878 NOTES FROM INDIA.-BIRMINGHAM.-MANCHESTER.

are no less than 53 dialects spoken in the city, and that onl)about a fourth of its total population were born in it. Tw(houses were found to contain 691 and 663 inmates respectively and the most crowded room had 54 occupants !During the absence on privilege leave of Mr. J. Nield Cool,

the Corporation of Calcutta have asked for the services oiDr. T. F. Pearse, one of the plague officers. There beinglittle plague in Calcutta at the present time work in thidepartment must be reduced to a minimum. Dr. Pearseshould be well qualified for the post as he holds highdiplomas in medicine, surgery, and public health.

It is understood that the Secretary of State for Indiahas sanctioned the strengthening of the Indian MedicalService by the addition of 26 officers and that the Govern-ment of India will shortly announce their intentions as torecruitment.A resolution of the Government on vaccination in Bengal

has just been issued. Small-pox was very rife during thepast year and in some of the districts only a small proportionof the population has been protected by vaccination. TheLieutenant-Governor refers particularly to the insufficient

protection afforded by the arrangements in Calcutta, butfinds evidence of real progress in other towns where vaccina-tion is compulsory. The difficulty in Calcutta is the largeimmigrant population. In the outlying districts the propor-tion of protected persons is very small. The total number ofdeaths from small-pox in Bengal was 25,302, against 14,514in the preceding year. Out of 476 persons admitted into theCampbell Hospital in Calcutta only 124 had been vaccinated.It must be admitted that the obstacles to extensive vaccina-tion are enormous.

Mr. Hankin in his report to the Government of the North-West Provinces lays it down that a public water-supply maybe considered "well filtered" if it contains less than 100microbes per cubic centimetre, This is a somewhat lowerstandard than that of some authorities, but according to itthe municipal water-supplies in the North-West Provincesare shown to have been " well filtered." The experimental scheme under which British troops in

India are to do their own cooking is a matter of the highestimportance. When soldiers are in the plains during the hotweather there may be difficulties, but during the cool seasonand when in the hills there is no reason why the cook-boyshould not be abolished. The experiment was tried a fewyears ago with the Gordon Highlanders and for months

together not a single case of enteric fever occurred. Iunderstand that men trained in England are to be eventuallyattached to regiments in India. It is not sufficiently recog-nised that though the native can cook he is a very dangerous cook. He will keep dirty pots and pans, foul water, and foulerdishcloths, and he lias not the remotest idea of sanitary pre-cautions. The cooking must, of course, be well done or therewill be other troubles. It behoves the authorities, therefore,to supply the trained men without delay or the sub&titutionof the soldier-cook for the native one may in the meantime

prove disastrous to the proposed change.Sept.7th.

________________

BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Houses itn(I .Health.In the present day we are met with many schemes for the

development of ideal modes of dealing’ with the variousinfluences which retard our physical and moral progress.One or two enthusiasts full of abstract notions of virtue and

philanthropy combine with some followers to form an associa-tion, an attractive title is assumed, and the propagandago forth. In many instances the objects set out are

laudable and praiseworthy ; in the majority there is an

unbiased desire to benefit the human race ; but there is

generally a vast difference exhibited between what is theoreti-cally advanced and what is practically possible. An instanceof this kind is displayed in the Garden City Associationwhich has recently held its conference in Birmingham. The

present conditions of life in cities were pointed out as likelyto reach a point in which the race would become degenerate,when we should be no longer able to hold our own. Theadvantages of a garden city were explained to be increasedlight and space, cheapness of land, readiness of ruarket,facilities in getting to and from work, and all theattractions of a country life. yVe are all aware, that the

unfavourable conditions of life in crowded cities must bedetrimental to health, and we view the slums of such localities

. with abhorrence and dismay. But the plan of reformationis not so easy as the promoters of the Garden City

: Association would wish. The minor industries of agriculture, and gardening may possibly be fostered by such benevolent, advocates ; but the greater manufactories of towns must

, be located for the present, we fear, in confined areas. Thoughin some instances the managers of large industries havetaken their works outside the city and have thus broughtcomfort to their operatives, it is somewhat utopian to expectthat this course can be pursued on a scale sufficient tomeet the demands of the ever-increasing growth of the-

population. The sacrifice of commercial interests entailerlis too heavy.

Epidemic of Scarlet Fever.The Health Committee have to face an increase in the

cases of scarlet fever. At this season the type of cases is mildand the mortality in proportion to the number has been low.Still, the increase in the numbers admitted into the infectionshospitals is great enough to give apprehensions as to theaccommodation at the disposal of the committee. Thus lastweek there were 471 patients in the scarlet fever hospital, ascompared with 324 in the corresponding week of last year,and the record shows an earlier time of the increase forthe season. Arrangements are being made to provideextra room for any additions, and there is every reason to,believe that due preparations will meet any emergency,Cases of typhoid fever form a large item in the work of theHealth Committee. 28 cases were reported last week, with60 cases already in the hospital. A large number of thesecases are also treated at the General Hospital and theQueen’s Hospital, where it is considered by some unwise toadmit such patients. Certainly disasters at times occur-

among those who attend to them, in spite of all precautionsand care.

