The sanitary state of Belfast, with suggestions for its improvement : a paper read before the Statistical Section of the Belfast Association, at Belfast, September 7, 1852 / by A.G. Malcolm, M.D.

  • Malcolm, Andrew G., 1818-1856
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sanitary state of Belfast, with suggestions for its improvement : a paper read before the Statistical Section of the Belfast Association, at Belfast, September 7, 1852 / by A.G. Malcolm, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ensues, and hurries the victims into phthisis, or the many forms of chronic cachexia. We may, however, safely state that, in the recently-erected establishments, the greatest pains have been taken to ensure free ventilation. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The schools of Belfast, of all descriptions, number 79. Of these, 24 belong to the public class, adapted for the poorer inhabitants. Their sanitary condition was duly examined in 1849 by the Sani- tary Committee, with the general result—that a very few of the whole number were in every respect suited for the purpose, and several were so very deficient, that the Committee could recom- mend nothing short of their entire abandonment. Among those examined wore the National Board Schools, some of which, how- ever, it is gratifying to remark, were in every respect satisfactory, and did great credit to their benevolent patrons, and the zeal and watchful care of their able Inspector, David L. Blakeley, Esq. THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. ' Little improvement has been effected in these places since a Report was submitted to the Town Council on their sanitary con- dition in 1848. Then, most were condemned as being totally unsuited for the purpose for which they were applied, and highly injurious to the public health. The recommendation, in the Re- port, of the erection of suitable buildings, after the model of the abattoirs of Paris, entirely without the inhabited portion of the Borough, has not as yet been acted on. The old establishments, however, are better kept than formerly. THE BURYI NG-G ROUNDS. Public attention, especially in England, has been uumistake- ably aroused, within the last few years, on the subject of intra- mural burials. Not a single sound argument has been advanced in their favour, On the contrary, the press and the platform have issued truths respecting their slowly, but ever-acting detri- mental results, which were almost intuitively felt to be such as soon as promulgated ; and, accordingly, a special Act of Parlia- ment for the Metropolis, prohibiting their construction in future, and regulating the existing ones, has been very lately passed. Here, we can at present sav, we have no intramural graveyard ; but, if the increase of building continues in similar ratio to that of the last five years, one buryiug-ground at least will be, de facto, within the town. We refer to what is called the Poor-IIouse, or New Burying-Ground, which includes an area of two acres and two roods, and is preserved in very excellent order. The two others are of many years existence—viz., Friar’s Bush, the Roman Catholic, and Shankhill, the Protestant Burying-ground. The