Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-11 00:00:00

LODGLNG-HOUSES

A recommendation was read, suggesting a slight re-
muneration to the police-inspectors who had the visiting
of common lodging-houses, and
Mr. Stitt, after stating the duties of the inspectors,
moved that £5O be granted to seven inspectors for their
services.

Mr. Beckwith would like to. have some further infor-
mation on the subject, and said a sub-committee ought.
to report. on the matter.

Mi. Stitt, in reply said, in 1856 £3O was granted for
three years, and the £5O now sought was for a like
number of years.

After a short discussion, it was resolved, on the motion
of Mr. Beckwith, seconded by Mr. Anthony, that the
question be referred to the sub-committee—the principle
being already recognised by the former grant.

SAINT ANNE'S CHURCH-YARD

A long correspondence was read by Mr. M'Gowan, in
reference to this church-yard (the whole has been already
before the public several times.) The question now arose
in consequence of an application made by the Rev. Mr.
Wheeler; of St. Anne's, to the Earl of Derby, to have his
name removed from certain criminal proceeding?. that
took place some time since, under the following circum-
stances. In 1851, an order was issued by Lord Palmer-
ston, preventing burials in all church-yards except St.
Anne's. This was subsequently found to be a mistake,
and the reverend gentleman was cautioned by the
health committee not to allow any burials in St.
Anne's, but he, relying on the letter of Lord
Palmerston, continued to allow burials. He was pro-
ceeded against, and fined in a nominal penalty of Is.,
he promising ' to discontinue the burials, which he
did, and his application to Lord Derby was to have his
name removed from that fine. The reason the subject
came before the committee now was, that the chief
copy of the whole correspondence.
_
This was ordered by the board.

ry regtllT

The routine business was then transacted, and the
board adjourned.

HISTORIC SOCIETY,

The usual meeting of this society was held in the Grand
Jury Room, 6t. George's Hall, at seven o'clock, last
night. Mr. Edward Heath presided. The following
donations,were Kesented to the society : From the Society
of Arts, the Journal of the Society, Nos. 319 to 323,
inclusive ; from the Cambridge Philosophical Society,
Volume 10 of its Transactions ; from the author, " Town
Life ;" from the author, " Liverpool, Past and Present,
by James Newlands, C.E. ;" and from Mr. Newlands,
" Sanitary Legislation, by W. F. M'Gowan." Mr. John
Mewbuna, 30, Richmond-terrace, and Mr. Henry Peter
Meakin„Burnley, were elected members of the society.

Mr. Barnes exhibited a black-letter copy of "The
Discovery of Witchcraft, by Reginald. Scott." Dr. Hume
exhibited a black figure of androgynous appearance,
found near Rome ; and some fibres of the holly-

hock plant, greatly resembling flax or hemp.
Mr. H. Johnson laid before the society a copy
of Chamberlayne's "ANGLLIR NOTIME. " The paper
for the evening was by Mr. Hugh Shimmin,. author of
" Liverpool Life," " Town Life," &c. Its title was
" The Home Education of the People—How' it may
.be
Improved." The paper was in some measure a following
up of one read to the society a few weeks ago by the
same author, the object of which was to point' out some
imperfections in the present efforts made to elevate the
home character of the working , classes. The writer
started with the statement, that the character of the
Englishman's home was rather retrograding than
advancing. In some existing schemes and systems of
popular education, the writer seemed to believe that the
intellect is improved at the expense of the moral nature.
Intemperance, it need hardly be said, was pointed out as
the principal weakness and curse of the poorer classes
and to cope with this evil was urged as the primary object
to which united effort should be directed. The
writer especially recommended house to house visitation
by visitors of a suitable class, who he declared should be
more remarkable for sound common sense in the ordinary
affairs of life than for their expertness in untying the
knots of theological disputation. Working men them-
selves, he declared, would be as efficient agents in such a
work as this as they, had been in promoting, advocating,
and establishing the temperance movement. The writer
also remarked that ladies seemed 'to be looking for
employment of this kind just now, and he sliould have
thought a workhouse was not the sphere where such
labours were most required. The homes of poor working
men, he suggested, as a much more fitting scope for visi-
tation—a sphere where it was more needed and would be
more effective. On the subject of house visitation many
valuable and practicable suggestions were given, especially
in reference to the absence of scrupulous delicacy,
which allows some visitors to intrude themselves
unceremoniously, and at unfitting seasons, into the homes
of the poor. As to the education of children, a sound,
practical, well-grounded, and common-sense system was
earnestly recommended—one which should concern itself
rather with the thorough teachirg of a few needful
things, than the getting through many subjects, which
made no impression on the young mind, lent no aid to
the growing years, and produced no effect upon the
matured life. The paper which touched upon many
subjects which' have been necessarily passed over here
without allusion, was listened to with much interest, and
at its conclusion loudly applauded.

