of the work, though there can be little doubt that the variations under
proper precautions would be much less than those which now take place.
From the information received in respect to the employment of tailors in
large numbers, it is evident that the average period of the working
ability of that class might be extended at least ten years by
improvements as to the places of work alone. The experience which might
serve to indicate the extent of practicable improvement is at present
narrow and scattered. The chief English insurance tables, such as the
Northampton and Carlisle tables, are made up apparently from the
experience of a population, subject probably to a greater or less extent
to the noxious influences which are shown to be removable. By the
Carlisle table, however, the probability of life to every person who has
attained the age of twenty-one—the age for marriage—would be 40 years,
or 40·75. By the Swedish tables, which are frequently applied to the
insurance of the labouring classes, it would be 38·0. The observations
that have been made on the subject, show that marriage improves rather
than diminishes the probability of life. Where the duration of life is
reduced by the nature of the employment below the usual average, by so
much the widowhood may be considered as increased, as also the orphanage
of their children. As labouring men generally marry early in life, their
wives have ceased to bear children before they have reached fifty, so
that the great mass of orphanage may be assigned to the consequence of
premature death. The following table shows the average ages at which the
deaths occurred of the fathers of the widows’ orphan children who are in
receipt of relief in the following unions. The average includes the
cases of all who died at whatever ages, whether above or below sixty:—
┌─────────────────────┬────────┬───────┬────────┬───────┬───────┬───────┐
│ Unions. │ Number │ │ Number │ │ │ │
│ │ of │ │ of │ │ │ │
│ │Husbands│ │Husbands│ │ │ │
│ │ dying │Average│ dying │Average│ │ │
│ │ under │Age at │ above │Age at │ Total │Average│
│ │ 60. │Death. │ 60. │Death. │Deaths.│ Age. │
├─────────────────────┼────────┼───────┼────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┤
│Manchester │ 718│ 42│ 432│ 69│ 1150│ 52│
│Whitechapel │ 351│ 44│ 239│ 69│ 590│ 54│
│Bethnal Green │ 250│ 44│ 195│ 69│ 445│ 55│
│Strand │ 157│ 42│ 63│ 66│ 220│ 49│
│Oakham & Uppingham │ 136│ 45│ 118│ 71│ 257│ 57│
│Alston-with-Garrigill│ 69│ 45│ 20│ 66│ 89│ 50│
│Bath │ 66│ 38│ 1│ 60│ 67│ 39│
└─────────────────────┴────────┴───────┴────────┴───────┴───────┴───────┘
This premature widowhood and orphanage is the source of the most painful
descriptions of pauperism—the most difficult to deal with; it is the
source of a constant influx of the independent into the pauperised and
permanently dependent classes. The widow, where there are children,
generally remains a permanent charge; re-marriages amongst those who
have children are very rare; in some unions they do not exceed one case
in twenty or thirty. By the time the children are fit for labour and
cease to require the parents’ attention, the mothers frequently become
unfit for earning their own livelihood, or habituated to dependence, and
without care to emerge from it. Even where the children are by good
training and education fitted for productive industry, when they marry,
the early familiarity with the parochial relief makes them improvident,
and they fall back upon the poor’s rates on the lying-in of their wives,
on their sickness, and for aid on every emergency. In every district the
poor’s rolls form the pedigrees of generations of families thus
pauperized. The total number of orphan children on account of whose
destitution relief was given from the poor’s rates in the year ended
Lady-day, 1840, was 112,000.
The numbers of widows chargeable to the poor’s rates was in those unions
at that period 43,000. The following abstract of the returns from the
eight unions selected exhibit the proportions who become chargeable at
different periods of the head of the family.
