The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-09 00:00:00

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

STATE OF THE THAMES.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTER>>7.)
COMMISSIONERS OF EXHIBITION (1851) BILL.
Oa the motion that this bill be read a third time,
The Duke of NEWCASTLE suggested that the com-
minioners should have power to lease or sell a portion
of their property for sites of the new barracks which
would have to be erected in lien a the present barracks
at Knightst,ridge, the leake of which was nearly out.
Lord DONOUGHMORE said that the proposal made
by the noble duke would be in opposition to the agree-
ment entered into with the commissioners in 1852.
The bill was then read a third time end passed.
Tne Churchee, &a. (Ireland), 8.11 passed through
committee.

On Tuesday the City Sewers Commissioners assembled
at Guildhall, and Dr. Letheby presented his quarterly
report to the commissioners. It was as follows :
" The mortality tables for the spring quarter are now
before you, and I have the satisfaction to say that they
do not indicate an unfavourable state of the public health.
It is true that the death-rate is a little larger than it wes
during the spring quarter of last year, but it is still below
the average, and, with two exceptions, it is the smallest
number for the corresponding period of the last nine years.
The total mortality for the quarter was 724, the average
being 747, and of this number 301 belong to the East Lon-
don district, 155 to the West, and 265 to the Central—
numbers which represent a yearly death-rate of 27 per 1,000
in the first-named district, 21.6 in the second, and 1 in the
third; the total mortality of the city being at the rate of 23 3
per 1,000. This in the eggregete is not an exceesive mortality,
for if we compare it with that of the nine preceding years
it will be found that it is under the average to the extent
of about 0.7 per 1,000 ; so that the death-rate of the cite
will even bear comparison with that of ether places. It
may be that the mode of estimating the sanitary condition
of the city is not absolutely correct, and does not indicate
the actual or even the preventible waste of human life,
but it is sufficiently near to the truth, and is withal so
intelligible, that it enables ns to form a very jut idea
of the comparative mortality of the place, and to learn
from it what has been the general state of the
public health during any particular season. I believe,
indeed, that, imperfect as the method is, it is infinitely
more truthful awl satisfactory than a comparison of the
death-rate of a city or town population with that of a
model republic situated on the slope of an English hill,
looking southward over fertile fields or distant seas, bathed
in a pure atmosphere, supplied with a river of water of
lire clear as crystal, with no impurity in its houses or
streets for a single day, occupied by a people fed on fruits,
grain, and meat from healthy places, and leading an active,
good, and intellectual life. For such an Agapetuoue of
health and happiness and idleness has never yet been
realised, beautiful as is the come:tithe' ; and oven if it
could be it would afford no just indication of what the
sanitary condition of a city life ought to be. In point of
fact, it is not altogether fair even to contrast the mortality
of a city population with that of a few villages of Eng-
land, selected because of their unusual salubrity ; fur,
apart from the evil consequences of filth and overcrowd-
ing—consequences that are, I admit, capable of ame-
lioration---there are in a city life many unwholesome
influences which aro inseparable from the exercise of trade
and commerce. They are the penalties of civilisation—
the inevitable pains of industry, and it is Utopi in to ex-
pect that these can ever be so far reduced as to bring the
state of a city life into the condition of an Arcadia, a '
model republic, or even of a quiet country village.
"Of the 721 deaths in the quarter, 291 occur red among
children of less than five years of age; 50 between the ages
of five end 20 ; 92 between 23 and -10 ; 12S between 40
and €0; and 163 were among old percents of 60 and up-
wards.
" The chief causes of death were diseases of the respira-
tory organs—diseases which were unusually fatal during
the first month of the quarter. Of these 91 wore caused by
phthisis, 43 by pneumonia, 50 by bronchitis, 19 by whoop-
ing-cough, 12 by croup and diphtheria, and 3 by asthma.
There were also 30 deaths front violence, 33 from tubercu-
lar diseases of infancy, and 87 from convulsions, hyrbocc-
phalue, anti teething. Diseases of the zymotie class have
not been unusually fatal ; for there were but two cases ee
erysipelas. 8 of rc:tt let fever, 7 of infantile diarrhoea, and
4 of diarrhoea and dysentery among adults, of which three
occurred in the workhouses and two out of the city. Tae
mortality, therefore, from these affections has not been ex-
cessive, and this is somewhat retest ]cable when we consider
what has been the state of the river end the temperature
of the season. On some occasions during the last mouth
the thermometer brae ranged on the same day from
60 to 93 degrees in the shade, and throughout the
month the daily range has been from 13 to 31 degrees.
On Wednesday, the 16th of Juno, the thermometer rose
to 1i 7.7 degrees in the sun, and the mean temperature of
the day was 76.9. This, according to Mr. Glaisher, is 15 de-
grees above the average of the day fur the last 43 years,
anti it is erecter than has been experienced in June since
the year 1813. Some of Ihese facts are represected in the
4th table of the appendix, which lives an account of the
meteorology of the quarter from obssreations made at
Gui!dhall under the superintendence of Mr. Heywood.
" The high temperature of the last month, together with
the continued absence of rain, has caused the Thames to
assume an appearance anti to undergo a change which has
never before been witnased. I bravo been engaged fair
the last fortnight in making daily examinations of
Thames water at different points between Teddington-
lock stool Greenwich, :led the results of those examina-
