bathing in Victoria Park, as an experiment,' during week days, from July 9 to September 30.

A more extraordinary sight of the kind had, perhaps, never been seen than that presented at the lake on the evening of July 9. The news had travelled far over the East of London that bathing would be permitted on that evening from eight to nine o'clock. A number of gentlemen interested in the trial of the 'experiment' had assembled to witness the proceedings; and after a short public meeting had been held to inaugurate the event, they adjourned to the banks of the lake. There every inch of ground was covered by a vast crowd of intending bathers. These, anticipating the concession which was about to take effect, had already stripped, and in a few minutes it is not too much to say that the water could scarcely be seen for the great multitude of persons who flocked into it. The great unwashed' had come in tens of thousands-in numbers, in fact, far too great to find room to bathe in the short interval of time allowed-with anything like comfort. The spectators of the scene alone numbered at one time little short, it was estimated, of 15,000 persons. So far as hundreds of the bathers were concerned it would have been somewhat difficult to hazard a guess as to the period when they had previously indulged in the luxury of a bath. But judging from their sombre hues the period must have been very remote. In fact, it is probable that the greater number of these evening bathers were those who had previously found it impossible to avail themselves of the privilege of open-air bathing in the morning, and a good many of them doubtless had not had a bath for years. These of course freely indulged in the use of soap, and when eight o'clock came and the crowds were ordered out of the lake it is easy to imagine in what condition the water must have been. Similar scenes to that presented on the 'opening night' were observable throughout the greater part of last summer-the numbers of evening bathers rising in proportion to the rise in the thermometer. Of course the water of the lake, pent within such comparatively narrow limits, and not removed in a proper manner, soon got into a filthy condition. became so bad, in fact, that hundreds of the better class of bathers gave up bathing in the park; yet hosts of the industrial poor came nightly to indulge in what was still to them a luxury, although a luxury of a very questionable kind.

It

During the continuance of this evening bathing last summer I believe no complaint was made of the conduct of the bathers. The lake is concealed from view on all sides except one by embankments planted with shrubbery; and on its open side the Metropolitan Bathing Association erected a large screen, so as to hide the bathers from the other visitors to the park, and thus secure the necessary privacy. Lord Henry Lennox took a good deal of personal interest in this subject. He went to the park so that he might see for himself 'the effect of the concession made to the advocates of evening bathing,' and he expressed himself much pleased

with the result.

On Friday, June 11, a deputation from the Metropolitan Bathing Association, headed by Mr. John Holms, M.P. for Hackney, again went to the First Commissioner of Works to ask him to continue the privilege of evening bathing in Victoria Park during the present summer. Lord Henry Lennox readily gave his consent, stating at the same time

that the park superintendent had reported to him, with reference to the evening bathing last year, that everything had gone on favourably, there being no disorder, but the utmost willingness on the part of the bathers to obey the rules laid down. Touching the number of persons who used the lake at one time, the park superintendent had also reported that at one period of a particular evening the lake was full, but there might have been room to have squeezed in one man and two boys.' The twentyfirst of last month was fixed for the recommencement of evening bathing, and, accordingly, on that evening a very large number of persons availed themselves of the privilege. The number would have been greater but for the coldness of the weather. Should we, however, get a continuance of hot weather during the rest of the summer, the scenes of last season will be repeated, and the consequence must be that the water will again be brought into a foul and unwholesome condition.

It is obvious, therefore, that what is needed is a very considerable extension of the bathing lake. The First Commissioner of Works has promised that this shall be done, and it is his intention, I believe, to have the necessary works commenced this year. It is proposed to widen the lake, but it has not yet, I think, been decided to what extent this shall be done. There ought to be, however, not only a widening of this particular piece of ornamental water, but a very considerable lengthening of it. Indeed, if it were twelve times its present size it would scarcely be large enough for the requirements of the vast popu lation of East London. The question is one of sufficient importance to engage the attention of Parliament, and the public money ought not to be stinted in the matter. Much as I commend the excellent movement which has resulted in securing a concession from the present First Commissioner that has been persistently refused by his predecessors during a number of years, I am bound to express the opinion that the use day after day of a comparatively small piece of water by such vast numbers of people is likely to do more harm than good. But that is nevertheless not an argument, as some persons have contended, against the concession of Lord Henry Lennox, but an argument, and a very strong one, in favour of a great extension of the privilege, and of a great extension too of the means necessary to make that privilege enjoyable and healthful.