_Premature Deaths: Age of Widowhood in various Unions._
┌───────────┬─────────────────╥─────────────────╥─────────────────┐
│ Ages. │Manchester Union.║ Whitechapel ║ Bethnal Green. │
│ │ ║ Union. ║ │
├───────────┼────────┬────────╫────────┬────────╫────────┬────────┤
│ │ No. of │ No. of ║ No. of │ No. of ║ No. of │ No. of │
│ │Husbands│ Orphan ║Husbands│ Orphan ║Husbands│ Orphan │
│ │ who │Children║ who │Children║ who │Children│
│ │ Died. │ ║ Died. │ ║ Died. │ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 20–25 │ 11│ 20║ 7│ 12║ 2│ 3│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 25–30 │ 56│ 126║ 17│ 40║ 9│ 19│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 30–35 │ 108│ 317║ 31│ 85║ 25│ 89│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 35–40 │ 108│ 333║ 42│ 114║ 40│ 137│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 40–45 │ 126│ 361║ 63│ 201║ 40│ 153│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 45–50 │ 112│ 302║ 61│ 178║ 44│ 105│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 50–55 │ 100│ 183║ 78│ 137║ 45│ 107│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 55–60 │ 97│ 138║ 51│ 37║ 45│ 54│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 60–65 │ 147│ 148║ 87│ 46║ 53│ 35│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 65–70 │ 96│ 60║ 48│ 18║ 52│ 17│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 70–75 │ 87│ 55║ 54│ 8║ 57│ 7│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 75–80 │ 60│ 22║ 25│ 4║ 24│ 8│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 80–85 │ 35│ 4║ 17│ 2║ 7│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 85–90 │ 5│ ║ 7│ 3║ 2│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 90–95 │ 1│ ║ 2│ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 95–100 │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 100–105 │ 1│ ║ │ ║ │ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ Totals │ 1150│ 2069║ 590│ 885║ 445│ 734│
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│No. │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ receiving│ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ Relief │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ previous │ 199│ ║ 80│ ║ │ │
│ to │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ husband’s│ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ death │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
└───────────┴────────┴────────╨────────┴────────╨────────┴────────┘
┌───────────┬─────────────────╥─────────────────╥─────────────────┐
│ Ages. │ Strand Union. ║ Oakham & ║ Alston with │
│ │ ║Uppingham Unions.║ Garrigill. │
├───────────┼────────┬────────╫────────┬────────╫────────┬────────┤
│ │ No. of │ No. of ║ No. of │ No. of ║ No. of │ No. of │
│ │Husbands│ Orphan ║Husbands│ Orphan ║Husbands│ Orphan │
│ │ who │Children║ who │Children║ who │Children│
│ │ Died. │ ║ Died. │ ║ Died. │ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 20–25 │ 1│ 4║ │ ║ 1│ 2│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 25–30 │ 11│ 19║ 12│ 25║ 5│ 12│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 30–35 │ 23│ 70║ 8│ 36║ 4│ 16│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 35–40 │ 20│ 69║ 19│ 71║ 6│ 24│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 40–45 │ 35│ 81║ 24│ 68║ 12│ 58│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 45–50 │ 23│ 58║ 19│ 50║ 18│ 84│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 50–55 │ 24│ 34║ 30│ 60║ 9│ 30│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 55–60 │ 20│ 17║ 24│ 36║ 14│ 11│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 60–65 │ 25│ 17║ 26│ 15║ 13│ 4│
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 65–70 │ 15│ 13║ 26│ 13║ 1│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 70–75 │ 13│ ║ 32│ 10║ 4│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 75–80 │ 5│ 2║ 22│ 4║ 1│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 80–85 │ 5│ ║ 11│ 6║ 1│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 85–90 │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 90–95 │ │ ║ 1│ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 95–100 │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ 100–105 │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ Totals │ 220│ 384║ 254│ 394║ 89│ 241│
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│No. │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ receiving│ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ Relief │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ previous │ 37│ ║ 11│ ║ 27│ │
│ to │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ husband’s│ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
│ death │ │ ║ │ ║ │ │
└───────────┴────────┴────────╨────────┴────────╨────────┴────────┘
┌───────────┬─────────────────╥─────────────────┐
│ Ages. │ Bath Union. ║ Total. │
│ │ ║ │
├───────────┼────────┬────────╫────────┬────────┤
│ │ No. of │ No. of ║ No. of │ No. of │
│ │Husbands│ Orphan ║Husbands│ Orphan │
│ │ who │Children║ who │Children│
