A few remarks on the high rate of mortality in Glasgow : with observations on the measure taken by the muncipal authorities to reduce same, under 'The Glasgow Improvements Act, 1866' and other public acts / by James Morrison.

  • Morrison, James, active 1874.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A few remarks on the high rate of mortality in Glasgow : with observations on the measure taken by the muncipal authorities to reduce same, under 'The Glasgow Improvements Act, 1866' and other public acts / by James Morrison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    speaking, in about eleven years every soul in that block, the circumstances remaining unaltered, would have boon dealt with as fever or small-pox patients at the public expense, the death-rate being 70. In 1872 the partial demolition and temporary remedies, to which I have already alluded, were instituted, and the fever cases were reduced to G2, small-pox 1—total G3; death-rate being reduced to 57. In 1873, when further operations in the same direction, which it is fair to remember, reduces the density and lowers the risk of contagion, there wore only 5 cases of fever and 17 cases of small-pox, then epidemic, in all, 22 cases, death-rate 54; so that, as a precautionary measure for curtailing the ravages of epidemic, the destruction of houses unfit for human habitation, and spread of population, is not only one of the best, but appears to me to be in the end the cheapest of all remedies. If the opinion I have expressed on the importance of such operations in large cities is correct, then there remains no doubt but that the general powers conferred by the Legislature on Municipal and Local Authorities might, with great pro- priety, be extended, especially the ]wivilege of compulsory purchase of properties, the removal of which would tend to control the spread of epidemics, or w hich, in tlie opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, were ] ermancntly unhealthy. I am further inclined to advocate 1 hat Municipal and Local Authorities might be allowed, should they deem it necessary, to erect buildings of a better class in lieu of those removed, where needed, to accommodate the population dispossessed, such a clause being permissive and not compulsory, as in Clause 23 of the “ Glasgow City Improvements Act.” As a rule, however, it is not judicious for an elected body, changing periodically, to undertake the erection of buildings which demand close attention for successful prosecution, and