The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-08 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

THE SANATORY INFLUENCE OF THE
ATMOSPHERE.
(From the Edinburgh Weekly Register.)
Our constant warnings of the malignant effects of un-
genial climate and vitiated air are received by some with
indifference, as built only upon theory. The statist, in-
deed, is well aware that the alarm is warranted by every
species of fact within his observation, and enforced by
every fresh research into the condition of man in respect
to things about him ; but the many still jog on in the
ways of their fathers, unheeding or unbelieving. It be-
comes the more our duty to ring the unwelcome truth
continually in their ears, to dun them to their own good,
to repeat and repeat again, till the lesson is learned. We
will, therefore, now avail ourselves of a report of the
sickness among the Edinburgh police, drawn up by Dr.
Tait, to which our attention has been called by some re-
marks in a contemporary. The extraordinary effect of
the atmosphere on the human frame is written in striking
characters on every page of this document.
The first general fact to which we advert is the result of
exposure to the vicissitudes of the weather which the
watching force are compelled to undergo. The whole
force consists of 304. The annual per tentage of sick-
ness is 248.49 ; that is, every man passgs through the
hands of the physician twice, and 48 out of every 100, or
about 145, three times a year. This is almost unparalleled.
The ratio per cent. of sickness among the scavengers is
only 46.39, and among the friendly societies 21.70. The
severity of police disease is also greater. The average
number of days' sickness among them is 10.31 ; among
the benefit societies 5.74; among the males of families in
the wynds of Edinburgh, 8.3 ; and among males in prison
of Edinburgh, 2.72.

Among 755 cases of disease, we find 264 of the respi-
ratory organs, and 180 of the stomach and bowels ; the
latter being chiefly diarrhoea, traceable to cold or wet.
The amount of disease also differs greatly among„„The
different classes of police. The ratio per cent. of sicklSess
among the day face is 170'26. Among the night force—
who do duty fur nine weary hours between nine at night
and six in the morning—it is much higher, 260 95. Among
a third class, the supernumeraries, it is enormously higher,
52516. This is owing to the fact, that when a day watch-
man falls sick, a night one is put in his place, and a su-
pernumerary, without any previous gradual prepa-
ration, is exposed all at once to the cold winds of mid-
night.

Every two months two-thirds of the day force are
shifted to night duty ; and the bad effects of these shifts,
when the weather is severe, are very striking. For in-
stance, the shift in May, 1845, raised the ratio of sickness
among the force from 20.72 to 26'31 ; but while the, ratio
varied little among the day-force and supernumeraries, it
rose among the night force from 22.22 to 30 15. The ad-
ditional number of patients at the next shift in July was
24, of whom 17 were in the night-force.
Another curious fact is the effect of locality upon the
health; for it is manifest upon the face of the report that
every part of Edinburgh is not equally unhealthy. The
city is divided into twelve sections ; and the ratio per cent.
of sickness in these is very different. The most healthy
appear to have been the twelfth, eighth, and fifth sections,
the per centage in the first being 168-75; in the second,
192-30; in the last, 194-11. The first includes Canon-
mills, lnverleitb-row, Stockbridge, Comely Bank, Scot-
land-street, &c. The second includes Lothian.road,
Water of Leith, Queensferry street, &c. The last in-
cludes Newington, Grange Loan to Canaan, Sylvan place
to Sciennes, &c.
The most unhealthy appear to have been the fourth and
sixth sections, the percentage in the former being 393-33,
in the latter 333,33. The one includes the Cowgate from
South Bridge to George IV Midge, Bristo-street, &c. ;
the other the Grassmarket, Cowfeeder-row, &c. This is
the more striking, as no part of this excess can be due to
the filth and ill-ventilation of the houses, but simply to
the pes,ilent malaria that must be hovering over the
streets. It will astonish many to be told that the next in
order of unhealthiness is the ninth section, being Royal
Institution to Great King-street, west to Donne -terrace,
Moray-place to Queen's Ferry-street, East Prinee's-
street, and all within. The percentage is no less than
305. This appears to be owing to exposure to the north
and east winds, for it is in the spring and winter months
that the excess of sickness prevails. The percentage in
January is as high as 720. For the first three 'spring
months it is 252 per cent. higher than the fourth or Cow-
gate section. The thing is reversed, however, as the
warm weather sets in. Then these pestilent winds miti-
gate, while the malaria thickens and intensifies, and the
sickness of the Cowgate is then 360 per cent. over that of
the Moray-place and East Prince's-street district.
