Board of Health, 179 



part of the city, and that it is an asylum for those labour- 

 ing under fever as well as under other diseases. Between 

 the windows of the clinical ward, appropriated to the 

 women, as well as a fever ward, and those of a neighbour- 

 ing house, I am sure that thirty feet do not intervene, and 

 a current of air must frequently be carried, when the 

 wind is west, immediately through these wards, which 

 have windows almost constantly open on each side, to this 

 and other houses : yet no example, Dr. Duncan informs 

 me, has been known, within his recollection, which extends 

 many years back, of infection being conveyed to these 

 houses ; and he is certain, that in the family of Mr. 

 Alexander Wood, who inhabits one of them, there has not 

 been a fever of many years. He is equally ignorant of 

 any harm having befallen passengers in the street, or the 

 chairmen who convey patients labouring under all the 

 stages of fever, in sedans belonging to the hospital, and 

 lined in the usual manner, though the men employed are 

 not confined to this business, but are called, as for other 

 purposes, off the common stands. It would, doubtless, be 

 prudent, however, to avoid in the construction of your 

 chairs all such materials as are known longest to retain 

 the matter of contagion. 1 



The quotations show how remarkably similar to the 

 thoughts given to and extended by Manchester during the 

 generation spoken of are the thoughts of the present, whilst 

 misery is still unremoved. It is time that we learnt that it 

 cannot be removed by the plans already tried ; it seems to 

 be our system or want of system, as well as the innate help- 

 lessness of men, which deposits dregs of humanity in our 



