Facts and observations on the sanitory state of Glasgow during the last year : with statistical tables of the late epidemic, shewing the connection existing between poverty, disease, and crime / by Robt. Perry.
- Perry, Robert, 1783-1848.
- Date:
- 1844
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Facts and observations on the sanitory state of Glasgow during the last year : with statistical tables of the late epidemic, shewing the connection existing between poverty, disease, and crime / by Robt. Perry. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![s in hii own Traj, from the monopolist down to the common Ihidf, the former ^ith the sanction of the law, the latter bj stealth and violence. Tiiis over crowding in large cities, and consequent accumu- lation of poverty and vi(je, is increased by the very improve- ments which add to the comforts of those who are superior to v/ant. Among the improvements which of late jears have led to this increase., railv/ajs may be mentioned. It is now found that all the small tov/ns and villages near the tract of the railways are rapidly faUing into decay. The facilities afforded to those who ha^ve money to spend, encourage them to visit and spend their money in the large cities or towns, Wiiere there is a terminus, so tliat those wJio were formerly able through their means to obtain a livelihood by their custom, are now forced to follow, and seek the means of subsistence as they be^t can, among the crowd who are struggling for existence. In reflecting upon the immense amount of destitution and misery v/hich exists, it is not possible to avoid comjiig to the conclusion that there must be something wrong in the state of society when the population of a country, acute in intellect and fertile in resources, is plunged into such a state of hopeless misery, a misery whicli is yeai'ly and dail v increasing in intensity, and extending wider among peo})]e formerly noted for their sobriety a.nd industrj^ It is certain that ere long, the rich will be compelled in some shape or other to look to the support of the poor ; let tho^e therefore, who hs/ve influence, consider well if nothing be done soon, what the end of this state of things may be. As one means of relieving those who are able and industrious, could an extensive system of emigration to our own colonies not be adopted, which, by extendmg our markets, would give greater employment to those who rema^in. Those individuals from the country villages whose re- sources are dried up by the means above noticed, are well adapted for colonists ; and besiiles benefitting themselves, would soon become the employers ; instead of in the city mingling with their families, witii those by wliom they must almost necessarily be infected both by vice and disease. In the appendix to the report of the district surgeons, it is stated that', In 1841-42, 5,290 cases received medical relief. This year, 10 058 cases ; increase this year, 13,789 cases, ** Of this year's report, 12,907 were cases of a peculiarly dis- *• tressing epidemic fever, and 730 cases of typhus fever. Of the former 12,907 cases, 12,397 were treated at their own homes, and 570 sent to the l^oyal Infirmary. Of tliose treated at home, 301 died, being in the ratio of 2.3G3 per 100 ca-e6.'*](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21451643_0012.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
