The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-22 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL. STANDARD.

DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—There were present
Mr. Shand, the chairman, and nine other members. A
proposition to appoint two gatekeepers to the Albert Dock,
at 21s. a week, and a messenger, at 18s., was agreed to.
It was recommended and agreed to that the Coburg Dock
sheds be worked in the same manner as those at the west
of the Prince's Dock. A letter was read from Messrs.
Gibbs, Bright, and Co., stating that such an arrangement
would cause delay in despatching the Great Britain and
Great Western, and requesting' the matter to be further
considered. It was finally agreed to afford these vessels
as much accommodation as possible. Mr. Mann enquired
whether the Dock Estate was liable for damage occa-
sioned by the negligence of their servants, as the
warehouse owners were, especially as regarded goods at
Albert Dock. The Secretary showed, by the Act of
Parliament, that the estate was equally as liable as ware-
house keepers. With reference to the Albert Dock, it
was stated that the manifestoes of ships cargoes should
be lodged at the Dock Office. A letter from Mr. Green,
shipbuilder, was read, complaining of the conduct of the
Dock Surveyor, in reference to the removal of some boilers
at the Clarence Basin. It was written in very offensive
terms against Mr. Hartley, who said he knew nothing of
the complainant, or the circumstance alluded to, and the
committee took no notice of the letter, being opposed to
the spirit on which it was written. A scale of rates for
the Albert Dock was received from Mr. Robinson, but their
consideration was deferred. An application was made to
stow 3000 bags of saltpetre in the Albert Warehouses, and
it was decided that they could not be admitted. There
was no other business of importance, and the meeting
adjourned.
FIRE ESCAPE.—On Saturday, several experiments were
made on 'Change and the streets in the neighbourhood, of
the very ingenious fire escape, invented by Mr. A. Wivell,
of Edgebaston, Birmingham, for which he has been
awarded the siver medal of the Royal Society. The ex-
periments were made in the presence of Mr. James Law-
rence, Lieut. Maxwell, R.N., the Fire Committee, and a
large number of gentlemen. The Fire Committee were so
well satisfied with the escape that they purchased it for
£7O. The principle of the invention is simple, but very
ingenious and efficient for the object intended. It con-
sists of a series of ladders mounted on springs and wheels,
so as to admit of speedy conveyance to the spot where its
service may be required. These ladders are so arranged
as to adapt themselves to the elevation of second, third,
or fourth story windows, so that the inmates of a burning
house may descend themselves or be carried down the
ladder, or get into the mouth of a long tube made of
strong canvas and surrounded by net work, and slide down
the interior of the tube to the ground with the greatest
ease and safety. During the progress of the experiments,
scores of boys and men got into the tube from a height of
upwards of thirty feet, and descended much to their own
amusement and that of the spectators. Another and very
essential service to which the invention is adapted is that
of enabling a fireman to ascend the ladders to the height
of forty or fifty feet, carrying the hose cf the engine to
the top with him, and from that height pour in the water
from the engine upon the precise spot where the fire is
raging. By an excellent system of leverage, the ladders
can be supported without leaning against the walls, and
can be wheeled with the greatest ease close to, or to any
required distance from, the burning building, thus giving
the enginemaa the power of adapting himself to any exi-
gency. Another great merit consists in a total absence of
all complexity "and difficulty of arrangement, so that a
delay of fice minutes need not take place in preparation.

