1867.] Tlie Public Health. 301 



the chair, and consisting of Sir John Thwaitcs, the late Lord 

 Mayor of London, Colonel Harness, and Mr. Prestwich, are now 

 sitting, and examining witnesses on the question of the general 

 supply of water to London. Besides the Thames, there are only 

 two other sources of water for London : water from the chalk, or 

 water from the lakes of Wales and Cumberland. The Corporations 

 of Liverpool and of other towns have placed themselves in relation 

 with the Eoyal Commission to obtain supplies for their respective 

 towns. 



At a recent meeting (February 1st, 1867) of the Social Science 

 Association in London, Mr. Bateman read a paper " On a Constant 

 Supply of Water for London," and showed, instead of the present 

 intermittent supply involving the storing in leaden cisterns, that 

 London might have a constant supply without any increase of con- 

 sumption. 



Mr. Thomas Beggs read a pajDer "On the Water Supply of 

 London," at the Society of Arts on the 22nd of February, 1867. 

 He took a survey of the various plans for affording a further supply 

 of water to London, and defended the present supply from the 

 Thames from the charges brought against it. An interesting dis- 

 cussion followed, in which the whole question of water supply was 

 looked at from various points of view. 



Mr. J. B. Denton has published a pamphlet on the question of 

 a water-supply to London, which will probably be noticed in our 

 next Number. 



The Social Science Association has had other interesting sanitary 

 questions brought before it during its present session. A most 

 interesting paper was read " On the Social Condition of Merchant 

 Seamen," by Captain Henry Toynbee. He suggested several 

 practical improvements in the treatment of our seamen, and 

 especially pointed out the increase of disease from the neglect of 

 proper diet and accommodation. It is one of the great disgraces of 

 our Mercantile Marine, that life on board their ships is more 

 hazardous to the sailor than living in the most densely populated 

 and ill- ventilated courts of our great cities. It is high time that 

 the shipowners of London, Liverpool, Hull, and Glasgow should 

 see into these things, and wipe this great disgrace from the nation 

 that is never weary of singing till she is hoarse that she " rules 

 the waves." If she would set a better example of how to do it, 

 other nations might listen to the song with more patience. 



The result of Captain Toynbee's paper has been the formation 

 of a " Society for the Improvement of Merchant Seamen." We 

 strongly recommend this society to all interested in ships. Its 

 rules, if carried out, will improve the health, strength, and morals 

 of our merchant seamen, render shipwrecks less frequent, and the 

 profits of our mercantile marine much larger. 