The last point which we notice is the effect upon the
health of an ill-ventilated section-house, in which part of
the police are boarded. We may premise that the section-
house men were the best and youngest in the force. The
ratio of sickness among the men out of the section-house
was 205.59, and amongst those in it 351.35, being a diffe-
rence in favour of the former of 145.76. Out of the 37
men boarded in it only one was found free of functional
disorder, the prominent symptoms of which were great
sensibility to cold, copious cold perspirations, constant
sense of fatigue, pain in the eye-balls, loss of appetite, &c.
It is thus manifest that the malignant influence of foul
or ungenial air is no dream of enthusiastic journalists or
physicians, but a terrible reality, decimating society,
which cannot be ignored or contemned without striking
and formidable avengement.

SUITABLE TREAT.—On Saturday last, Mr. Bishop, of
St. Helen's, gave the workmen and women employed at
his glassworks an excellent dinner at Birkenhead. He
provided them with a gratuitous trip to Liverpool by rail-
way ; and from the station here they walked in procession
with a band of music and banners to the Pier-head, where
a steam-boat was ready to convey them to Birkenhead,
at which place they enjoyed themselves to the utmost.
A SKELETON.—The bodies of a human body were, on
Friday night, found by some boys in an old quarry in
Preseot•street. At first there was a considerable sensa-
tion in the neighbourhood, the gossips insisting that some
deed of blood had been perpetrated, but it was ultimately
discovered that the bones were connected by wires, and
it was evident that the skeleton had belonged to some
student of anatomy. It was then remembered that a sur-
geon, who was largely indebted to his landlord and others,
had suddenly decamped some time since, from the conti-
guous premises, and it is believed that he had thrown the
skeleton into the quarry.
SPLIT IN THE LEAGUE.—There is a very palpable split
in the Manchester League, or rather amongst the survi-
vors of the League. Many members of the defunct com-
bination are for putting forward Mr. Cobden for Man-
chester, notwithstanding his refusal to stand ; the other
members are for introducing Mr. John Bright. There
have been several meetings, but there has been a wonderful
absence of unanimity. In point of position and talents
Mr. Cobden is incomparably the better man, but Mr.
Bright is a busy demagogue of the first water, who makes
up for the higher qualities of which he is deficient by un-
measured assurance and loud talking. Such is the posi-
tion of the parties to this difference. Of course we, says
the Manchester Courier, look upon the squabble with un-
concern. It is of very little consequence to us, and can
only become of consequence in the event of the Conserva-
tives and Moderate party so far forgetting their duty to
the borough, as to allow it to be ridden over roughshod by
the worst remnant of the League. Then, if common de-
cency is to be regarded, it will become of consequence to
ensure the return of the more respectable of the rival
candidates amongst our opponents. Not that we shall do
more than look on : but, apart from party considerations,
every man's local pride will make him anxious not to see
the borough represented in Parliament by a roan who can
reflect no honour upon the community, but quite the con-
trary. Besides, the going to Rochdale for a candidate,
argues a poverty of talent and competency in this vast
town, which we should think and hope cannot be tolerated
for a moment. We happen to know that the recent move-
ment in favour of Mr. John Bright has disgusted the
most respectable members of the defunct League, and
that the leaders of the Liberal party set their face against
his nomination. However, as we have just said, we have
nothing to do with this. We look on.