THE DEATH OF 'I HE BISHOP OF ST. ASAPII.—THE
BISHOPRIC OF MANCHESTER.—The death of the Bishop
of St. Asaph, who died on Sunday week, in his 77th
year, renders it nece-sary for the government to take
some immediate steps to supply the vacancy, either by a
new appointment, or the uniting of the two sees of St.
Asaph and Bangor, as recommended by the ecclesiastical
commissioners. It appears, by the act of 1836, together
with the order of council of 1831, Manchester is erected
into a bishopric, which will consist of the whole of Lan-
cashire (now in the diocese of Chester), with the exception
of the deanery of Furness and Cartmel. The new diocese
will be in the province of York, and the warden and fel-
lows of the Collegiate Church, of Manchester, are con-
stituted dean and chapter. The annual income is fixed at
£4,500. Should Dr. Bethell, the present Bishop of Ban-
gor, refuse to accept the united see of Bangor and St.
Asaph, a question will arise (and he cannot be compelled
to accept it) as to the power of appointing to Manchester,
no provision having been made for such a contingency by
the act or the order in Council. Should he accept of it,
his income will be increased by £736 per annum. The
gloss annual receipts of St. Asaph are £7,118; of Bangor
£5,979 ; making together £9,968. After paying the income
of the united see, there will be an available surplus of
£4,763, the proposed income of the united see being fixed
at £5,200. A good deal of speculation is afloat amongst
ecclesiastical and other circles, as to who will be the first
bishop of the proposed see of Manchester, provided an
arrangement can be made to unite Bangor and St. Asaph.
It is said that it may be offered to the Bishop of Chester,
who has the option of reducing his present see, or of ac-
cepting of the proposed new one. Should he decline the
latter, which is said to be likely, rumour points to the
Rev. Thomas Dale, B.D. , Canon of St. Paul's and Vicar
of St. Bride's, London. In some quarters, it is the opi-
nion that no immediate change will take place. The pro-
ceeding indeed will be contingent upon the acceptance of
the united Welsh sees by Dr. Bethell. Another recent
rumour in London was, that the Rev. Mr. Villiers, rector
of St. George's, Bloomsbury, was
.likely to be the new
bishop.
MR. ROBSON'S CONCERT.—It will be seen on reference
to our advertising columns that this long expected musical
treat for the inhabitants of Cheshire is finally fixed for
this (Tuesday) evening, the 22d instant, at the Craven
Rooms, Birkenhead. Mr. Robson's abilities are so well
known amongst his friends, that it is altogether unneces-
sary for us to indulge in anything even approaching to
eulogy ; but to those who have not had an opportunity of
hearing him, we may observe that his attainments are well
worthy of public patronage, and should not be overlooked
by those who haye it in their power to acknowledge and
encourage aspiring talent. We are glad to perceive that
Mr. Robson has judiciously secured the services of our
young and highly-accomplished townswoman, Miss Anne
Romer. The more we see and hear of this lady, the more
are we convinced that she is destined to follow in the
footsteps of that glorious phalanx of vocalists, who have
already obtained for themselves an imperishable niche in
the gallery of fame. In the very name of Romer there is
a charm which reminds us of the presiding spirits of
Drury-lane and Covent-garden. On the bare mention of
it, we half fancy we can hear the et itical applause which
in those great temples of the drama stamp the artiste with
the true impress of genius ; and we rejoice in the assurance,
that Miss Anne Romer, instead of degenerating the credit
of the name that has already won golden opinions, will
only increase its popularity, and give it a surer title to
approbation. Private performances are not always to be
relied on as a guarantee for public achievements. but in
this instance it is morally impossible that the mind can
fail on the boards of the stage, when in private, and the
drawing-room, it has excited the ardent admiration of
those who are in every sense of the word eminently quali-
fied to form a sound judgment. In the most difficult
portions of the opera she is truthful and expressive, and
realizes all the intensity of the author's conception, without
either straining at effect or departing from those rules
which gave an air of reality to what is done. Her intona-
tion is more than pleasing, and with the exquisite taste
which, whether in ballad or scena, tempers her execution
shows to a demonstration that she possesses the genuine
inspiration of her art. She has everything to recommend
her—youth, personal appearance, accomplishments, and
talent ; and we shall be greatly disappointed if, in a short
time, she does not take a position in the musical world,
few of our local professors may hope ever to attain. In
addition to Miss Anne Romer, Mr. Robson has engagod
the services of Mr. Ryalls, Mr. Hornby, and Mr. Joseph
Robinson. Mr. Percival will perform a solo on the flute,
and Mr. NV. Phillips on the cornet-a-piston. The bent-
ficiare himself plays brilliant variations on a theme from
"La Violette," by Herz, on the piano-forte.---Chronicle.

CORRESPONDENCE.

ON THE SANITARY CONDITION OF SOME

PARTS OF LIVERPOOL

"The history of several epidemics of typhoid fever, occurring
in the Austrian capital, has been recorded by various members
of the Vienna Medical Association. The details given confirm
the general opinion, that bad sewerage and deficient ventilation
are some of the chief causes of every form of typhus."—Trans.
Prot.Med end Surg. Association. Vol. 2, New Series, p. 49.

" Parish of Liverpool

" NOTICE TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
" The Workhouse Committee do hereby give notice, that, it
consequence of the overcr•:wdad state of the Fever Hospital, i
is absolutely necessary to discontinue the admission of fever pa
tients to the hospital !or the present, and for some time to con

_
fever cases will first communicate with the Govern
Workhouse as to the ex sting accommodation for such
" By order of the Workhouse Committee,

