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THE INQUEST ON DR. EDWARDES.
33 At the base of this house we found a servant’s closet with and, though 100U soldiers are quartered here, not one case of the foul trou cle
Paris,
34 but the rate of decrease was in excess of that which obtained in the neighbouring large towns. Dr. Tiltharc, however, cautions the corporation against a too hasty conclusion that this result is all to be attributed to improved sanitary cir. cumstances, and he proceeds at once to deal in detail with some of the conditions which still operate injuriously upon health. Amongst these are the impurity of the atmosphere reason of the smoke nuisance, which is the main factor in producing in Salford a death-rate from lung disease averaging 598 per 100,000, as opposed to an average of 334 in Mid-Cheshire. Next comes the brick-burning nuisance, as to which the by-laws are often violated. The faulty system of excrement disposal and the practice of heaping up and storing midden-refuse come in, as in previous years, for The tip nuisance is, howa good share of condemnation. ever, declared to be at an end, the Sanitary Committee having determined to carbonise all such refuse in a destructor now in course of erection. The typhus outbreak, which commenced in 1881, is reported to have ceaQed, small-pox has been all but absent, and though scarlet fever has been epidemic in several localities, yet its early suppression was materially facilitated by the system of notification which the school authorities voluntarily carry out. The isolation of the infectious fevers has been effected both at the Wilton Hospital, which was provided by the corporation some years ago, and at Monsal Hospital, with which Salford has made special arrangements, and during 1881 the number of persons isolated was 171. The population of Salford in the middle of 1881 was 177,755, the general mortality was at the rate of 22 5 per 1000, and that of infants under one year as high as 16’3 per cent. of the registered births. The description of the sanitary work carried out during the year shows that a vigilant eye is maintained over all that relates to the health of the district. Amongst the more urgent recommendations made by Dr. Tatham is the provision of an efficient disinfecting stove. Originally a Nelson’s stove was provided, but in Sdlford, as in other places, it has been unsatisfactory in its working. Indeed, so many articles have been destroyed in it that its use for clothing or bedding of any value has had to be abandoned. Cork.—During the four weeks ending December 2nd 166 births took place, being equal to 27’5 per 1000. The deaths amounted to 134, including 18 dying in the workLOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT. registered house, and therefore outside the borough. The annual death-rate per 1000 inhabitants was 22’4, but, deducting REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. those who died in the workhouse, the urban death-rate will Rochdale.—According, to the census of 1881 Rochdale had be 19’2. a population of 68.865 ; the birth-rate for that year has been A special meeting of the Dudley board of guardians is to 30’2, and the death-rate 19’9 per 1000; the latter being so me- be heid to consider the question of the overcrowding of the what less than the urban population for England and Wales. imbeciles at their workhouse. Mr. Longe, the Government The infantile deaths under one year of age were at the rate inspector, states that the beds of the patients touch each of 13 8per cent. of the births, a fact to be in the main other in the wards, in violation of all the rules of health and attributed to that absence of infantile diarrhoea for which decency. Rochdale has long been noted, whilst many surrounding VITAL STATISTICS. and very similarly circumstanced towns have suffered severely. The only infectious disease which was epidemic was emallHEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS. pox. As many as 496 cases were reported to Dr. J. Henry, In twenty-eight of the largest English towna 4921 births the medical officer of health, and fifty-one fatal cases were registered. The epidemic continued over many months, and and 4036 deaths wereregistered during the week ending the 30th ult. The annual death-rate in these towns, which we have recently referred to the inquiry made by Dr. Thorne Thorne as to a special distvihution of the disease in the had been equal to 23’4, 26’9, and 27’6 per 1000 in the three neighbourhood of the old workhouse, which had been trans- preceding weeks, declined again last week to 24’9. The ferred into a temporary hospital. Mr. Alderman Taylor, so lowest death-rates in these tuwns last week were 16’9 in long connected with the health department of the corpora- Portsmouth, 17’1 in Brighton, and 19’8 in Leicester. The tion, issues a separate report as to the night soil depot. rates in the other towns ranged upwards to 29 9 in ManThe number of so called Rochdale puls in use at the end of chester, 33’1 in Preston, 35 9 in Liverpool, and 37’7 in 1881 was 10,182, and the quantity of artificial manure manu- Sunderland. The deaths referred to the principal zymotic factured was 552 tons. Fortunatelv also, the demand for diseases in the twenty-eight towns were 4t0, and fewer than this manure equals the supply; the best possible test of its in any previous week of the year; 92 resulted from scarlet value for agricultural purposes. Mr. Taylor foretells a fever, 90 from whooping-cough, 88 from measles, 74 from further improvement in connexion with this manufacture "fever" (principally enteric), 43 from diarrhoea, 17 from owing to a very clever invention of the manager, Mr. diphtheria, and 6 from small-pox. The lowest deathHaresceugh, by which increased efficiency and economy will rates from these zymotic diseases occurred in Brighton, be ensured ; and he further suggests that the smaller Oldham, and Bradford ; and the highest in Liverpool and mortality of Rochdale, as compared with other Lancashire Sunderland. Scarlet fever caused the greatest fatality in manufacturing towns, is, at least in part, to be attributed to Sunderland and Nottingham ; whooping-cough in Ply month the speedy and frequent removal of all excrementious and Preston ; measles in Birkenhead, Cardiff, and Sundermatters from the vicinity of houses. This suggestion is of land ; and " fever" in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Derby, in connexion with the immunity of Liverpool, and Sunderland. The 17 deaths from diphtheria special importance Rochdale from prevalences of infantile diarrhcea. in the twenty-eight towns included 12 in London and 3 in Salforcl.