184 | Social Science Congress. 
murder were returned in such cases; in 1864, fifty-six ver- 
dicts; and in 1865, sixty-one verdicts. Thus, in three 
years, in his district alone, 170 verdicts of wilful murder 
had been returned. 
A paper on the same subject by Mr. SAFFORD was next 
read. It contained a very elaborate statement of the law 
both in past ages and in the present time upon the subject, 
and proposed that charitable institutions to receive illegiti- 
mate children should be founded, and empowered to compel 
both parents to contribute to their support. 
Mr. Aspland, Mr. Bracebridge, Sir Eardley Wilmot, Mr. 
Solly, Dr. M. Walker, and Mr. Chambers addressed the 
section upon the subject. 
The Pollution of Rivers. 
A special question for discussion in the Health Depart- 
ment was, “ How can the pollution of rivers by the refuse 
and sewage of towns be best prevented ?” 
Dr. STEVENSON MACADAM, of Edinburgh, read a paper 
which he had prepared on the subject by request of the 
Council. He stated, that although the observations he 
would make would be of a general nature, the opinions he 
expressed were derived mainly from observation made on 
three Scotch rivers—the Leven, contaminated by public 
works; the Water of Leith, contaminated by public works 
at the upper parts, and by town sewage at the lower parts; 
and the North Esk, influenced by discharges from public 
works and by sewage alternately. The pollution was 
principally derived from mining pursuits, manufacturing 
operations, and house sewage; and the great question to 
be considered was how the pollution could be prevented. 
Irrespective of the question of the health of the neighbour- 
hood, there was the appearance of the stream itself. A 
good deal was said on the previous day as to the influence 
of smoke on the atmosphere and on the animal spirits of 
people, and he believed the appearance of a stream had 
similar results. He did not see how mining operations 
could be withdrawn, but they were not of so much import- 
ance. With regard to manufacturing discharges, he would 
say generally, that all practical means for the arrestment of 
the pollution should be employed. It was a question how 
far some rivers should be given up for manufacturing inte- 
rests, it always being a condition that the operations and 
discharges should not be prejudicial to the health of the - 
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