It seems to me that the accommodation for bathers in the East of London should not be limited to that which it may be found possible to provide in Victoria Park. In every practicable way the industrial classes should be encouraged in the habit of open-air bathing. It is quite unnecessary for me in this place to enlarge upon the healthful and admirable effects of such a practice; and it will, I think, be admitted that there are no parts of the metropolis in which the existence of good bathing accommodation is more urgently needed than in the Eastern districts. The extraordinary use which has been made for bathing purposes of the comparatively small ornamental lake on the eastern side of Victoria by very inadequate means, and demonstrates the Park shows that a great public want has been met necessity for largely extending those means in the interest of the public health.

CONDITIONS OF HEALTH IN REGARD OF HUMAN DWELLINGS AND OTHERWISE.

BY HENRY MACCORMAC, M.D.

THE question of health is one of excessive moment. We live or we die, live well or miserably, live our full term or perish prematurely, accordingly as we shall wisely or otherwise determine. Half the human race perishes in infancy of, for the most part, preventable causes of death; and of those who reach adult life the great majority, it may be truly said, are cut off before their time. They eat and drink too much, else they eat and drink too little, what they do take is unsuitable of its kind, or, if suitable, owing to various disturbing influences, they are unable to assimilate it properly. Like remarks, mutatis mutandis, may be passed, in regard of habiliments, lodging, warmth and other conditions more or less essential to man's life and health.

But irrespective of these matters, our habits have a vast deal to say to our vital condition; how much, no one who has not looked into the question, can well imagine. A little, yes a very little, divergence from the linea recta will in the long run conduct irreversibly to issues the most disastrous. If a vigorous man, a healthy child, were, within a few hours, to become pallid, feeble, with functional derangement and organic decay, in short, moribund, we should be justly surprised, and, if interested, hasten to inquire the cause. But when such results occur slowly we term it, forsooth, chronic disease, we call it hereditary, or, if of a religious turn, we say it is a stroke of providence; and as the French phrase it, tout est dit. But all, in reality, is not said, and if we only look at the cases from a sufficient elevation, we may perchance trace the course of events with the same facility and definiteness as we should the current of some river in any well-constructed map. I only wish to add to the foregoing general considerations that moral causes must also be taken into account. What, moral causes? Yes, indeed, and I shall say that moral causes exercise a most determinate influence as respects the occasions of health and disease, and in my opinion have been vastly too much overlooked, save in a most vague and perfunctory fashion, in our inquiries.

The leading matters in regard of health, as, pure air, water, food, light, warmth, and the rest, may be summed up under fewer heads and in briefer fashion than most persons would be inclined to imagine. The difficulty, in truth, is to induce people to take them effectively to heart and make them an ingredient of their daily life and action. There is a vague general idea that air, pure air, is a useful enough sort of thing; but why it is so, or how, few know, and fewer still inquire. It is not so very long ago since it was thought that animal warmth was a direct product of nervous action. How many in a thousand of the educated classes are aware how animal warmth is produced? How many even-but I must not put indiscreet questions. The fact is, that not one person in ten thousand has any, were it even the most vague idea, how animal warmth originates; and yet it is a process that has the very closest connection with wellbeing and disease, the presence or the absence not merely of ordinary health, but of the most destructive malady that now affects our species. Animal warmth, then, is

created and maintained by the combustion within the organism of the effete carbonaceous waste; the difference in capacity for latent caloric between carbonic acid-carbonic anhydride, as it as been recently termed-and oxygen in disfavour of the former, yielding the surplus which we term animal heat. Now, if the air have already been relieved of its disposable oxygen, it will no longer fitly oxidise the effete carbon. This being insufficiently excreted the inevitable result is joint functional and organic disease. Those who run may read, and if I have not yielded adequate motive for the respiration of air not pre-breathed and not impure, I know of nothing in the wide range of words or things calculated to do so.