│ │ Died. │ ║ Died. │ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 20–25 │ │ ║ 22│ 41│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 25–30 │ 9│ 28║ 119│ 269│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 30–35 │ 13│ 52║ 212│ 665│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 35–40 │ 12│ 52║ 247│ 800│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 40–45 │ 18│ 84║ 318│ 1006│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 45–50 │ 9│ 37║ 286│ 814│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 50–55 │ 4│ 15║ 290│ 566│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 55–60 │ 1│ 6║ 252│ 299│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 60–65 │ 1│ 4║ 352│ 269│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 65–70 │ │ ║ 238│ 121│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 70–75 │ │ ║ 247│ 80│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 75–80 │ │ ║ 137│ 40│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 80–85 │ │ ║ 76│ 12│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 85–90 │ │ ║ 14│ 3│
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 90–95 │ │ ║ 4│ │
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 95–100 │ │ ║ │ │
│ │ │ ║ │ │
│ 100–105 │ │ ║ 1│ │
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│ Totals │ 67│ 278║ 2815│ 4985│
├───────────┼────────┼────────╫────────┼────────┤
│No. │ │ ║ │ │
│ receiving│ │ ║ │ │
│ Relief │ │ ║ │ │
│ previous │ │ ║ │ │
│ to │ │ ║ │ │
│ husband’s│ │ ║ │ │
│ death │ │ ║ │ │
└───────────┴────────┴────────╨────────┴────────┘
Total Deaths below 60 years of age ... 1746
Of the whole number it appears that upwards of 1764 became chargeable by
premature deaths. If the same rule obtains in the other unions, which
could only be ascertained by a very long and expensive inquiry, then
nearly 27,000 cases of premature widowhood, and more than 100,000 cases
of orphanage may be ascribed to removable causes. The chief effects or
the chief of the diseases which appear as consequents to the
circumstances under which the labouring population of the several
districts have been described as living, and under which the fathers of
the orphan children above enumerated have died, are set forth in the
following table:—
Table of the Chief Causes of Death producing Widowhood and Orphanage in
the under-mentioned Unions and Parishes.
┌──────────────┬──────────┬───────────┬───────┬───────┬─────────┐
│ │ │ │Bethnal│ │ Oakham │
│DISEASES, &c. │Manchester│Whitechapel│ Green │Strand │ and │
│ │ Union. │ Union. │Parish.│Union. │Uppingham│
│ │ │ │ │ │ Unions. │
├──────────────┼──────────┼───────────┼───────┼───────┼─────────┤
│ │ No of │ No of │ No of │ No of │ No of │
│ │ Deaths. │ Deaths. │Deaths.│Deaths.│ Deaths. │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
├──────────────┼──────────┼───────────┼───────┼───────┼─────────┤
│Respiratory │ 500│ 212│ 147│ 95│ 69│
│ Organs │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Epidemic, │ │ │ │ │ │
│ Endemic and │ 146│ 65│ 73│ 28│ 34│
│ Contagious │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Digestive │ 60│ 16│ 10│ 10│ 14│
│ Organs │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Nervous │ 74│ 41│ 38│ 17│ 25│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Violent Deaths│ 94│ 44│ 20│ 16│ 23│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Old Age │ 84│ 104│ 46│ 13│ 47│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Other │ 129│ 68│ 104│ 32│ 36│
│ Diseases[29]│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Undescribed │ 63│ 40│ 7│ 9│ 6│
├──────────────┼──────────┼───────────┼───────┼───────┼─────────┤
│ Total │ 1150│ 590│ 445│ 220│ 254│
└──────────────┴──────────┴───────────┴───────┴───────┴─────────┘
┌──────────────┬─────────┬───────┬─────────────────────────┐
│ │ Alston │ │ │
│DISEASES, &c. │ with │ Bath │ Total. │
│ │Garrigill│Union. │ │
│ │ Parish. │ │ │
├──────────────┼─────────┼───────┼───────┬────────┬────────┤
│ │ No of │ No of │ No of │Average │ No. of │
│ │ Deaths. │Deaths.│Deaths.│ Age of │Orphans.│
│ │ │ │ │Decease.│ │
├──────────────┼─────────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼────────┤
│Respiratory │ 47│ 40│ 1110│ 51│ 2218│
│ Organs │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Epidemic, │ │ │ │ │ │
│ Endemic and │ 9│ 4│ 359│ 46│ 862│
│ Contagious │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Digestive │ 5│ 3│ 118│ 54│ 180│
│ Organs │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Nervous │ 3│ 5│ 203│ 55│ 296│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Violent Deaths│ 13│ 5│ 215│ 46│ 508│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Old Age │ 5│ │ 299│ 74│ 56│
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Other │ 7│ 8│ 384│ 54│ 694│
│ Diseases[29]│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Undescribed │ │ 2│ 127│ 47│ 171│
├──────────────┼─────────┼───────┼───────┼────────┼────────┤
│ Total │ 89│ 67│ 2815│ 53│ 4985│
└──────────────┴─────────┴───────┴───────┴────────┴────────┘
As an example of the mode in which the causes of premature deaths fall,
and of the burdens they entail in many districts, I submit a return of
the whole of the cases of widowhood on the pauper rolls of the parish of
Alston and Garrigill, Cumberland, the parish in which are situate the
lodging-houses described in the evidence collected by _Dr. Mitchell_.
