1867.] The Public Health. 75 



in which lie says of those wells : <c 1st. As regards Hotham Street ... the 

 water is not good, and costly to obtain. It is situated in a densely-populated 

 district, where no well can he insured against pollution" . . . "As regards 

 Soho Well . . . the water inferior, costly, and objectionable." . . . 

 Water Street Well appears to be still used. 



We make these observations with a view to add further evidence to that 

 cited by Dr. Lankester, not at all to draw invidious comparisons. The Liverpool 

 Water Authorities deserve well of the town, and they merit (what up to the 

 time these remarks are written they have not received) the support of the 

 Council, in their endeavours to extricate Liverpool from a grave difficulty by 

 providing the town with a large and constant water-supply. 



We would, however, draw the attention of Mr. Greaves, as well as that of 

 the author of the foregoing article, to the 49th Section of the Sanitary Act of 

 18GG, and would ask them, whether, with their strong conviction of the danger 

 to which the inhabitants of their respective cities are exposed through the 

 neglect of the Local Authorities, it would not be desirable that they should 

 induce their townsmen to bring the facts stated by them under the notice of 

 the Home Secretary. An inquiry was lately held in Liverpool in connection 

 with a similar grievance to that complained of by Mr. Greaves — namely, the 

 manure wharves within the borough, and after an impartial hearing before 

 Mr. A. Taylor (whose industry and demeanour cannot be too highly lauded) 

 an official intimation was sent down to Liverpool from the Home Office politely 

 limiting the time for the discontinuance of the wharves in the towns. 



If the Home Secretary be firm, and insist upon compliance with his 

 courteously-worded request, he will deserve great praise for having broken the 

 ice, in putting the Act into operation ; and it will no doubt be gratifying to 

 Mr. Bruce, M.P., the framer of the Act, to find it so soon carried out. 



The influence of this decision will be felt in every town where such 

 abominations exist. 



The Editors. 