A number of years ago I contemplated a translation, with notes and comments, of the Airs, and Waters, and Places of Hippocrates, but I refrained, knowing how much in these days we should have to differ from him. Nevertheless, the subject is as rife for comment as ever, but having said my say in respect of air, I shall now proceed to observe something about water. All the drinking water to which we have access is nature distilled; indeed this is the case with all fresh waters, but they are very far indeed from reaching us in a pure condition. At least, our drinking waters are often terribly deteriorated and impaired. Our drinking water, I allege, ought to be simply as pure as it is furnished by the hands of nature. Water cannot be better than this, and assuredly ought not to be worse. How, then, is this so desirable result to be compassed? Most readily, I reply. It is only needful to filter rain-water, once or oftener, thoroughly. Rain-water also needs to be well filtered or even boiled in addition. As a general rule, pump or well-water, even at its best, is undesirable. As for tainted well-water, water loaded with impurities, living or dead, it is an abomination. Water absolutely pure and untainted alone meets man's requirements, and ought to be alone supplied. Every requisite means should be resorted to calculated to render it so. How any one can recommend hard water is what I do not understand. water is better for cooking, drinking, and washing alike. Mineral ingredients-I speak of ordinary drinking waters-are therein quite misplaced. Any minerals, so far as we require minerals, abound sufficiently in our solid food. Simple boiling, where we cannot both boil and filter, is a great preservative, destroys most detrimental ingredients, renders parasites harmless. And I cannot sufficiently admire the Chinese who boil all their drinking water, which water they otherwise consume in the form of tea. Indeed, any high toasted vegetable ingredient--tea, coffee, torrified bread, and the like-renders boiled and filtered water agreeable to the palate. Otherwise water, or indeed any drink, ought not to be taken between meals. Oftener than once, I have found the water which was yielded by the public fountains with which the streets have been so recently decked, turbid with living and dead impurities, and therefore utterly unfit to drink.

Soft

That an ample supply of clothes, of food, of warmth, of light, and of things graceful and useful in respect of house and dwelling-places generally, should subsist for all, is incontrovertible. Nature furnishes a perfect plethora of means, but until education of a vastly higher class pervades the millions, and temperance and self-restraint become general, I do not see how so desirable a consummation is to be effected. People, in general, are not

half clothed, half fed, or half warmed; and as for grace, and comfort, and convenience, they are at a terrible premium. We have food, but people do not know how to cook it. The art of cookery, as practised, would be unworthy of savages. People do not know how to boil a potato or prepare a stew. The Norwegian Kitchener and Captain Warren's improvements are alike ignored. Our bread, too often, is an abomination. The bran, most unwisely, is rejected. Various desirable useful grains and pulse are neglected, if not wholly unknown. Milk is adulterated, and otherwise quite insufficient. and eggs, with fruit and vegetables, are scarce and dear; while good, cheap, and wholesome wines and ales are either burdened with injudicious fiscal restrictions, or, in common with other articles of con

Meat

sumption, so adulterated as to impair or destroy their natural useful characteristics, and render them a curse rather than a blessing to those who consume and, indeed, too often abuse them. I have said enough, if only the inferences were turned to proper account, to prove of no little usefulness. But if my suggestions remain unheeded, whether I say much or little is unavailing alike. The latter half of the alternative I am not, however, disposed to embrace. Sanitary, must follow in the wake, if it do not march in the van, of other improvements; and, soon or late, men will see and feel that health is as well worth struggling and striving for, as are certain other matters which hitherto have only too much constituted the goal of their ambition.

THE

In replying to the deputation on the subject of their request the First Commissioner of Works stated incidentally that he had been asked by the London School Board to grant the use of the Victoria Fark bathing-lake for one hour every Saturday, in order that the School Board boys might be taught swimming. The board promised that if their request was complied with they would see that order was preserved, and that there should be no irregularities or abuse of the privilege. The request was readily complied with; and in referring to the concession Lord Henry Lennox said: "This privilege will not take anything from the public, and I think that the House of Commons and the country will be of opinion that it is advisable that once a week an

hour or two should be set aside for this purpose.' He added: "I am very anxious for the success of this movement.'

This concession of the Chief Commissioner of

Works has led to more important results than were at first anticipated. Last week a number of influential gentlemen, including the Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Reed, Sir Antonio Brady, Sir Frederick Arrow, deputy-master of the Trinity House, the Hon. C. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Currie, Mr. Macgregor, and several other members of the London School Board, held a meeting at the Mansion House for the purpose of taking the necessary steps in order to raise a fund to be applied to the object of instructing in swimming the children both of the board schools

SWIMMING LESSONS FOR POOR
CHILDREN.