SMOKE NUISANCE:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN,TEUES,

the particulars of the inform
S ir,—Roading in your widelyatio
ncsirocaultahtiesdiajtoaulte•nraal_
ble nuisance, and latterly the run hasii been upon
bakeries. But why should bakers, ce c
sugar refiners, and other manufacturers, be
amenable to the sanatory act of Parliament, when
the iron works in Sefton-street is permitted to
send out of their shafts such dense matter, that
it completely darkens the locality wherein it is
situated? The same laws 'that
govern ignition
and combustion in the furnaces of sugar refiners
and rice cleaners, are open to the iron works in
Sefton-street, though not applied in both furnaces
one way, caused by a difference being in the latter
to melt metal, and in the former fires to produce
steam, as coal is but carbon, whether used in iron
works, or breweries, or steam-boats.—Yours, &c.,
SOOT.

WORKHOUSE COMMITTEE

usual weekly meeting of this Caliniiittee \vas held,
yesterday morning, 'in the Board-room of the Workhouse,
Brownlow-hill ; Mr. Churchwarden Cropper in the chair.
The other 'members present, were—Messrs. Bairstow,
Owen, • Critchley, Smith, 'Byford; Syred, Peck, Melly,
Denton, Cafferata, and Broome.

REPORTS OF VISITORS.
The Visitors' Report Book was read, and the following
entries were made :

Mr. T. B. Brown, inspector of schools, visited the
schools at the Workhouse, and he thought the children
were making fair progress in all the schools, more
especially the boys ; and there was a fair staff of teachers.
He did not Undeistand how it happened that the boys
were so much more numerous than the girls.
Mr. S. B. Jackson, one of the Visiting' Committee,
reported as•follows :—" t have for a length of time been
concerned to observe the absence of any provision for the
ready extinction 'of fire, 'shOuld it once break out in this
vast establishment, containing a population iof 2,300
souls, 1,500 of whom are helpless. Having thus draVvn
the attention of the vestry to this very serious matter,
I leave with them the responsibility of further inattention
thereto:"

Mr. Turner, the other visitor, concurred in the report.
Mr. Wylie, the,surveyor, was requested to report on
the matter next week.

THE RETURNS

The Medical Ouilcer reported that the number of
deaths during the week was 20, of whom 7 were men,
4 women, and 9 infants under 2 years' old. The number
of sick poor in the hospital last week was 672 ; new
cases admitted since, 137; cured and discharged, 136 ;
now remaining'under treatment, 653, of whom 43 were
fever, 16 itch, and 11 small-pox cases.
The Master of the Vagrant Sheds reported that there
were relieved in this department during the week ending
15th inst., as follows :-176 males, 68 females, and
5 children—total, 249 ; showing an increase over last
week, in males of 33 ; females, 2 ; decrease in children,
11; and a nett decrease under the corresponding week of
last year, of 12.

The Governor's return showed that the number of
paupers in the establishment last week was 2,425 ;

number this week, 2,348, being a decrease on the' week
of 77 ; number in the corresponding week of last year,
2,691, showing a decrease on the year of 266.

HOMEOPATHY V. ALLOPATITY

Mr. Denton rose to move the resolution which he had
given notice of last week. He said he had no doubt that
he should incur the displeasure of many of his most
valued friends who practised allopathy, but still he
considered it a duty which devolved on him, and not
only upon him but upon all the members of the vestry, to
see that the patients of that house were cured in as short
a time as possible,_ and with as little expense as possible
to the parish. He had stated, at the previous meeting,
that that was not a proper arena for the discussion as to
whether allopathy or homoeopathy was the better system
to practise, but it the chairman would bear with him, he
should be obliged, to introduce to them a few facts which
had c-mvinced him that homoeopathy was worth their
notice, and worthy to ba placed side by side with the
present practice of allopathy. Mr. Denton read an extract
from the Albion, stating that, according to the report of
the Royal Infirmary for 1856, the number of patients
was 2,706 ; and the sum paid for, drugs including
£l3 18s 6d for leeches,' and £2l 16s for linseed meal
poultices, was £3lB lls 4d; that was 2s 44d for each
patient. And, according to the report of the Homoeo-
pathic Dispensary, the number of patients during the
same period, was 3,898; and the sum paid for medicines,
(no leeches or poultices being used) was £26 5s ; that
was lid for each patient. There would thus be a saving
to the Infirmary of 2s nd on each patient in physic
alone by the introduction of Homoeopathy, and under it,
it had been clearly proved, patients recovered, much more
quickly and in much greater numbers. Had the patients
treated at the Homoeopathic Dispensary, been treated at
the Infirmary, instead of costing £26 ss, they would
have cost somethitiorr like the enormous sum of £458
16s 6d.