tions are, that the river is unusually charged with sea
salt and organic matter. The oceanic tide in the river
has risen as high as Wandswort a, and has thus contami-
nated the water w.th saline anti other impurities of the
sea. As a rule, the soluble inorganic constituents of the
river do not exceed 45 grains in the gallon at high tide at
London-bridge, and the organic impur it • is not more than
4 grains to the gallon ; but during the lest fortnight the
saline elements have amounted to 1 c grains in the gallon,
and the organic to 12. Even at Westaninstei-bridge they
have reached to 69 grains per gallon, and the organic mat-
ter to 5-6. The proportions at other places at high end
low tides are given in the fifth table of the Appendix, and
they show that the sea water has risen to a great height in
the bed of the liver. Now allexperience proves that when-
ever such a mixture es this occurs at high temperature,
putrefaction of a most offensive character is set ur. The
sewage and the organic matte's and sulphates of the sea-
water have acted on each other, and have produced the
state of things with which for the last fortnight we have
been so familiar. The inky appearance of the river has
been caused by the fixaticn of the sulphurettecl hydrogen
by the iron of the clay. This has been the salvation of our
lives, for, offensive as has been the vapour evolved from
the river, it is as nothing in comp onoot with what it
would h toe been if -the tnuchoseused cloy from the lower
shores of the river had not fixed the miasm in a solid in-
voletile form.
" As it is, however, the gases evolved from the water
amount to about 15 cubic inches per gallon. They con-
vist chiefly of carbonic acid with aminotris, nitrogen, and
a trace of oxygen. They do not contain eulphuretted
hydrogen, but they contain a stinking vapour, which is in
the highest degree offewire, and which inhaled 1- ro-
duces slight headache, giddiness, and nausea. The
water at midstream is charged with the higher forms
of animal and vegetable infusorial life, but that at the
slier., is so lethal in its qualities that nothing exists iu it
but the lowest forms of fungi and the simpl,st et living
creatures.
" With all this condition of the Thames, however, the
health of the metropolis hiss been remarkably good, and
the fact is illustrated not merely by the mortality returns,
hut also by the still more insignificant returns of sickness.
In the corresponding period of last year the cases of fever,
diarrhea), and (I) sentery attended in the city by the medi-
cal officers of the union etuounted to 293 of the former and
181 of the latter ; but during the peat quarter they were
only 202 of the former and 91 of the latter. It may be
thought, perheps, that as the city is only a small section
of the metropolis, it does rot represent the condition of
the whole ; but returns have been collected by the medical
officers of health throughout he capital, and these, like
the lest, show a great falling off in the proportion of zytno-
tic disease.' .
"In the 12 months of last year there were nearly
80,02'0 cases of sickness returned, Kul during the present
period returns hare been more fully obtoiued, and they
embrace as many as 114,000 cases of sickness. Of the
former the proportion of fever cases amounted to 22'4 per
1,000, and of diarrhea and dysentery to 40'3, bat of
the latter the proportions are 16'2 and 25'1. lam not in
a condition to account for these remerkahle facts. It may
bo that the prevailing winds of the seasen bare diluted the
relearn, end have wafted it quickly away from the more
densely populate 'I parts of the city ; or it may be that the
unusual amount of ozone in the air has exerted its benefi-
cial influence by oxvdising the organic psieon ; or it may
be that the strength of the human system after thubracing
influence of winter has been sufficient to resist the morbific
action of the malaria ; or it may be, a, some have said, that
offensive as is the stink of the vapour, it has no lethal action
on the animal system, for to use the words of a reviewer in
one of the medical journals, `there is no necessary connec-
tion between bad odours and poisonous miasma, for we
find that some of the most pestilential places in the world,
such as the mouths of certain African rivers, the Sunder-
blinds of the Ganges, the routine Marshes, and our own
fens, give no evidence of a poison by their odour, while,
conversely, we may have an atmosphere charged with the
most horrid stinks without it being dangerous to health,
or at tiny rate, productive of fever, &c. 'My own opinion
is, that the effects of the Thames' vapours heed° been
warded off by the healthy and vigorous condition of the
body at this season of the year, end that if the putrid
miasma comes to operate upon us during the autumn,
when the vital powers are exhausted and the animal frame
relaxed by the heat of summer, the effects may be very
r
serious. We shall do well, therefore to take the matter
into serious consideration, and to provide, as far as pos-
sible, for the danger that may arose out of it.
which
will
"The last point to which I have to refer is that
relates to the sanitary work of the question. You
your _ inspectors have
perceive by the sixth table that
visited 2,128 houses, and that 617 orders have been issued
for works of a sanitary character.. e Inspecto of Com-
mon Lodging-houses has made 670 visiteodriterrienrg tiler quarter.,
overcrowding of 43
and has furnished certificates of the
houses. In these there were 65 rooms occupied by 293
$4 men, 119 women, and tso children
persons, —namely,
I have had occasion to remark that some of these house+.
were complained of on a former accasion„, but that out of
regard to the landlord, and with a promise from him that
they should not be occupied by him in an indecent or un-
wholesome manner, you cud not enforce the order for re-
gistration. and this leniency has been productive of much
mischief. I may instance Rose-alley, in Bishopsga,te-street,
as a case in which your clemency has been abused, and is
indicates very clearly the necessity for enforcing the regis-
tration of such places whenever they are found to be im-
properly and unwholesomely overcrowded.
"Guildhall, July 6."