CHARGE OF ASSAULT. —On Friday, a porter of the
name of Barnes, was brought before Mr. Rushton to an-
swer the complaint of Thomas Todd. Esq. The com-
plainant said he was going the day before along the land-
ing stage to the New Brighton boat, and on crossing a
narrow gangway for the Princess Royal, (Glasgow boat,)
was rudely pushed by the defendant, who, on being re-
monstrated with, pushed against him a second time,
thrust his elbow into his (complainant's) side, and broke
the glass of his watch, and afterwards assailed him with
foul language. Mr. Todd said he would not have brought
the case forward, only that he wished the authorities to
be informed of the inconvenience of permitting sea-going
steamers to land or embark passengers at the same places
at which the ferry steamers land and embark theirs. No-
body can have an idea of the indiscribable confusion
which sometimes occurs. "There is danger that persons
going to New Brighton may be conveyed to Glasgow. It
was only the other day, that a lady going to \Vales was
taken across to Egremont ; and she had the melancholy
satisfaction of seeing, whilst crossing, the Mostyn boat
going out of the harbour, with her luggage on board.
Mr. Rushton admitted the inconvenience, but asked how
it was to be dealt with. The defendant said he had a very
heavy hamper on his shoulder, and that in his endeavour
to push through, when the complainant was purposely
stopping up the passage, three dozen of his bottles were
smashed. Mr. Rushton said that heavy hampers ought
not to be carried on board under such circumstances.
The defendant had behaved very improperly—first, in
taking the hamper on board in such a crowd, and next,
in not waiting with propriety when he was requested to do
so. He was ordered to pay a fine of 10s. and costs. Mr.
Todd begged that the fine might be mitigated, because the
only reason for which he had brought it before the court
was to expose the thing on public grounds. Mr. Rushton
said the fine was a very moderate one, and that the public
must be protected, particularly as unprotected ladies were
constantly in the habit of going on board these boats.
Extra officers should be placed there when sea-going
steamers were alongside, and every means ought to be
used to prevent hampers from being taken along the
the crowded and dangerous gangway. He promised to
take a note of Mr. Todd's objections.
SERIOUS AFFRAY AMONGST SHIPWRIGHTS.—On
Tuesday, three men, named David Beggs, 'William Tol-
lock, and John Hamilton, were brought up charged with
assaulting John Haspy and John Lough, all shipwrights.
It appears that for some time back there has existed a
great jealousy on the part of the Liverpool shipwrights
against certain men who have not served their time in this
town. Some contention has consequently arisen. and on
the 19th ult., while Haspy, who served his time at Ches-
ter, was getting his dinner at the Brunswick Graving
Dock, the prisoner Beggs threw several stones at him,
one of them striking him on his back. Whilst endeavour.
ing to ascertain the name of the party who had struck him
20 or thirty others attacked him. He was knocked down
and kicked in the mouth, and afterwards kicked into the
Graving Dock, and, had it nut been for a gangway
I,latik which lie caught hold of in his descent, he would
have fallen to the bottom of the dock. Hamilton and
Tollhck were recognised among the parties who had com-
mitted the outrage. On the following day, an assault, by
the same parties, was committed upon John Lough.
This case was next heard. The complainant stated that he
had worked in the town fifteen years, but had not served
his time here. On the day in question, Beggs entered the
Graving Dock and struck him. Beggs then asked a
fellow workman for an axe which he had in his
hand, that he might " cut the old b 's head
off," pointing to the complainant. On being refused,
he struck the complainant, seized bold of his coat collar,
and was about throwing him down, when ten or a dozen
men came up and beat him (complainant) violently.
Thomas Samson, master shipwright, deposed to having
seen both the assaults; and said, further, that when the
assault was being committed, bodies of from twenty to
thirty men, making about 150 in all, moved from all parts
of the Graving Dock to aid and assist the assaulters.