ALSTON WITH GARRIGILL PARISH.
Number of Widows, and Children dependent upon them, in receipt of
Relief in the above Parish; Age of Husband at Death; and the alleged
Cause of Death.
┌───────┬─────────┬───────────────┬──────┬─────────┬──────────────────┐
│Initals│Number of│ Occupation of │Age at│ Years’ │Assigned Cause of │
│ of │Children │ deceased │Death.│ loss by │ Death. │
│Widows.│dependent│ Husband. │ │premature│ │
│ │ at the │ │ │ Death. │ │
│ │ time of │ │ │ │ │
│ │Husband’s│ │ │ │ │
│ │ Death. │ │ │ │ │
├───────┼─────────┼───────────────┼──────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ R. W. │ │Miner │ 83 │ │Decay of nature. │
│ M. S. │ │Tailor │ 78 │ │Natural decay. │
│ M. B. │ │Miner │ 73 │ │Not stated. │
│ M. R. │ │Miner │ 72 │ │Decay of nature. │
│ S. M. │ │Miner │ 72 │ │Decay of nature. │
│ M. T. │ │Mason │ 72 │ │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from age. │
│ A. V. │ │Miner │ 67 │ │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ mines. │
│ M. L. │ │Miner │ 64 │ │Influenza. │
│ A. M. │ │Miner │ 63 │ │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines. │
│ M. S. │ │Miner │ 63 │ │Natural decline. │
│ J. P. │ │Labourer │ 62 │ │Consumption. │
│ H. T. │ 2 │Mason │ 62 │ │Asthma. │
│ S. H. │ 2 │Miner │ 60 │ │Rupture of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ blood-vessel. │
│ J. R. │ │Miner │ 60 │ │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the mines. │
│ H. L. │ │Miner │ 60 │ │Asthma. │
│ J. P. │ │Miner │ 60 │ │Consumption. │
│ M. T. │ 2 │Miner │ 60 │ │Bursting │
│ │ │ │ │ │ blood-vessel. │
│ A. C. │ │Joiner │ 60 │ │Jaundice. │
│ E. K. │ │Miner │ 60 │ │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the mines. │
│ E. H. │ │Miner │ 60 │ │Cholera. │
│ D. J. │ │Glazier │ 59 │ 1 │Affection of the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ liver. │
│ N. D. │ 4 │Butcher │ 59 │ 1 │Apoplexy. │
│ M. T. │ │Miner │ 59 │ 1 │Inflammation of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lungs. │
│ H. A. │ │Miner │ 59 │ 1 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ which terminated│
│ │ │ │ │ │ in consumption. │
│ J. B. │ │Miner │ 59 │ 1 │Asthma │
│ │ │ │ │ │ ditto. │
│ E. T. │ │Labourer │ 58 │ 2 │Accident by a │
│ │ │ │ │ │ coal-waggon. │
│ M. P. │ │Miner │ 58 │ 2 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ which terminated│
│ │ │ │ │ │ in consumption. │
│ H. T. │ │Miner │ 57 │ 3 │Consumption │
│ │ │ │ │ │ accelerated by │
│ │ │ │ │ │ working in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ M. P. │ 1 │Turner │ 57 │ 3 │Consumption. │
│ H. S. │ 3 │Miner │ 57 │ 3 │Influenza, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ terminating in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ dropsy. │
│ M. J. │ 3 │Blacksmith │ 55 │ 5 │Asthma. │
│ S. M. │ │Miner │ 55 │ 5 │Inflammation of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lungs from cold.│
│ R. W. │ │Miner │ 55 │ 5 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ M. R. │ │Miner │ 55 │ 5 │Asthma from │
│ │ │ │ │ │ working in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ mines │
│ J. W. │ 2 │Miner │ 51 │ 6 │Pleurisy. │
│ A. F. │ │Miner │ 54 │ 6 │Asthma and rupture│
│ │ │ │ │ │ of blood-vessel.│
│ J. L. │ 2 │Miner │ 53 │ 7 │Chronic disease of│
│ │ │ │ │ │ rheumatism. │