WE are glad to direct attention to an excellent movement which has just been commenced in the metropolis, the object being to give free instruction in the art of swimming to the children in the London board schools. In a paper which will be found elsewhere, on the subject of 'Evening Bathing in Victoria Park,' reference is made to a deputation from the Metropolitan Bathing Association which waited on Lord Henry Lennox on the 11th of last month, in order to ask his lordship to allow the privilege of week-evening bathing, which was granted for the first time last summer in the East-end park, to be continued during the present season.

The idea, it seems, originated with 'The London Schools Swimming Club,' and the funds which it is proposed to raise-by voluntary subscriptions, and not by School Board rates-are to be applied in defraying the expense which may be entailed by the metropolis, and in providing swimming lessons for promotion of increased means of bathing in the teachers and pupils in board and other elementary schools in the metropolis.

The proprietors of a large number of the public swimming-baths have come liberally forward to

meet this excellent movement, and have undertaken to admit the boys who may come to them under arrangement at the small charge of from three farthings to three-halfpence each. Sir John Bennett and several other gentlemen have promised swimming prizes as an encouragement to the boys who may avail themselves of the proposed swimming lessons.

Sir Charles Reed, who presided at the Mansion House meeting last week, stated that the movement, so far as the East of London was concerned, had been attended by the most marked success-no less than 2,000 children having accepted the facilities offered them for bathing on Saturday evenings in Victoria Park. The girls of the School Board schools have not been forgotten. It is intended, for their accommodation, and in order to teach them the art of swimming, to make arrangements by

which swimming lessons can be given to them at some of the larger London baths. Of course, as Sir Charles Reed pointed out, the money ofthe ratepayers could not be appropriated in order to defray the costs of this movement, and hence the necessity for a special and voluntary fund. The meeting having adopted a resolution to the effect that it was 'strongly of opinion that systematic instruction in the art of swimming should be given to the scholars attending public elementary schools in the metropolis,' and also a further resolution to the effect that in order to carry out the first a fund must be at once started, the Lord Mayor came forward and promised to give ten guineas to head the list. His lordship further offered to receive at the Mansion House any subscriptions which may be forthcoming towards the fund.

A lady-Miss Chessar-was present at the meeting, and she took the opportunity of claiming, on behalf of the girls in the board schools, the benefit which it was proposed to confer on boys by teaching them swimming. She made the sensible remark that it was just as necessary for girls that they should be taught the habits of cleanliness which swimming will promote, and that they should secure the healthy exercise which the practice affords; and she referred to the large number of women who were lost in the great shipping disasters, ascribing the catastrophes to the fact that they were unable even for a minute to hold themselves up in the water until help could reach them.

We anticipate great good as the result of this admirable movement for teaching poor children the useful and necessary, yet most neglected, art of swimming; and we heartily wish it every success. Sir Frederick Arrow might well say, as he did at the Mansion House meeting last week, that England is far behind other countries in the attention which it paid to swimming. Our deficiency in this respect is notorious, and the fact is most discreditable to us. But it is quite time that we should mend our ways, or it will have to be said of us that we have fairly earned the appellation of 'a nation of shopkeepers,' and that we are fit for nothing

else.

The arguments which can be adduced in support of the excellent movement for promoting the teaching of swimming amongst the children of board schools can, of course, be equally applied in the case of all schools; and this branch of the subject is one that deserves further attention at our hands. But, confining ourselves at present to the particular movement under consideration—namely, that having reference to the teaching of swimming to the children of the poor-we venture to point out that one very important result of this movement will be, we trust, the removal hereafter of the stigma which at present rests upon our sailors. It is a curious and a remarkable fact, and one that is well known, that there is a discreditable ignorance

of the art of swimming amongst our sailors. These, it is fair to presume, will henceforth be largely recruited from the boys of our board schools; and, if in these institutions swimming be systematically taught, there should be no excuse for the seamen of the future if they cannot swim.