-Not only was the death-rate for Salford in 1881 Manchester. Small pox caused 2 deaths both in London less than the average of that during many preceding years, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 1 both in Nottingham and
written retraction of the charge above alluded to, which had been signed in the presence of witnesses, was then asked for ; but after taking the evidence of Dr. Ball, who attributed death to prussic acid, and spoke of the high respect in which the deceased was held in the neighbourhood, it was decided to adjourn the inquiry until Thursday. OIl that day the written retraction was produced ; it was complete, and accompanied with an expression of regret on the part of those who had made the false charge. No material addition to the evidence already adduced had been forthcoming at the time of our going to press. On Monday the funeral took place at Heston Cemetery, and the opportunity was taken for a general display of sympathy with the bereaved relatives. The officers of the 8th Middlesex Rifles, in which corps Dr. Edwardes was a lieutenant, accorded military honours to the deceased; many of the shops were closed, and the route to the tomb was lined with sympathising spectators; wreaths and crosses were placed on the coffin and three volleys fired over the grave. In the evening a mob, against which the police were quite assembled, and by means of stones and other powerless, missiles destroyed every window in Dr. Whitmarsh’s house. Thee scenes of riot were continued during Tuesday and Wednesday, although not to such an excess, the local police having been reinforced by a large body of mounted and other constables who kept unceasing and vigilant watch over the residence; it is stated that at one time more than forty constables were located in the house to ensure its protection. The cause of this outburst of popular feeling is no doubt due to the great popularity of Dr. Edwardes. Although only resident in the district for about twelve months he had gained the esteem of almost all with whom he was brought into contact, his devotion to his profession and attention to the poor being remarkable. He was a hard working* and distinguished student of St. Mary’s Hospital, and before leaving that institution filled the post of principal obstetric physician for the usual period of six months.
by
Public Dealth
and
Poor Law.
___
________
Paris,
34 but the rate of decrease was in excess of that which obtained in the neighbouring large towns. Dr. Tiltharc, however, cautions the corporation against a too hasty conclusion that this result is all to be attributed to improved sanitary cir. cumstances, and he proceeds at once to deal in detail with some of the conditions which still operate injuriously upon health. Amongst these are the impurity of the atmosphere reason of the smoke nuisance, which is the main factor in producing in Salford a death-rate from lung disease averaging 598 per 100,000, as opposed to an average of 334 in Mid-Cheshire. Next comes the brick-burning nuisance, as to which the by-laws are often violated. The faulty system of excrement disposal and the practice of heaping up and storing midden-refuse come in, as in previous years, for The tip nuisance is, howa good share of condemnation. ever, declared to be at an end, the Sanitary Committee having determined to carbonise all such refuse in a destructor now in course of erection. The typhus outbreak, which commenced in 1881, is reported to have ceaQed, small-pox has been all but absent, and though scarlet fever has been epidemic in several localities, yet its early suppression was materially facilitated by the system of notification which the school authorities voluntarily carry out. The isolation of the infectious fevers has been effected both at the Wilton Hospital, which was provided by the corporation some years ago, and at Monsal Hospital, with which Salford has made special arrangements, and during 1881 the number of persons isolated was 171. The population of Salford in the middle of 1881 was 177,755, the general mortality was at the rate of 22 5 per 1000, and that of infants under one year as high as 16’3 per cent. of the registered births. The description of the sanitary work carried out during the year shows that a vigilant eye is maintained over all that relates to the health of the district. Amongst the more urgent recommendations made by Dr. Tatham is the provision of an efficient disinfecting stove. Originally a Nelson’s stove was provided, but in Sdlford, as in other places, it has been unsatisfactory in its working. Indeed, so many articles have been destroyed in it that its use for clothing or bedding of any value has had to be abandoned. Cork.—During the four weeks ending December 2nd 166 births took place, being equal to 27’5 per 1000. The deaths amounted to 134, including 18 dying in the workLOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT. registered house, and therefore outside the borough. The annual death-rate per 1000 inhabitants was 22’4, but, deducting REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH. those who died in the workhouse, the urban death-rate will Rochdale.