanded her, but she stoutly refused, saying she
was perfectly satisfied with her position, and that Mr. Wright
was "a very nice old gentleman, very," and that Lownds
was not fit to bo his shoe black. This caused Lownds to
get into a furious passion, and he menaced her life, and it was
stated that he would have killed her with the axe, but for the
interference of a person named John Crow, a clock cleaner,
who fortunately happened to be in the house at the time.
This interference allowed the woman time to escape into the
street, where the prisoner was arrested as described. The
woman took the Inspector to the house in order to explain to
him the nasty habits of the prisoner. The daughter of Mr.
Wright also preferred a charge against the prisoner, who had
threatened to slaughter her with the axe, and she was in dread
he would do her bodily injury. Mr. Mansfield said the case
was an extraordinary one, and such as raised a doubt in his
mind of the sanity of the prisoner, and, therefore, he would
remand him for a week, in order to ascertain the opinion of a
medical man on that point. Soon after, Mr. Bluck entered
the court, and said he had just bee❑ retained for the prosecu-
tion, but ho found the case had been disposed of for the
present. Mr. Mansfield said the case was sucll a strange one,
that he was of opinion the man was insane.