LETTER XV.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL

CLOACINA PAR EXC

Mr. —, a surgeon, has kindly furnished me with the
following facts :—A family, residing in a recently-erected
house, (having been occupied previously for perhaps a
year,) found an altering state of health ever since their
entering. About a month or five weeks after having en-
tered, one parent had symptoms of a feverish disorder
which did not completely preclude her going about house-
hold engagements. Then a child fell ill, and Mr.
was sent for to the child; he found both child and parent
suffering with a group of symptoms common to both—
these were those of a low fever and an eruption on the
lower limbs, which, in a day or two, also appeared on the
arms. The same thing occurred in the parent. The form
of emption was peculiar, and it is sufficient here to say
that it was not anything resembling the spots of typhus,
or what has been termed by medical men " maculated "
The markings were not in the usual quarter, were consti-
tuted by a slight irregular raising of the skin, with a red-
dened areola of perhaps two inches in length and one inch
broad, accompanied with pain or soreness on passing the
finger over it ; sometimes they were isolated, in other in-
stances aggregated or passing into each other.
It is needful to guard against their being mistaken for
the fugacious attacks of insects! To put this beyond doubt,
I may add Mr. saw one of them slowly and spontane-
ously arise whilst he happened to be seated beside the lit-
tle patent. He inquired thereupon whether there was
any sense of pain, or stinging, or itching, whilst it was
forming. The reply was in the negative. This, then, re-
moves the form of eruption from the category of stings or
bites. Again it remained a permanent eruption which
further removes it from the envenomed class. The colour
varied from a brown to a red or a bright purplish hue,
ending in a dusky mark. The limbs on which this erup-
tion showed itself were invariably swollen at the time,
and continued to be so. The marks came out in succes-
sive crops throughout the lapse of six or seven days.
There were peculiar pains in the limbs, seemingly of ra-
ther a rheumatic character, all which symptoms associated
with the general low febrile attack render these cases re-
markable as instances, in my own belief and that of the
eye-witness, of direct poisoning from animal matter. As
these cases were approaching convalescence, although
still confl4ned to bed, a female servant was attacked with
the same feverish symptoms as they had at first, and she
complained of great tenderness in the calf of one_leg, with a
swollen state of it. Convinced that stronger remedies would
be borne than he had at first ventured upon, one of the
patients being a child—he gave the servant strong purga-
tive medicines, which had the desired effect of preventing
the further development of theidisease, and no eruption
appeared, which would otherwise be likely to appear.
After this the other parent was threatened with the
same set of symptoms, the same means were efficacious.
These two last were slight forms; the 'two former proved
tedious in convalescence, and the limbs remained for some
time after painful and swollen. The question now arises
what could be the cause of such an attack ? The parties
resident in a decent street comparatively, all attacked one
after another, living under the same roof. This infers a
local cause, and on examination, what but the questions
of drainage and sewerage of the house should be interro-
gated ? The profession does not now pass over these
causes so fertile of disease as it once used to do
Mr

- very properly investigated and found (not

. .
" to his astonishment," as formerly the expression would
have run,) that as to sewerage and drainage, there were
no provisions, literally no drainage from the house, and
that, therefore, all the varied refuse was retained about the
premises under the especial guardianship of Cloacina
herself.

The ash-pit was of a great depth, and closely adjoined
the house, the wall of which only separated it. Down
among the foundations its receiver-general must have
ranged itself : for its capacity was so estimated, the
landlord told them, as to require emptying only once a
year. No doubt a high recommendation now that the
night soil men have conspired to make exorbitant claims.
The following little plan will enable the reader to com-
prehend the economical beauties thereof :
The basement story has its back parlour close to the
wall of the ash-pit, the window opens close to it as well ;
the yard floor is level with the floor of this parlour. Now
let us descend to the sub-basement, and here we find the
back kitchen unable to be used from dampness of the floor
and sides—a dampness which fires would never improve;
not even during all this late fine weather, the wall conti-
guous to the ash-pit the most damp. The atmosphere in
these two apartments is sometimes so offensive they can-
not tell how to bear it, and it even frequently pervaded
the entire house in no gentle intrusion. Now mark the

