Reports of Dr. Parkes and Dr. Sanderson, on the sanitary condition of Liverpool.

  • Parkes, Edmund A. (Edmund Alexander), 1819-1876.
Date:
[1871]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports of Dr. Parkes and Dr. Sanderson, on the sanitary condition of Liverpool. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    It is impossible for the Corporation to provide houses for its poor citizens. That would be simply offering a premium to pauperism. But it appears to us that great aid would be given to those who can provide houses* by two measures, which may properly be carried out by the municipal authorities. The first step for the improvement of the wretched houses of Liverpool must be the bringing pure air into the midst of the crowded quarters. This can only be done by opening wide and straight streets in such directions, and to such an extent as may be determined after consideration of all the circum- stances. If gradually carried out, this would displace the population from some part of the worst quarters, and would prepare the way for improvement of the houses that remain. The second step would be an adjunct to this. As the object is to spread the population over a wider area, some of the workmen will be at a greater distance from their work than at present. This must be met by facilitating means of transport, by which the difficulties of distance are removed. The conditions of urban and suburban life have been totally altered, in the life time of the present generation, by the use of railways, tramways, river and road steamers. Advantage should be taken of these agencies for sanitary work. If improved means of transport can be combined with the formation of new streets, so as to let the workmen be practically as near his work as he was previously, the inconvenience inflicted on those who are obliged to move would be moderate and transient, while the benefit to all would be great and per- manent \. With regard to the expense of such improvements (which, of course, would be gradually carried out), we may safely say that no expense can be so heavy as that produced by a constant yearly piortality so great as that which prevails in Liverpool. It is certain that sickness is the most costly of all things, and on this ground alone we advocate this proposal. But we would advocate it on higher grounds than its ultimate money advantage. It is incumbent on its * “ We are glad to find that there is a movement on foot in Liverpool (in which yonr Medical Officer of Health has taken an active interest), the aim of which is to alter the condition of the labouring classes in Liverpool, by improving their home arrangements. It is proposed to do this by two methods: by the erection of blocks of model houses for families, and by purchasing property in the worst districts of Liverpool at a fair but moderate price, effecting a few structural alterations, and placing the houses in good and serviceable repair. We think the latter of these two proposals to be of as great sanitary importance as the former. t This displacement of the population, from the densely crowded parts of the town, was advocated many years ago by Dr. Rumsey, of Cheltenham, and appears to us to be the true remedy for the condition of the people in many of our large cities.