—According, to the census of 1881 Rochdale had be 19’2. a population of 68.865 ; the birth-rate for that year has been A special meeting of the Dudley board of guardians is to 30’2, and the death-rate 19’9 per 1000; the latter being so me- be heid to consider the question of the overcrowding of the what less than the urban population for England and Wales. imbeciles at their workhouse. Mr. Longe, the Government The infantile deaths under one year of age were at the rate inspector, states that the beds of the patients touch each of 13 8per cent. of the births, a fact to be in the main other in the wards, in violation of all the rules of health and attributed to that absence of infantile diarrhoea for which decency. Rochdale has long been noted, whilst many surrounding VITAL STATISTICS. and very similarly circumstanced towns have suffered severely. The only infectious disease which was epidemic was emallHEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS. pox. As many as 496 cases were reported to Dr. J. Henry, In twenty-eight of the largest English towna 4921 births the medical officer of health, and fifty-one fatal cases were registered. The epidemic continued over many months, and and 4036 deaths wereregistered during the week ending the 30th ult. The annual death-rate in these towns, which we have recently referred to the inquiry made by Dr. Thorne Thorne as to a special distvihution of the disease in the had been equal to 23’4, 26’9, and 27’6 per 1000 in the three neighbourhood of the old workhouse, which had been trans- preceding weeks, declined again last week to 24’9. The ferred into a temporary hospital. Mr. Alderman Taylor, so lowest death-rates in these tuwns last week were 16’9 in long connected with the health department of the corpora- Portsmouth, 17’1 in Brighton, and 19’8 in Leicester. The tion, issues a separate report as to the night soil depot. rates in the other towns ranged upwards to 29 9 in ManThe number of so called Rochdale puls in use at the end of chester, 33’1 in Preston, 35 9 in Liverpool, and 37’7 in 1881 was 10,182, and the quantity of artificial manure manu- Sunderland. The deaths referred to the principal zymotic factured was 552 tons. Fortunatelv also, the demand for diseases in the twenty-eight towns were 4t0, and fewer than this manure equals the supply; the best possible test of its in any previous week of the year; 92 resulted from scarlet value for agricultural purposes. Mr. Taylor foretells a fever, 90 from whooping-cough, 88 from measles, 74 from further improvement in connexion with this manufacture "fever" (principally enteric), 43 from diarrhoea, 17 from owing to a very clever invention of the manager, Mr. diphtheria, and 6 from small-pox. The lowest deathHaresceugh, by which increased efficiency and economy will rates from these zymotic diseases occurred in Brighton, be ensured ; and he further suggests that the smaller Oldham, and Bradford ; and the highest in Liverpool and mortality of Rochdale, as compared with other Lancashire Sunderland. Scarlet fever caused the greatest fatality in manufacturing towns, is, at least in part, to be attributed to Sunderland and Nottingham ; whooping-cough in Ply month the speedy and frequent removal of all excrementious and Preston ; measles in Birkenhead, Cardiff, and Sundermatters from the vicinity of houses. This suggestion is of land ; and " fever" in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Derby, in connexion with the immunity of Liverpool, and Sunderland. The 17 deaths from diphtheria special importance Rochdale from prevalences of infantile diarrhcea. in the twenty-eight towns included 12 in London and 3 in Salforcl.-Not only was the death-rate for Salford in 1881 Manchester. Small pox caused 2 deaths both in London less than the average of that during many preceding years, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 1 both in Nottingham and
written retraction of the charge above alluded to, which had been signed in the presence of witnesses, was then asked for ; but after taking the evidence of Dr. Ball, who attributed death to prussic acid, and spoke of the high respect in which the deceased was held in the neighbourhood, it was decided to adjourn the inquiry until Thursday. OIl that day the written retraction was produced ; it was complete, and accompanied with an expression of regret on the part of those who had made the false charge. No material addition to the evidence already adduced had been forthcoming at the time of our going to press. On Monday the funeral took place at Heston Cemetery, and the opportunity was taken for a general display of sympathy with the bereaved relatives. The officers of the 8th Middlesex Rifles, in which corps Dr. Edwardes was a lieutenant, accorded military honours to the deceased; many of the shops were closed, and the route to the tomb was lined with sympathising spectators; wreaths and crosses were placed on the coffin and three volleys fired over the grave. In the evening a mob, against which the police were quite assembled, and by means of stones and other powerless, missiles destroyed every window in Dr. Whitmarsh’s house. Thee scenes of riot were continued during Tuesday and Wednesday, although not to such an excess, the local police having been reinforced by a large body of mounted and other constables who kept unceasing and vigilant watch over the residence; it is stated that at one time more than forty constables were located in the house to ensure its protection. The cause of this outburst of popular feeling is no doubt due to the great popularity of Dr. Edwardes. Although only resident in the district for about twelve months he had gained the esteem of almost all with whom he was brought into contact, his devotion to his profession and attention to the poor being remarkable. He was a hard working* and distinguished student of St. Mary’s Hospital, and before leaving that institution filled the post of principal obstetric physician for the usual period of six months.
by
Public Dealth
and
Poor Law.
___
________