The Marriages (Moscow, Tahiti, and Ningpo) Bill
was read a third time.

COUNTY COURTS DISTRICTS BILL.
Oa the motion that the bill be read a third time,

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the omission
of the sth clause, said he was in error iu stating on s
former evenirg that in one case a judge only sat forty-
five limes in the course of one year. It turned out,
however, that this gentleman had sat 115 days, but this
was not very oppressive labour for a judge.

Tho hill was then read a third time.
The liai.ways Act (Ireland) Bill passed through com-
mittee.

The PJrtendic and Albreda Bill also passed through
committee.

THE UNIVERSITIES (SCOTLAND) BILL.

On the motion that this bill be read a firrt time,
L )rd CAMPBELL expressed his approval of the bill,
and took that opportunity of saying how gratified be was
at the circumstance of his right hot. friend the Lord
Advocate having been raised tl the dignity of the bench
of Scotland, as Lord Justice Clerk.

Their lordships then adjourned at twenty-five minutes
past six o'clock.

B.OUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY.)
THE 92D REGINIENT IN BOMBAY.

Gen. CO DRINGTON asked the Secretary of State for
War, whether it was true that on the arrival of the 92d
Reiiment in Thmbay in May last, it was quartered in
the Colaba Barracks, which had long been pronounced
unfit for European troops; whether the regiment had
n. 4 had many cases of fever in those barracks ; and why
the usual Inuian clo hing was not given to that regiment
till six weeks after its arrival 'I

Lord STANLEY replied that he caused inquiries to
be made both at the Board of Control and the East In-,
dia House on the subj-0,, hut he regretted to say he had
not received any official informatiun, or indeed informa-
tion of any kind, as to the 921 Regiment. He could not,
therefore, give the bon, and o.l!aut officer any answer
as to the alleged cause of the fever, or wby the clothing
was not provided. He would bear the question in mind,
and cause every inquiry to be made. New barracks
were built in B•.mb4", nut they were not as yet in a
eaeditio❑ to receive troop•.
THE VICEROY OF EGYPT.
In answer to Mr. WISE,

Mr. S. FITZGERALD said that law; year represen.
tations were made by the European Governmet.ts to the
Egyptian Government, that complaints were made by
tte British inhabitants resident at. Cairn, that the new
p lies regulati.ins issued by the Victo-ny (.1 E!ypt had
militated against the important privileges which they
previously eni)yed ; and it was represented to the
Eg;ptian Government that those regulations were op-
pressive atid contrary to immemorial usage. The British
Consul asked that those regulations might be modified,
and in some cases that they might be anrogated, repre-
senting a►t the same time that they were considered op-
pressive. Ile Lai no oLjection to lay the papers on the
subject or. the table of the house.
THE COUNCIL OF INDIA.