We have not lost sight of the hygienic aspect of this important question. But as our present remarks refer more especially to the particular movement for teaching swimming to the children of the London board schools, we have reserved that especial phase of the subject for subsequent discussion. We chiefly desire on this occasion to direct attention to the fact that the metropolis has initiated a movement for promoting the teaching of the art of swimming amongst the children of the poor. But that movement must not be confined to London.

Notes of the Week.

A NEW METROPOLITAN SICK ASYLUM. ON the 24th ult. the President of the Local Government Board was present at the opening of a new asylum for the sick poor, which has recently been erected by the managers of the Central London Sick Asylum District, on the site of the old Strand Union workhouse, in Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square. The managers of the same asylum district already possess a similar institution at Highgate, both having been erected under the provisions of the Metropolitan Poor Act of 1867, for the purpose of receiving, from the workhouses of the co-operating unions of the district, cases of acute sickness. The new asylum has accommodation for 281 patients, exclusive of the necessary staff. The total cost of the asylum, including its site and the furniture, amounts to 32,458., equal to 115/. 10s. per bed; the necessary provision for the staff is included in these amounts. The President of the Local Government

Board having expressed his entire satisfaction with the institution, its arrangement, and fittings, the hospital was formally declared to be open by Sir Sidney Waterlow, the chairman of the board of managers of the Central London Sick Asylum District.

EVIL FOUNDATIONS.

MR. ALDERMAN BENNETT, of Liverpool, recently wrote to the Local Government Board calling attention to the unhealthiness of certain foundations laid down by the health committee of that town, the foundations in ques tion consisting of road-sweepings and the contents of ashpits. The chairman of the committee resented this method of procedure on the part of Mr. Bennett, and said that it was unfair, unjust, and ungenerous. Whatever breach of town council etiquette Mr. Bennett may have committed in apprising the Local Government Board of the very objectionable foundations which the health committee were sanctioning, there can be no doubt that he has done good service by calling the attention of the authorities to the evil. The matter was discussed fully at the Sanitary Concarried out, would have the effect of preventing building. ference at Birmingham, and suggestions made which, if grounds being made the receptacle for all manner of filth and refuse, previous to being built upon, to the detriment of the health of the subsequent dwellers thereon. The evil is one not confined to any particular town. We have an instance in the Euston Square gardens at the present moment. The remedy should be, therefore, one of universal application, and rigidly enforced.

ANTI-VACCINATORS.

A 'GREAT demonstration' was made at Banbury the other evening against the compulsory Vaccination Act, at which the Rev. Horne Rothery, of Cheltenham, was again the prime mover. The occasion of the demonstration was the release from Northampton Gaol of a man who had suffered fourteen days' imprisonment rather than have his child vaccinated. On the arrival of the released prisoner crowds of persons carrying banners, and attended by bands of music, met him at the station, and presented him with a purse of gold; a meeting was subsequently held, at which the usual speeches were made, and the usual resolutions passed in condemnation of the Act. There is little doubt but that other sham martyrs to this useful Act, may be obtained by the prospect of a similar reward in the shape of a purse of gold. The real martyrs are beyond reach of purses or testimonials.

FEVER HOSPITALS.

THE small-pox epidemic in Birmingham has somewhat abated, and the guardians of Aston, within which union is situated a considerable portion of the borough of Bir mingham, are already beginning to discuss the disposal of the Infirmary building at Erdington which has been used as a small-pox hospital. The opposition to the erection of these hospitals for infectious diseases is so great, that when once established their maintenance is especially desirable, more particularly in close proximity to so large a town as Birmingham. Dr. Buchanan, of the Local Government Board, recently stated, that in order to secure the proper isolation and treatment of zymotic diseases special hospital accommodation should always exist in the proportion of one bed to each 1,000 of the population. becomes a question, therefore, whether Birmingham can spare the small-pox infirmary at Erdington.

A SOCIAL DANGER.

It

THE British Medical Journal refers to an attack of scarlatina among the guests at a recent entertainment at South Kensington, which is characterised as 'unparalleled in suddenness, variety of age, numbers and rapidity.' Nearly half of the guests at a large dinner party were immediately afterwards seized with symptoms of scarlet fever, and others with the indications of abortive scarlatinapoisoning. Many of the guests at the subsequent reception were similarly attacked. There was no fever previously in the house. All who were seized with fever had partaken of cream;' a lady who partook next day was also attacked with scarlet fever. All in the house are believed previously to have been in good health. No other source of infection is at present apparent. Mr. Simon, Dr. Buchanan and Dr. Merriman are engaged in investigating the subject and are receiving the most prompt and active assistance from all concerned.