Poisons in Medicine Bottles.A lamentable instance of death lately occurred from the

want of some distinctive mark between bottles containingpoison and those containing medicine. A man, aged 39 years,complained of having a cold and remained in bed. The medicalattendant prescribed two draughts in small bottles, one to betaken at night and one in the morning ; a small bottle ofcarbolic acid was also bought at a dispensing chemist’s forinhaling. It was supplied in a bottle almost identical withthe others, but labeled I - Poison " in red. The bottles were

placed on a tray by the servant and were carried upstairs.The night draught was given as directed. In the morning’the wife of the patient administered. as she thought, thesecond draught, but immediately it was swallowed the

patient became aware that the wrong bottle had been

emptied and he died in 20 minutes. Many plans havebeen proposed for avoiding such mistakes. The most feasiblewould be, it seems to me, that all poisons should be sold inscrew-stoppered bottles, which would thereby attract atten-tion to the contents, though this would not be infallibleunless other medicine bottles were universally precludedfrom having this form of stopper. Nothing, as a matter offact, can supply the want of thought and care which shouldbe associated with the function of nursing the sick.

T,-a.cei7za,tion Exemption Certificates.At a meeting of the West Bromwich Board of Guardians

attention was recently drawn to the excessive fees whichwere charged for vaccination exemption certificates. It wasstated that in many instances not only did the fathers lose aday’s work in attending before the justices but were charged3s. or 5s, for the certificates. The chairman pointed out thatthe guardians had no jurisdiction in the matter and ruled

any discussion on the subject out of order. A notice tomove a resolution another time was carried.Sept.24th.

MANCHESTER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Blind of Manchester and Salford.HENSHAW’s Blind Asylum has long been known beyond

the limits of Manchester and Salford as an institution that.has deserved well of the community, but for some time ithas had its critics, which, perhaps, is not to be wondered at,for the old ways of an institution tend to become stereotyped

879WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.

while those outside it look for progress. Moreover, it cannotcover the whole ground. There are in the two towns

which, pace Salford, may for the nonce be calledManchester, some 500 poor blind people who, with a

few exceptions, receive no help from the charity. Thefirst article of its regulations is as follows : " To oafford an asylum for the impotent and aged blind,and to maintain and afford such instruction to the indigentblind of both sexes capable of employment- as will enablethem to provide, either wholly or in part, for their ownsubsistence, and to promote the employment of, or to employ,blind persons." This comprehensive scheme, however, is notcarried out, partly, perhaps, because it is so large, and

partly from lack of funds, and the central institution hasbecome the chief care of the managers. The asylum itselfgives a good elementary education and boards 90 blindchildren, it trains scme 50 men to trades, and it housesand feeds 50 old men and women. To make it possiblefor much more than this to be done there must bemore and larger subscriptions. It is said that ’’ the

public gives its support spasmodically," and that thestrictest economy has to be exercised, so that withthe present income it would be hazardous to under-take additional responsibilities." Even now, however, some-thing is done for the blind outside the walls of the asylum.There are workshops in Deansgate with a shop for the saleof work at which 50 blind persons earn small wages. Theywere built at a cost of 11,000 which was provided by acomparatively small number of persons, and they are carriedon unfortunately at an annual loss to the asylum of E700.Pensions also are given to 112 persons at a costof .E800 a year, they have occasionally made loans or

gifts of money to start the blind in business, and

they have paid the fees of old pupils at the asylumwho have proceeded to colleges," but the institutionhas failed in the after care" of those whom it hastrained and sent out into the world, and without this the

majority are apt to drift into beggary and street-organplaying. There is room, therefore, for a society to do thework which the asylum cannot do, to help the outsiders, andone, indeed, has been at work for about 18 months, mainlythrough the initiative of a lady, Miss Isabel M. Heywood, whofor some years has been accustomed to read to the blindworkers in the Deansgate workshops during the dinner-hour.She wrote, with the help of a few friends, to the clergy andministers and other workers among the poor, and bytheir aid obtained a pretty correct register of the poorblind. The Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Societywas formed, with Sir William Houldsworth, M.P.,as president, One of the first steps taken was to

appoint two blind visitors to the blind, who will talk to themmore freely of their circumstances and needs than to

