18(37.] The Public Health. 463 



there be much to blame, in the action of the local authorities of 

 Liverpool ; and we hope to be able, in our next, to report further 



progress. 



Leeds. — Those who for some years past have been endeavouring 

 to rouse the custodians of the public health in Leeds to a sense of 

 their responsible duty, may at last congratulate themselves that 

 their efforts have not been without effect in the right direction, and 

 that the local authority has recently given a little more attention 

 to the sanitary requirements of the town, which has been followed 

 by a diminution of the death-roll. 



The officer of health has been invested with a little more of that 

 independent power of action which many think it desirable that he 

 should possess, and a staff of assistants has been placed at his 

 disposal to systematically inspect and report upon the various 

 matters brought to their notice. 



The disinfection of houses where diseases of a contagious nature 

 have had their habitat is strictly enforced, and, with a view to sup- 

 pressing overcrowding, houses wherein lodgers are taken are re- 

 gistered by the medical officer under the powers of the Sanitary 

 Act ; these houses, although not included amongst the class of com- 

 mon lodging-houses, are subject to similar rules and surveillance. 



Within the last twelve months many miles of main sewers and 

 drains have been laid down, and the work of levelling, nagging, and 

 paving new streets progresses in a satisfactory manner. With this 

 awakening to activity it is no matter of surprise that typhus fever 

 and other diseases of a zymotic character should decrease, as the 

 following table (which is a summary of all deaths from zymotics 

 during the quarter ending May 26, 1866, and May 25, 1867), 

 shows to be the case : — 



Quarter endiny May 26, 1866. Quarter ending May 25, 1867. 



Small-pox 19 



Measles 62 



Scarlatina 23 



Hooping-cough . ... 80 



Croup 26 



Diarrhoea 34 



Dysentery 3 



Typhus 162 



Erysipelas 6 



Syphilis 3 



Diphtheria 6 



Quinsy 3 



Total . . 427 



Small-pox 13 



Measles 6 



Scarlatina 20 



Hooping-cough .... 52 



Croup 19 



Diarrhoea 21 



Dysentery 2 



Typhus 50 



Erysipelas 3 



Syphilis 2 



Diphtheria 8 



Quinsy 1 



Total . .197 



The total number of deaths registered in the borough of Leeds 

 during the thirteen weeks ending May 28, 1867, was 1,557, 

 against 2113, the number that occurred during the corresponding 

 period last year. 