BIRMINGHAM AND ITS NEIGHBOURS. SMETHWICK is a hamlet and local board district, lying just outside the borough of Birmingham, and therefore under a different sanitary authority and medical officer of health. At the last monthly meeting of this local board a letter was read which had been received from the sanitary committee of the Birmingham town council, calling attention to the discharge of sewage into the Hockley Brook (within the Smethwick local board), which contributed seriously to the pollution of the stream. The letter stated that the Birmingham sanitary authority were doing all in their power, at great expense, to improve the condition of the stream as it passed through the borough, and were therefore determined to prevent as far as possible its pollution by other authorities further up the stream. It further stated that unless the nuisance were abated the town council would take such proceedings as they might be advised. The Smethwick local board, after some discussion, instructed their surveyor and sanitary inspector to examine and report on the brook.

SUNSHINE.

THE Registrar-General of Scotland has extended the meteorological returns of that country so as to include the number of hours daily during which the sun shines. It is found that Scotland is favoured with an average amount of sunshine varying from 1650 to 1.750 per diem. In 1874, however, the average was 1815, which were appor tioned as under:-74 in January, 103 in February, 138 in March, 179 in April, 170 in May, 277 in June, 239 in July, 188 in August, 145 in September, 140 in October, 78 in November, and 84 in December. The average was above nine hours a day in June, and not quite two and a half in January.

A LIVERPOOL SUBURB.

THE Liverpool Daily Courier recently published an article headed Huyton-cum-Roby,' which contained a most alarming account of the sanitary condition of this favourite suburb of Liverpool, including the statement that the annual rate of mortality of the district during May had been so high as 37.7 per 1,000. Such a death-rate in a suburban district at about the healthiest season of the year indeed calls for some explanation. The article, however, in question gives no details which throw any light upon this exceptional rate; and it is well to bear in mind that a month's deaths in a small population, like that of the township referred to, are not to be relied upon for the calculation of a trustworthy death-rate. A rate of mortality of twenty per 1,000 would only signify between five and six deaths during each month in the population of Huyton-with-Roby township, which may be estimated at about 3,500; it is easy, therefore, to see how great a variation in the death-rate one or two more or less deaths in a month would make. We have no recent information as to the causes of deaths in this township, and it may be possible that some zymotic disease may have recently become fatally prevalent, although we strongly incline to the opinion that the Daily Courier would have mentioned such a fact, as the object appeared to be to make the strongest possible case against Huyton. We have turned to the Registrar-General's quarterly returns for 1874, and, from the deaths recorded in the Huyton sub-district during the year, it appears that the rate did not exceed 14.8 per 1,000 upon an estimated population of 5,555, and the zymotic rate was 2.7 per 1,000. This sub-district includes the townships of Knowsley, Torbock, and part of Much Woolton, in addition to Huyton. During the first three months of this year the death-rate of the sub-district was equal to 21.8 per 1000. Unless, therefore, there has been since then an outbreak of epidemic disease there is nothing very alarming in the recent death-rate of the place. It is quite possible, however, that sanitary defects exists in Huyton; and while we are of opinion that highly coloured and alarming statements as to death-rates and sanitary condition hinder rather than help the cause of sanitary progress, we do not doubt that the public discussion of local health matters, if temperately and impartially conducted, is of the utmost value. If the sanitary condition of Huyton-cum-Roby is as black as it is painted, it would be unwise for the local sanitary authority to be lulled into security by the moderately low recent death-rates we have pointed out.

COLONIAL BEER.

WE have recently heard much about the adulteration of our articles of food and drink; it is unsatisfactory to find that, so far at least as beer is concerned, matters are much worse in Australia. In an article on Colonial Beer from a Medical Point of View,' by Mr. J. Dunbar Tweeddale, surgeon, in the Medical and Surgical Review for April, 1875, the author gives a very gloomy account of Australian beer. He says: 'In Victoria free-trade in brewing allows any man to manufacture beer according to his own will and pleasure, without the slightest restriction or supervision. When the beer passes into the hands of