’’sighted" people. The society has also a sick andbenefit branch, a home of rest at St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea, a

home for blind women in Salford, a visiting branch withabout 50 visitors in all parts of the district, and a Braillelibrary. They have also two or three rooms in the old EyeHospital where the blind go to read their Braille or Moonhooks, and where they have occasionally tea and music, andonce a week a religious service. Sometimes there are 60 or70 at the socials," and there was a blind picnic recently, atwhich the Bishop of Manchester spoke, which was attendedby 350 persons. The object of the society is as far as pos-sible to help the blind to help themselves and to be self-supporting. There are among them organists, pianoforteplayers and tuners, wood-choppers, knitters, Braille writers,tea-agents, &c., and as far as possible help is given in theway of finding work and situations. Both the old asylum atOld Trafford and the Blind Aid Society are worthy of help,though the former has not escaped censure. ArchdeaconWilson seems to consider it a long way from being in thefront line of the "centres of blind instruction" and that ncreal advance will be made without a strong and entirelyindependent commission, including some experts in thE

training and care of the adult blind, with power to report orthe whole scope and results of their work and its cost and tcmake recommendations." If such a commission will brinnew life to this old charity it should be appointed withou’delay. The critics who only criticise and give no help ii

setting things right are of no great value.

Prison v. Workhouse.

Much discussion is going on as to the treatment of paupeshildren, and there seems to be a strong feeling in favour o

their being saved from the contamination of the workhouse..-A_propos of the Youthful Offenders Act, relating to childrenwhom the magistrates remanded to the workhouse pendingtheir trial, Mr. Scott, master of the Carlisle Workhouse, saidthat it would be much better for them to be remanded to the-

prison than to the workhouse. The clerk to the guardianssaid that a slur was cast on them by being in prison,, even,.though they might be proved to be innocent, but the masterrepeated that they had better be sent to gaol, as in the work--house "they were bound to associate with some inmates,regular old criminals," and would be less likely to receive-contamination in gaol. This is a strong argument in favourof cottage homes or of boarding out.

More Males than Fentales.The census returns for the Northwich Urban District have-

brought out the fact that the number of the male populationwas 9015, while that of the females was 8596. This isaccounted for "by lack of opportunities for female labour."The same preponderance of males exists also at Crewe andfcr similar reasons-a state of things quite opposed to that;of the country generally, where as a rule the female popula-tion is in excess.

Par7es and Recreation Grounds.

Though the Manchester parks do not force themselves on.the attention of the casual visitor, who may come and gowithout being aware of their existence, a good deal has beendone, especially of late years, towards providing breathingspaces, or lungs, as they are called, for the ever-increasingpopulation. Indeed, it is only in comparatively recent daysthat the corporation have risen to the idea that they had anyduties or responsibilities in the matter, and many valuableopportunities of acquiring open spaces have been lost. How,ever, since 1846 the capital sum spent on this object hasbeen £445,127. The area of the various sites acquired, somelarge, some small, some by purchase and others by privatebeneficence, is over 411 acres. and with the cemeteries itamounts to 632 acres. This is exclusive of Heaton Parkwhich the City Council recently decided to purchase. Itsarea, together with that of some adjacent land to be includedin the purchase, will not be far short of 700 acres.

Sept.24th. ________________

WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The Gothenburg System at Barry.THE progressive town of Barry, the population of which

has increased from 165 in 1881 to 27,028 in 1901, is quitekeeping up its reputation by providing the first licensedhouse in South Wales to be conducted on the lines of theGothenburg system. On Sept. 19th the Barry licensingjustices granted a licence to the representative of a limitedliability company who are the owners of a recently erectedhotel. The articles of association of the company providethat the shareholders shall not receive a dividend of morethan 6 per cent. The remaining profits are to be dividedamong certain objects in the county of Glamorgan to beselected by the Lord Lieutenant. In the event of the sale ofthe licence the whole of the profits resulting from such sale

. are to be divided as the Lord iieutenant may direct,: Contributions may be made to the Cardiff Infirmary and to the

Barry or other nursing associations, and there may also be; provided by the company, or contributions may be made, towards the provision of, a reading-room, an institute, a public-, library, a gymnasium, a public hall, or swimming baths in

any part of Glamorgan. If this venture is successful there- is no doubt that it will be followed by others in the colliery) districts where the licensing justices grant fresh licences.

every year.Poor-law Conferences.

Two conferences of Welsh Poor-law union representativeswere held on Sept. 18th. Delegates from the unions of

North Wales met at Rhyl and from the unions of Southt Wales at Langland Bay. The Rhyl meeting was addressedo by Dr. J. Lloyd Roberts upon the Housing of the Poor as it

affected Pauperism. Dr. Roberts urged that county councilsshould be asked to include classes relating to domesticmatters in their technical instruction schemes. At Langland

;r Bay the question of out-door relief was discussed, when it)f. was suggested that a series of questions should be put tc-