The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-05-04 00:00:00

HEALTH OF BIRKENHEAD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
Si n,E---While the subject of the health of towns engrosses at
present almost general attention, it is amazing to view the in-
difference with which the inhabitants of Birkenhead seem to
regard the subject, and that in the face of a report just pub-
lished, which asserts that Birkenhead is more unhealthy than
Liverpool—consequently the most unhealthy town in England.
It may fairly be questioned whether there is in any town in
the kingdom so dangerous and disgusting a nuisance as that
which bounds Birkenhead on the south-west, known as Tran-
mere Pool. As some of your readers may not be acquainted
with the locality, it may be proper to state that the pool com-
mences about a mile to the south-west of the town ; from
thence it receives the contents of four or five common sewers
from various streets in Birkenhead, before it reaches the
Brook-lane; here it is made into a covered sewer, and receives
the contents of the sewers of five streets from Bi •kenhead, and
one from Clifton Park ; after passing Clifton Park, it becomes
an open sewer or ditch, and continues for nearly half a mile
skirting Birkenheati, till it reaches the river, receiving in its
course the contents of several other street-sewers, the waste
from the gas-works, the drainings of the Commissioners' dung
and soil depot, and the drain water, refuse, and waste animal
matter from the slaughter-houses. As if these were not suffi-
cient to cause a pestiferous vapour, the night-soil depbt of the
Commissioners, consisting of thousands of cart-loads, is placed
on its margin, increasing the evil. Close to this part of the
pool, the houses are as thickly planted as possible, and great
quantities are in course of erection, all of the cottage class
and it is dreadful to contemplate the ravages that fever will;
make amongst the poor inhabitants when once it gets a hold
there, more especially as Birkenhead is totally unprovided with
a fever hospital. Nor will the evil stop there. Whenever a
south or east wind blows, the effluvia in Grange-lane, from the
Railway Station to the Park Hotel, are almoseunbearable, and
are further spread all over the town. It need scarcely be neces-
sary to say, that these effluvia are highly prejudicial to health :
the tenant of a house in the vicinity left it in consequence of
two medical men telling him that the ill health of his family
was solely attributable to that cause.
If vigorous steps are not taken before the warm weather
commences, I feel persuaded that fever will be rife in Birken-
head; and the inhabitants, having been fairly warned, will
have themselves alone to blame. It is not enough that the
town possesses more sewers than any of its size in the kingdom,
if many of them are alloWed to discharge themselves in an al-
most, and in dry weather a quite, stagnant ditch—in parts filled
with decayed animal matter. It seems ridiculous to cry about
a deficiency of water for sanitary purposes, while such a glaring
evil is unnoticed under the very noses of the Commissioners.
Let the inhabitants bestir themselves, and see that they have a
Health Committee in reality, and not in name only ; for should
they not speedily abate the nuisance, and fever and disease
ensue in consequence, it will no doubt extend to their own
homes, and a'so prove the most serious blow to the prosperity
of Birkenhead it has yet received.

A SUFFERER.

THE NAVIGATION LAWS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD
Sta,--Would you inform me through your valuable columns
why there appears such apathy in Liverpool respecting the in-
vestigation of the Navigation Laws now going on, taking into
consideration the number of merchants, captains, and others
who are FO deeply interested, it is truly astonishing that some
movement is not made towards the support of these laws which
are and have been of such vital importance not only to them-
selves but to England at large. It is a great loss there are not
more CHAPMANS in Liverpool. Yours, &c.
A CONSTANT READER.
Appledon, May Ist, 1847.

[We are quite unable to answer our correspondent's
question, but " apathy" on all questions affecting the
vital hiterests of the country seems to be the order of the
day.]

FEVER RAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stit,l--Whether the fever rages or not, there is decidedly a
fever rage. It is fashionable talk, fashionable writing, and
fashionable reading, and I believe it is the same as all other
fashions, outraged. .In speaking of the unhealthiness of
Liverpool, it is not borne in mind that this sanatory system has
onlyjust merged into existence ; and that every filthy nook and
corner of the town is now strictly scrutinized ; and every death
with its cause strictly searched into ;—whereas, a few years back,
the filthy dens that then existed—for there has been a great im-
provement in clearing the cellars of their wretched inhabitants
—were almost entirely overlooked, and we heard nothing of
them, or 'their deaths, or diseases. There may be an increase,
and over the average, by the influx of the half-starved and
thoroughly filthy Irish; 'but I do not think the inhabitants are
more unhealthy ;—nay, I should say, if correct statistics could
be compared, more health) than sonic years back. You news-
paper gentlemen might be the only reporters the authorities
hail of disease and death, and that the Sanatory Committee had
to look over the papers to see what was going on. I believe
they possess every information requisite, independently; and
are doing what they conceive to be best. If any suggestion
can be given through the press that requires the public to back
it, all well and good ; but where it is not the case, a note to the
committee is all that is necessary, and would have every atten-
tion. But this fashion will he succeeded by others; and I be-
lieve it will be fashionable this summer to go out of the town,
and keep out of it. Nay, I understand that this fashion has
already commenced : several families, I am informed, have
already gone, and I know others are keeping out. 1 had a gen-
tleman called on me the other day from the country, who was
seriously talked to before leaving home for the folly of running
into danger, by coming to Liverpool. It is not what is seen or
heard, it is what is react in the papers. If an inhabitant wants
to know how heavily he is taxed, or how unhealthy he is, he
must go to any other town in the empire, and there they will
make his hair stand straight on end.—Yours, &c.,
A SUBSCRIBER.
*** I don't wish to insult the suffering poor, but I really
think that it ought to be made known in every port in Ireland,
that all that were coming to this town would be thoroughly well
washed, either on board or on landing. I don't see why a per-
son should be allowed to be ill before any such measure was
taken ; it would no doubt prevent a vast deal of disease if this
measure was carried out. It might make them more hungry,
but it would be a preventative against disease.