The Chairman: But you do not 'give us the results

Mr.,Booln

You used no poultices,

Mr.,Denton asked protection froni such remarks, and
.then-proceeded to say that, as regarded: the time for tke
curing of these. patients, he held a xeport in his hand,
published by the Royal College of.urgeons, Edinburgh,
from which it appeared, by a statement published by the
Royal Edinburgh Infirinary, comparing the treatment of

cases .by , the two systern;; that in the treatment of
inflammation .of the lunp, out of 909 cases treated
allopathically 212 died, being 23 per cent , or nearly one
in four ; homdeoliathically 299 cases, and only 19 died,
about six per cent., or.one in fifteen. Pleurisy treated
allopathically; out of 111 cases 14 died, being 13 per cent,
or 1 in 8.: Homceopatbically, out of 224 cases 3 died,
about one per cent; or one in a hundred. This was
merely, Mr. Denton said, to paint out the data from
which he had formed his conclusion. He considered the
time had arrived when they should give , encouragement
to this system, which had been lately adopted, and which
he thought ought to have their support. They knew
that all great discoveries, had had great opposition. He
instanced, the discdvery of the cirmilation of the blood,
and, in his own time' the treatment of vaccination. •The
opposition was most fearful, with regard to vaccination;
but still he .believed truth would prevail, and in his
opinion, at no distant time, homceopathy would succeed,
and become the general Fractiee of medical men. He,
therefore, begged to move that, in all future advertise-
ments for medical ineu for the Warkhou3e, hornce Dpathists
be not excludod.

The Chairman said that tile notice which was put in
the papers did not exclude homoeopathists.

Mr:Cafferata said, such a. motion was useless as the
advertisement did not exclude homeopathic practitioners,
provided they were properly qualified
"men according to
the requirements of the Poor-law Board.
Mr. Peck seconded the motion, and sail that it might
so happen that the form of advertisement did exclude
homeopathists; still the public generally were not aware
of it. homoeopathy had been considered by some of the
bigoted medical profession of Liverpool as quackery and
charlatanism ; and it might therefore be understood by
the public generally, in consequence of that opinion being
pronounced by the medical profession, that homoeo-
pathists would be excluded from that house. He thought
there could be no opposition to appending something to
the effect of the resolution to the advertisement. This
would show the public that they were more enlightened
and further advanced in progress than the majority of
the medical profession in this wn. This was not a time
in which any science could be stifled or extinguished, as
was sought to be effected by the outrageous remarks
which some of the medical profession made.
Mr. Broome said they had every necessary for carrying
out the present system, and he thought it would be
a waste of time to discuss such a proposition as Mr.
Denton's. He believed homoeopathy to be absurd and
ridiculous. Mr. Denton had said that it was less expen-
sive, but he could show that it was more expensive. As
for their medicines, the most frivolous was immensely
expensive. _ _ _

Critchley said, he foresaw great difficulties in this
matter, and he hoped Mr. Denton would not press his
motion. He was sure no properly qualified Mau would
work with a homoeopathist. lie was
.of opinion at the
same time that they both killed more than they cured,
and he thought the less medicine people used the better,
and he had so far been able to do without the services of

either. He conceived 'how the old people in the house
would receive a " globule," if it was proscribed for them
by a homoeopathist. They would say itwas all a humbug.
Mr. Bairstow said, he would trust his wife in the hands
of a homoeopathist, but, at the same time, he did not see
the necessity of Mr. Denton's motion. They could not
dictate t 9 their medical men what system they practised,
and, by the advertisement, homoeopathists were not ex-
cluded ; and the two systems coulcinot be divided in the
house.

Mr. M,311y said, that when they found that homcco-
pathists were not excluded at present, they should not
pass such a resolution as Mr. Denton moved, as it would
only be inviting them to come forward, and allopathists
would then think there was no use in their, coming
forward. lie was not again* homceopathy, because he
believed there was a great deal in it, and, by that dis-
cussion, the practitioners of this system would see that
they were not excluded.

Mr. Peck said, in that case, his object was served.
Mr. Denton said, he quite agreed with Mr. Critchley,
that the less medicine people used the better;. and, as to
the remarks of Mr. Bairstow, he thought it was quite
possibleto divide the practitioners of both systems in the
house. They could be divided into different sections, and
he thought they ought to 'make a trial after the reports
that had been made. He decidedly objected to, withdraw-
ing his -motion, as had been suggested. Homceopathists
were under the impression that they were excluded, and
he believed virtually. they were, from the feeling expressed
by the committee.

- Mr. Williams said, in the event of, a homoeopathist
being elected for the house, they should have.nothing but

confusion

Mr. Melly said, if they applied, they could be voted for
the same as others. •

Mr. Smith gave an instance in which a homoeopathist
did apply and got four votes, and the successful candidate
got' only two more votes.
The motion was then put and lost by a large majority.
- The Chairman remarked, as the motion had been lost,
they could not elect an inferior officer practising another
system than that practised by the superior, as the inferior
was obliged to carry out the orders of the superior.
The matter. then dropped, and this concluded the
business.