Mr. CRAWFORD asked the President of the Board
of Control whether it was intended that the Council of
India should act by one of its uffictr4 as the official agent
to the Administrators-General in India.

L.,rci STANLEY, in reply, said that in such matters
it had been biamrto the custom of the East India Com-
pany to administer the affairs of India, and henceforth
the Secretary of State, for India and the new council
would continue to administer thwo3 matters ; but if they
found incor.venisnce to arise, then the Government
would consider the propriety of traneferring those powers
elsewhere.

TUE RIGIIT OF svatcri.
Lord DUN CAN, seeing the hon. member for Gate!.
head in his place, wished to put a question to him. He
saw that the hon. gentl man had a motion on the paper
rtferring to the disc,uti❑uacce of the "right of search,"
and he was de6irous to know trom him whether it was

his intention to bring that question forward tomorrow
(this nay), and if so, whether he would bring It forward
at the tnerning or tee evening sit ing ?
Mr. HUTT, in reply, sa d it was his intention to bring
the question flr warci to-morrow.
Tie CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if
it would be equa ly convenient to the hon. member to
po,•tpene his question till Monday, be hoped he would
have no objecti:;n to do SO. The Uoverntnent were in ex-
pectation that, between this day and Monday, they
would rec,ive some information on the subject from the
Government of the United Ste es. He therefore hoped
the hon. member would postpone his question to tbat day.
Mr. HUTT, under those circumstances, could not hesi-
tate in acceding to the request of the tight bun. gentle-
man, but he trusted the right bon. gentleman would
affird hint an opportunity of bringing forward his ques-
tion on Monday eve, ing.
DOCKYARD SERVANTS.
Mr. WILSON wielied to u.k the right hon. gentle-
man the C;iancellor of the Exc,trquer whether dockyard
servants would be brought in for the benefits to which
othf rs wcula be entitled under the Royal Warrant in
reference to the Superannuation Act?
The CH AN CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply,
said if the non gentleman would reter to toe Superannua-
tion Act which be had brought in the other day, he would
find by the second clause that it did not apply to them
by act of Parliament, by Order of Council, er by Royal
Warrant. Toe dockyard labourers grid their appoint-
ments by an Order in Council, and of course it would nut
apply to them, and the act which he brought in did not
apply. With regard to the general question, whether
they were brought cut of the Superannuation Act, it was
the desire of her Msjesty's Goveintnent that they should
continue in the service, but of curse that would depend
upon the Board of Admiralty. But it wa=, be might
repeat. the wish of the Treasury that they should be
continued in the service, and that the act ettould he Ex-
tended to them. Thu right hon. gentleman then stated
it was not his intention to propane the second reading
of the bill that night.

OXFORD UNIVEREITY COMMISSION.—The report of
this commission jest issued chiefly refers to the question
of fellowships. The commissioners have regarded it as
an essential part of their duty to insure that fellowships
shall be determined, generally, by the personal merits
and fitness of the successful candidate, and not by acci-
dents of birth or locality. They have therefore
provided for the total abolition of such preferences,
except in the cave of two colleges to which they
were. prepared to add St. John'e, the peculiar
crcumstanme of these colleges appearing to warrant
a diflereice of constitation. The two in which prefer
ences continue to exist are New College and Jesus Cul-
lege. It would appear that the authorities of St. John's
College made a proposal, which the commissioners re-
fueri, as calculated to secure to the college the odious
character of a "close' institotion. They necordin.4ly
adhered to their previous decision, which will be carried
out.
ETON COLLEGE.—Mr. Routledge, K.S., is now cap-
tain of the school, in consequence of a resignation occa-
stoned by the death of the Rev. Mr. Kirwan, late East.
India Company's chaplain at Lucknow. when Willis, the
former captain, took his departure for King's. This g-Ji-
tlecoan, whilst at Eton, gained second Richards' E. eiy
prize, Cluistmais, 356 ; Prince Consort's Iraliau prize,
1856 and 1857, wq ; Theme Piiz-r, Efectivn, 1857 ;
Triune Prize, Christmas, 1857. In consequence of the
marriage of the Priecaes [loyal there will be 'au extra
week's holidays at the election vacation. The school
closes on the holidays
inst., and on Wednesday, 15th Sept.,
the lower boys return; on Thursday. the IGth, the fifth
form retura ; and on Friday, the 1707, the sixth fifth
letup, whin the Ilele 6010:,1 will bare assembled.