The poor men who were beaten were driven on shipboard,
and prevented from working further. During the as-
sault a man wawstaticaed at the dock gates, which were
closed in order to keep out the police. Haspy and Lough
were laid up for several days from the violent usage they
met with. Mr. Rushton commented on the extreme
folly and wickedness of the prisoners' conduct, observing,
that, if none were allowed to work for a living in this town
but those who had served their time in it, two-thirds of
the adult population would have to leave the place; and
they themselves, if they went to work at Woolwich or
other dockyards, would be the first to complain of any
such regulations there as should drive them from employ-
ment. The case was so serious that he should send the
prisoners for trial at the session. They were committed,
but bail was accepted for their appearance.
THE COTTON BROKERS AND THE ALBERT WARE-
HOUSES.—The notice, by the council, of the rates for por-
terage and warehousing, framed by the Dock Committee,
will be read with interest. On Friday the cotton brokers
held a special meeting on the subject, Mr. Thomas Haigh
in the chair, wren an animated discussion, in which there
was but one feeling, took place upon the general manage-
ment of the new warehouses with regard to cotton. The
objections of the associated cotton brokers do not, as in
fhe case of the African Association and some others, ley
so much against the rate of rents, as to points which indi-
rectly affect their customers in Manchester and the menu-
facturieg districts. One of their objections is to the re-
gulation which prohibits the buyers of cotton lodged in
these warehouses, from sending their own men to sample,
the Dock Committee claiming to exercise the power of
sampling, by means of their own servants. The conces-
sion from this rule offered to the Brokers is, that the
sampling shall still be made by the dock servants, but in
the presence of an agent from the brokers. It was re-
solved to give this system, which is altogether novel here,
a fair trial, but, at the same time, doubts were expressed
whether it would work satisfactorily. Another regulation
objected to was one which requires any given delivery of
cotton from the dock to be removed at one and the same
time, also an entirely new practice, and one likely to be'
productive of unnecessary expense. The case of the bro-
kers, as to this regulation, is thus put :—lf 100 bales were
to be delivered out of dock, it is required they must all be
removed at once, whereby at least five carts would be ne-
cessary. At present two carts do the s-me work, by each
going a second or a third " length, as it is called, by which
a saving is effected, as, under any circumstances, if the
five carts are on the spot at once, two or three must ne-
cessarily be idle, whilst the others are loading. A third
objection seems to us very forcible. According to the
new regulation tickets for the delivery of cotton, or other
produce, from the warehouses, will be available only for
the day on which they are dated, whilst by the present
system at private warehouses, they may stand over for se-
veral days, even a week—in fact, until the whole of the
delivery order is completed. Much inconvenience is an-
ticipated if this rule be persisted in, because the ticket
must then be renewed from day to day, until the whole of
the delivery order is completed. The opinion was general
that in these three points much hinderance will be thrown
in the way of trade, and that some comprehensive and less
objectionable plan must be adopted. It was not, however,
thought advisable to make any formal representation on
the subject, until the new system had been tried a short
time, when it was considered the objections to it would be
much more effectively urged. It was also unanimourly
resolved, that for the future the ticket attached to each
sample of cotton should state where the bulk lay. This
is an arrangement between the brokers themselves, and
has been adopted in order to obviate the complaints of
purchasers who object to cotton that has been stored in
cellars, because it loses weight. It must be acknowledged
that in framing the schedule of warehouse rates, the Dock
Committee have had to discharge a most difficult task ;
but much regret is felt that they have not, by more liberal
terms in the first instance, superseded all grounds for dis-
satisfaction, as such a feeling must long operate to the
prejudice of this noble dock, and its magnificent pile of
warehouses.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—Last night the Foresters had
an extra grand gala at this fashionable resort. To-mor-
row evening, and on Friday and Monday night next,
Madame Rosena will make her extraordinary and daring
ascent on a rope 300 feet long, at an elevation of 70 feet,
completely enveloped in splendid changeable coloured
fires. The ease and confidence with which this wonderful
lady accomplishes this unusual feat, divests it of terror in
the beholder, who witnesses it only with surprise. The
other attractions will of course be added, and no one can
complain, at this place of amusement, that he has not
"enough for his money.