│ N. H. │ 2 │Miner │ 53 │ 7 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines. │
│ A. S. │ │Miner │ 52 │ 8 │Asthma and │
│ │ │ │ │ │ bursting │
│ │ │ │ │ │ blood-vessel. │
│ M. W. │ 6 │Miner │ 52 │ 8 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the mines. │
│ E. W. │ 5 │Miner │ 52 │ 8 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the mines, which│
│ │ │ │ │ │ terminated in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ consumption. │
│ J. S. │ 6 │Miner │ 51 │ 9 │Paralysis. │
│ H. P. │ 9 │Quarryman │ 49 │ 11 │Asthma by working │
│ │ │ │ │ │ in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ H. P. │ 5 │Miner │ 48 │ 12 │Typhus fever. │
│ E. H. │ 6 │Miner │ 48 │ 12 │Killed in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ M. A. │ 7 │Miner │ 48 │ 12 │Consumption by bad│
│ │ │ │ │ │ air in the pit. │
│ J. C. │ 8 │Miner │ 47 │ 13 │Asthma produced by│
│ │ │ │ │ │ working in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ S. E. │ 6 │Miner │ 47 │ 13 │Consumption │
│ │ │ │ │ │ produced from a │
│ │ │ │ │ │ continuance of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ influenza. │
│ M. T. │ 8 │Miner │ 47 │ 13 │Consumption and │
│ │ │ │ │ │ asthma. │
│ E. B. │ 3 │Miner │ 47 │ 13 │Affection of the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ head, caused │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from an accident│
│ │ │ │ │ │ received in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ mine. │
│ D. R. │ │Miner │ 46 │ 14 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines. │
│ E. B. │ 5 │Miner │ 46 │ 14 │Rheumatic fever, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ which produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ inflammation of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the brain. │
│ M. S. │ 5 │Miner │ 46 │ 14 │Killed in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mine. │
│ M. R. │ 1 │Joiner │ 46 │ 14 │Dropsy. │
│ M. F. │ 7 │Coal Miner │ 46 │ 14 │Explosion of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ fire-damp in a │
│ │ │ │ │ │ coal-mine. │
│ L. T. │ 3 │Miner │ 45 │ 15 │Asthma, which │
│ │ │ │ │ │ terminated with │
│ │ │ │ │ │ dropsy. │
│ H. P. │ 3 │Miner │ 45 │ 15 │Scarlet fever. │
│ H. Y. │ 5 │Miner │ 45 │ 15 │Consumption, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ accelerated by │
│ │ │ │ │ │ working in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ M. S. │ 2 │Miner │ 45 │ 15 │Inflammation of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ bowels. │
│ M. S. │ 5 │Joiner │ 45 │ 15 │Consumption. │
│ A. S. │ 6 │Miner │ 44 │ 16 │Dropsy. │
│ A. B. │ 6 │Miner │ 44 │ 16 │Asthma from │
│ │ │ │ │ │ working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ lead-mines. │
│ F. C. │ 5 │Miner │ 43 │ 17 │Asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines. │
│ M. D. │ 4 │Miner │ 43 │ 17 │Consumption │
│ │ │ │ │ │ produced from │
│ │ │ │ │ │ asthma, caused │
│ │ │ │ │ │ by working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the mines. │
│ H. M. │ 7 │Miner │ 43 │ 17 │Asthma, which │
│ │ │ │ │ │ terminated in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ consumption. │
│ A. P. │ 7 │Superintendent.│ 43 │ 17 │A fall from the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ “horse” in the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ engine-shaft. │
│ P. W. │ 4 │Miner │ 43 │ 17 │Pleurisy. │
│ E. W. │ 8 │Miner │ 42 │ 18 │Consumption and │
│ │ │ │ │ │ asthma produced │
│ │ │ │ │ │ from working in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ the lead-mines. │
│ J. H. │ 4 │Miner │ 42 │ 18 │Consumption. │
│ J. J. │ 5 │Miner │ 42 │ 18 │Pleurisy. │
│ A. J. │ 2 │Miller │ 42 │ 18 │Found drowned. │
│ M. R. │ │Shoemaker │ 40 │ 20 │Injury from fall │
│ │ │ │ │ │ of a cart. │
│ E. R. │ 7 │Joiner │ 38 │ 22 │Affection of the │
│ │ │ │ │ │ liver. │
│ J. B. │ 5 │Miner │ 38 │ 22 │Consumption. │
│ A. P. │ 7 │Miner │ 37 │ 21 │Asthma. │
│ E. W. │ 3 │Miner │ 36 │ 24 │Accident in mine, │
│ │ │ │ │ │ which terminated│
│ │ │ │ │ │ in consumption. │
│ E. H. │ 3 │Miner │ 35 │ 25 │Killed in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ coal-pit. │
│ M. L. │ 2 │Miner │ 35 │ 25 │Water of the head.│
│ A. S. │ 4 │Miner │ 35 │ 25 │Income on leg. │
│ S. H. │ 7 │Miner │ 34 │ 26 │Accident in │
│ │ │ │ │ │ coal-mine. │
│ J. H. │ 4 │Cordwainer │ 30 │ 30 │Typhus fever. │
│ S. H. │ 3 │Cartman │ 30 │ 30 │Accidental. │
│ E. A. │ 2 │Miner │ 30 │ 30 │Consumption. │
│ M. J. │ 3 │Teacher │ 29 │ 31 │Consumption. │
│ M. R. │ 3 │Miner │ 29 │ 31 │Affection of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ urinary organs. │
│ A. W. │ 2 │Miner │ 28 │ 32 │Cholera. │
│ M. W. │ 3 │Miner │ 27 │ 33 │Inflammation of │
│ │ │ │ │ │ bowels. │
│ A. H. │ 1 │Pitman │ 25 │ 35 │Accident at │
│ │ │ │ │ │ colliery. │
│ J. M. │ 2 │Miner │ 21 │ 39 │Small-pox. │
├───────┼─────────┼───────────────┼──────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ 89 │ 242 │ │ 4418 │ │ │
├───────┼─────────┼───────────────┼──────┼─────────┼──────────────────┤
│ │ │Average age at │ 45 │ │Total No. of │
│ │ │death of each │ │ │ orphans by death│
│ │ │below 60 years │ │ │ caused below 60 │
│ │ │of age. │ │ │ years of age. } │
│ │ │ │ │ │ 236 │
└───────┴─────────┴───────────────┴──────┴─────────┴──────────────────┘
A complete analysis of the whole of the causes contributory to the
premature mortality displayed in this group of cases would be a work of
much labour, and would in nowise affect the soundness of the conclusions
derivable from other sources, that a large amount, and probably the
great mass of it, is preventible.
It would, for instance, be difficult to decide the precise term of years
of life cut short by the effects of the lodging-houses, in producing or
aggravating other tendencies to consumption; but the information
possessed by persons who have made themselves acquainted with the
effects of impure air enables them to pronounce with certainty that the
habitual exposure of a body of men to such noxious influences must be
attended by a diminution of several years of the definite standard of
life. Of the 31 deaths of miners below 60 years of age, from diseases of
the respiratory organs, enumerated in the above return, a part of the
causes may be attributable to their occupation, a part to the external
circumstances of residence and connected habits. Now we have examples of
the separate advantages attendant on the removal of both causes of
disease I adduce the following information, obtained through Sir John
Walsham, with relation to the effects of an improvement in the external
circumstances of the workmen as to residences.
_Captain Harland_, the chairman of the Reeth union, York (North Riding),
in a communication to Sir John Walsham, states, that he has been anxious
to ascertain as correctly as possible, first, the average duration of
life among the mining population of the respective parishes in that
district, and how far it appeared to be affected by their general habits
as well as by the state of their domiciles; and he gives the following
results:—
“By a careful examination of the parish registers, I find that in the
last seven years there have died in—
The parish of Marrick 15 miners; average age, 47⅗ years.
The parish of Arkendale 70 miners; average age, 45‑19/35 years.
The chapelry of Muker, in the 39 miners; average age, 45‑29/39 years.
parish of Grinton
The remainder of the parish of 40 miners; average age, 54‑39/40 years.
Grinton, _viz._ Grinton Reeth
and Meblecks
Total, 164; general average, 48‑13/164 years.
“The prevailing diseases throughout the whole district are bronchial
affections and rheumatism, which may generally be attributed to
exposure to cold and rain after leaving the close, warm atmosphere of
the mine.
“The miners’ dwellings in Marrick are small thatched cottages,
situated very near their work; they are consequently less exposed to
wet and cold on their way home, but (although dry and kept tolerably
clean) from the want of room and proper ventilation, the inmates are
more liable to contagious disorders than the more comfortably lodged
miners in the parish of Grinton. In Arkendale the houses are of a
somewhat better description, but the drainage is imperfect; the habits
of the people filthy and intemperate; cutaneous disorders very common;
and they are frequently the victims of typhus and other malignant
fevers.
“In the parish of Grinton the houses are of a decidedly superior
description. Forty years ago they were mostly thatched with ling or
heath; a thatched house is now rarely seen. The miners are all
comfortably lodged, generally well clothed, clean, and orderly in
their habits; and I have no doubt to these causes may be attributed
the great difference between the mortality in this parish and that of
Arkendale in the same period.
“In Muker the mortality, in proportion to its population, has been
nearly the same as in Arkendale; but many of the miners work
occasionally in coal-mines, are more exposed to storms, by reason of
their work being at a greater distance from their dwellings; and those
dwellings are also of a description inferior to those of the other
townships in the parish of Grinton. From these circumstances I infer
that the average duration of a lead-miner’s life, and his greater
freedom from disease, have increased in proportion to the increased
airiness and increased convenience of his dwelling.”
I have already referred to the example cited by Dr. Barham of the health
of the miners in one mine, the Dolcoath mine, in the parish of Camborne,
in Cornwall, where great attention is paid to obviate agencies injurious
to the miners. Care is there taken in respect to ventilation in the
mines. “The ventilation in Dolcoath is particularly good, and the men
are healthier than in most other mines; there are more old miners.” Care
is taken for the prevention of accidents. “Our ladders,” says one of the
witnesses examined by Dr. Barham, “are about two fathoms and a half in
length, generally with staves one foot apart. We use oak staves; old
ship oak we find the best. We formerly used the hafts of the picks and
other tools, but found these unsafe, the wood being sleepy and flawed,
and sometimes breaking off in a moment, without having shown any outward
sign of unsoundness. Iron staves, besides being at times very slippery,
are apt to be corroded, so as to cut the hand. We have had no accidents
on our footways for a long time.” They have introduced the safety fuse,
and the witness says:—“Very few accidents now arise from explosions;”
“they used to happen frequently formerly.” Care is taken of the miners
on quitting the mines; hence, instead of issuing on the bleak hill side,
and receiving beer in a shed, to prevent chill and exhaustion, they
issue from their underground labour into a warm room, where well-dried
clothes are ready for them, and warm water, and even baths are supplied
from the steam furnace, and, in the instance of this mine, a provision
of hot beef-soup instead of beer is ready for them in another room. The
honour of having made this change is stated to be due to the Right Hon.
Lady Basset, on the suggestion of Dr. Carlyon. “Hence in this mine,”
says Dr. Barham, “we may fairly attribute to the combination of
beneficial arrangements just noticed that in Dolcoath, where 451
individuals are employed underground, only two have died within the last
three years of miners’ consumption, a statement which could not, I
believe, be made with truth nor be nearly approached in respect of an
equal number of miners during the same term in any other Cornish
district.” The sick-club of the mine “is comparatively rich, having a
fund of 1500_l._”