way in which the ash-pie was made to invade the sancti-
ties of the house. The floor of the midden goes down
lower than the floor of this back kitchen, and from being
always full of water, this water must for several feet rest
against the outer wall of the back kitchen ; and if the
range of the ash• pit itself does not go exactly under the
kitchen floor, yet the oozing from the sides certainly
keeps that floor constantly damp and unhealthy.
A duplicate copy of this precious house arrangement
exists in correspondence—so as for yard to answer yard, &c.
I have brought forward this instance as affording a good
and very recent proof of the operation of those noxious
causes of fever with which Liverpool Proper abounds.
There can be no longer now any question raised as to
the direct causality of febrile forms of disease amongst us.
The public are now daily growing better acquainted with
those general statements or propositions of medical
science which the profession has latterly been laying down,
and which it interests the public as well as the profession
to know, that they may give a hearty co-operation to all
those newly devised sanitary measures which have the well
being of all classes of the community for their grand aim.
There is only one class capable of suffering under a well
carried out sanitary police—and I know that class will
content itself as a body to have it so—and the public,
doubtless, pays them the high compliment of believing
that in their bosoms there burns the pure flame of de-
votion to the common-weal as far transcending craft-weal.
One of these general laws or propositions, then, is—
that decompositions of organic matter, whether vegetable
or animal, or both mixed, liberate certain noxious gases,
which develope fevers of various kinds in man, when ex-
posed for a continuance to their poisonous agency, or
perhaps a few moments of time are sufficient to produce
these effects where the poison is highly concentrated.
Thus most men know that ague is the interrupted form of
fever, or intermittent type, resulting from vegetable de-
composition, as the fenny districts illustrate on a large
scale. This may be taken as a specimen of the concen-
trated vegetable poison, or miasm. Whe❑ less concen-
trated, the poison may still impress an unfavourable fea-
ture upon other existing forms of disease—retarding con-
valescence, for example, or acting insidiously upon ordi-
nary health.
But when the facts of the poisonous effluvia from
animal matter have to be considered, here we have a
ground to tread upon which only the best informed of the
public have any correspondingly accurate ideas about.
H ence the dangers from ignorance about these poisons with
which an over-crowding population is prone to surround
itself of; and hence I shall be excused in discussing, for a
line or two, so all-important a matter.
The effluvia from animal matters in states of decompo-
sition, when highly concentrated and under exposure to
certain heat, is capable of producing the most deadly
form of fever, viz., the plague. Extremes of heat and
cold are alike unfavourable to plague ; probably, because
the chemical changes are either too rapidly operated, or
suspended altogether. Thus the celebrated plague coun-
tries are periodically exempted from the ravages of tbis
direst form of fever. This form, then, is the severest
effect of the poisoning agency—except, indeed, in those
instances where death takes place instantaneously, from
the sudden exposure to the concentrated results of animal
decomposition. (Serpent poisons, &c., &c., are not in-
cluded in the category, their operation is vital.) We
have numerous proofs of these occurrences given in evi-
dence on the inquiry into the condition of large towns,
taken before the commissioners, and in "Walker's Ga-
therings from Grave Yards," containing " a detail of
dangerous and fatal results, produced by the unwise and
revolting custom of inhuming the dead in the midst of the
living"—a work which all should read who are at all con-
cerned in the offices of the dead.

qn
uo Ins nnt scatkeasen
of
fe
place,sopaer opening
nggiv
freshe given
typhus, o the
in
f graves,
i ts
worst
or andst instantaneouswi
form,er
thfatali
presented
nff
eccot didsi et
self, which commonly was fatal. At page 11, two in-
stances are specifically described, in which the parties
burying a corpse in Africa were suddenly exposed to a
burst of effluvia from disturbing a coffin recently depo-
sited there. Toe two sailors, who were digging for their
comrade's grave, were struck, and "fell down nearly life-
less. It was with the greatest difficulty their companions
could approach near enough to drag them from the spot,
and fill up the place with earth. The two men then re-
covered a little, and with assistance reached the boat and
returned on board." The next day they both sickened
and both eventually died on the 4th and 6th days. Their
symptoms were those of the very worst form of typhus;
one had the spotted eruption; the other had those swell-
ings rapidly forming abscesses in the groin and arm-pit--
so characteristic of the plague,Yand with which such must
be considered identical. The other two who had rescued
them fell sick later on, and one of them too had the spots
and plague-abscess form. By active treatment both were
saved.
Here, then, without going to further proofs, we have
sufficient to shew that
—concentrated animal poison can
cause plague, or its equivalent,.-that a more diluted form
retains sufficient virulence to pTson the human frame ex-
posed to it for a lengthened period, and he must be a bold
man to deny, the truth of not only what has been al-
ready recorded in all countries, but also of what I have
been able to shew in these letters, is daily occurring at his
own door here in Liverpool, and of which also others,
abler than myself, have told him.
It is in the matter of Cloacina and her temple worship
—,or rather want of proper respect and worship for the

Roma❑ Goddess of sewers and stinks—that I have to do.
The wilful ignorance on these subjects is most lamenta-
ble ; words are wanting to deprecate the disgraceful neg-
lect of these domestic rites. _

The diseases springing therefrom have so marked a
feature impressed, that it is impossible for the well in-
formed medical man to mistake them ; and his duty it be-

comes to inform his neighbours around him, in order
that he may acquit himself faithfull,.
I remain, Sir, yours, truly.
GEO. C. 'WATSON

Bedford-street, Sept. 17

LIVERPOOL CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY