On Tuesday last, WILLIAM LEE, Esq., one of the Superintending
Inspectors of the General Board of Health, opened an enquiry
at the Old Town Hall, Dudley, for the purpose of enabling
the authorities at Whitehall to form an opinion as to the
desirability of bringing the provisions of the Public Health
Act into operation within the Borough. Such investigations
have mostly hitherto been instituted upon the petition of
the inhabitants of such towns as were considered to require
improvement in sanitary matters. In this instance, however, the
Board had taken advantage of the powers given them by one of
the sections of their act, which directs them to take steps for
the application of its provisions to towns where the returns
of the Registrar-General showed that the deaths annually
exceeded twenty-three in the thousand. Although doubtless
the attention of the Board had been called to the matter by
some influential gentlemen of the town, we suppose we must
attribute the very thin attendance of the inhabitants at the
opening of the enquiry as much to the private and non-popular
nature of its origin, as to any want of interest in the matter
either as a question of public health, or as one which may
ultimately become important to the community as ratepayers. The
proceedings did not commence until nearly an hour after the
appointed time, and even then not more than a dozen or fourteen
persons were present. Amongst them were the Rev. Dr. Browne,
(the Vicar,) John Houghton, Esq., T. W. Fletcher, Esq., (firm
of Robinson and Fletcher, Solicitors,) Messrs. Hollier, Fisher,
Richardson, Bowen, Bateman, T. P. Stokes, Minty, Griffiths, and
Cook.
MR. LEE began by remarking on the scanty attendance, which
either showed that the inhabitants were not generally aware of
the enquiry being about to take place, or that they did not
feel very much interested in the question. It was, however,
a question of very great importance to all the residents of
the town, and he regretted very much that the room was not
filled. All the rated inhabitants had a right to be present,
and to be heard on any matter touching that enquiry, and it had
been proved that full notice had been given, so as to enable
the inhabitants to know when and where the enquiry would be
held. The fact of there being reporters present would enable
those inhabitants who were not present to know something of
the proceedings, and he hoped that the result would be that if
any misapprehensions existed, they would be removed. In the
few remarks he should make, he thought it would be well to
direct their attention to that portion of the Public Health
Act which related to preliminary inquiries. Under that Act,
the General Board of Health was appointed to intimate its
application under certain circumstances stated in the 8th
section. They were to appoint inspectors to make preliminary
enquiries in large and populous towns and places, and these
enquiries would be instituted either upon the petition of not
less than one-tenth of the inhabitants rated for the relief
of the poor, or where the returns of the Registrar-General
showed that the deaths annually exceeded the proportion of
twenty-three to a thousand. Upon the latter alternative the
Board had the power of directing an enquiry to be made, without
any petition from the Inhabitants. The section then went on
to state the chief objects of the enquiry. The report was to
be made to the General Board of Health by the Inspector in
writing, and was then to be printed and circulated in the parts
to which the enquiry related. Upon that report any inhabitant
might make any statement in writing, as to anything contained
in, or omitted from, such report. It would be the duty of the
General Board of Health to consider the report and statements
made; and there were then two modes of proceeding for that
body to adopt, according to circumstances. If the inquiry had
been instituted upon the petition from the inhabitants of the
locality, if the boundaries for the district were the same
as those from whence the petition came, and if there should
be no local act of Parliament in force in the district, then
the act might be applied by an order of Privy Council, naming
the day when the election of a Local Board of Health should
take place. But if the inquiry should have been instituted
in consequence of the mortality being over twenty-three to a
thousand, and if the boundaries were different, and if there
were a local act of Parliament, then the General Board, if
they thought the Public Health Act should be applied, would
have to make a provisional order, which would have no force
or effect until it had been approved by Parliament. In the
case where a Municipal Corporation exists, it is made the
Local Board of Health. As the inhabitants of Dudley had no
Corporation, either the Commissioners must act as a Local Board
of Health, or the residents must meet and elect one. Mr. Lee
then proceeded to detail the duties that would fall within the
province of the Local Board, stating that their powers were
permissive, not compulsory, and that money to carry out the
necessary works could be borrowed on the rates, to be repaid
by equal annual instalments, running over a space of thirty
years. By the latter provision, all difficulty as to causing a
burden on the inhabitants was removed, for if the amount should
come to anything like the sum of £5 per house, the rate of
interest would not be more than one penny per week. He would
now take them back to the grounds on which that inquiry had
commenced. The census of 1851 had been taken, but the returns
of the Registrar-General had not been made up so that the
general rates of mortality could be ascertained. There was no
difficulty, however, in the returns for any particular town,
and it would be sufficient for him to show to them that the
rates of mortality had increased very considerably in Dudley
since 1841. He had before him the Registrar-General's return
for Dudley, dated the 7th of June, 1851, made according to
the terms of the act, from the year 1844 to 1850 inclusive.
The present population of the parish of Dudley was 37,954.
The deaths during those years were 6,864, giving an annual
mortality of twenty-eight to every thousand of the inhabitants
living. If he took the comparative returns of 1841, he should
take a much more favourable view of the condition of Dudley
than now existed. In 1841, according to the census returns,
the rate of mortality in England and Wales was little more
than twenty to a thousand of the population; and at that time
the rate of Dudley was 26.7, while in Walsall it was 24.2,
in Wolverhampton 25, and in Birmingham, (with a population
four times more than Dudley,) 26.5. He found that in the same
year the deaths in Dudley were 1 in 37; in Walsall, 1 in 41;
in Birmingham, 1 in 38. The deaths from epidemic diseases in
Dudley were 1 out of every 131 of the population annually; in
Walsall, 1 out of 154; and in Birmingham, 1 out of 202. The
average age of all who died in Dudley was only 17 years, at a
time when the mortality was less than it was now. In Walsall
it was 19 years and 3 months; in Wolverhampton, 19 years and
1 month: and in Birmingham, 23 years and 9 months. They would
see by that excessive mortality how large a proportion of the
community were cut off before they arrived at the years of
maturity. Of those who died above 20 years of age, the average
was 50 years and 10 months; in Wolverhampton it was the same;
in Walsall, 52 years and 6 months; and in Birmingham, 51 years
and 7 months. There they saw that no place among them all was
so bad as Dudley. Taking the whole of the deaths, and dividing
their per centage, there were 34.5 per cent. under a year old,
in Dudley; in Walsall, 29.7 per cent.; in Wolverhampton, 27.6;
and in Birmingham, 24.8. Under five years, in Dudley, 60.8
per cent.; in Walsall, 55.7; in Wolverhampton, 55.3; and in
Birmingham, 48.4. Seven out of every ten persons under 20 years
of age died annually, a much larger rate than any other place
mentioned. As death had done its main work during the years
of infancy, they were not persons who had lost their lives in
mines, for two-thirds of their population died under five years
of age; as they got farther on in life there were, of course,
fewer remaining in Dudley to be killed, and consequently the
per centage was less in unhealthy than in healthy districts, as
the greater portion had been destroyed before arriving at the
years of maturity. He would give one instance--between 70 and
80 years of age 4.4 died in Dudley; in Wolverhampton, 4.8; in
Birmingham, 5.7 The figures were greatly to the disadvantage
of Dudley. Indeed there were very few places in the kingdom
so unhealthy as Dudley. To show the enormous disparity that
existed between Dudley and registration districts in the
counties of Worcester, Stafford, and Warwick, Mr. Lee quoted a
number of other figures. For instance, he showed that in the
district comprising Bewdley, Martley, and Tenbury, (containing
a population equal to that of the Dudley district,) the average
age at death was 41 years and 4 months against the average of
17 years in Dudley. Now he said, there might be persons who
talked about economy with respect to sanitary arrangements,
and would be fearfully alarmed at the expense that would be
brought upon the town of Dudley by the adoption of sanitary
measures. It would be found from the registration districts
he had named, with a population equal to their own, by the
most extensive experience, not only of the medical men,
but of those who had made the strictest enquiries into the
sanitary condition of the country, that there were not less
than twenty-eight cases of sickness in excess, spending on an
average 20s. each, to every death in excess. Well, comparing
the registration district of Dudley, which contained, in 1841,
86,000 inhabitants, with the district he had cited, they would
see that there were 831 deaths in excess in a year, and of
these more than one-third were due to the parish of Dudley.
Taking twenty-eight cases for each death in excess, it exhibits
a loss of £23,268. Taking next, the mourning fees, coffins,
and other incidental expenses connected with a funeral, which
could not amount to less than £5 each, they would have a loss
by funerals of £4,115. Every adult lost eight years and eight
months of his life, and every individual twenty-four years
and four months. Taking only the adult deaths, and reckoning
those adults to have been able to earn only 7_s._ 6_d._ per
week each on an average, the loss in labour would be £115,934.
Those three items of loss, by one year's deaths alone, for
sickness, funerals, and labour, was £143,357. They would all
admit that, at a very moderate estimate, one-third of that
cost would fall upon the parish of Dudley, and they then would
find that the parish were annually losers in those three items
to the extent of £47,786. That was the loss upon a mortality
of 26.7, but the last returns exhibited a mortality of 28 to
every thousand of the inhabitants, during the seven years'
average. They might, therefore, fairly conclude that their loss
at that present moment, from excessive deaths, was £50,000
per annum. Could anybody imagine for a moment that the most
efficient sanitary works that could be constructed in Dudley,
would bear to be looked at, in comparison with these figures.
He could direct their attention to a very important table
from the same returns, containing 61 registration districts
in England and Wales, with a population of 1,003,124 persons,
having a mortality of only 16 to a thousand, and where all
who were born, on an average lived to the age of 37 years and
5 months; and adults on an average to 60 years of age. Now,
compare that with Dudley, and though no sanitary means were
used at the places he referred to, nevertheless the mortality
was 16 as against 28, in the parish of Dudley; average age,
37 years 5 months, as against 17 years; adults, 60 years as
against 50 years and 10 months, and the percentages of deaths
under 20 years of age, 38.4, as against 70.1. Could anybody
doubt that there was a cause for that, and one that might to a
great extent be removed? Could any reasonable man say it was
not a case of vital importance, and one that demanded careful
enquiry? Was it not the duty of every inhabitant to promote
such an enquiry, and if it were found that remedies could be
applied, to take the greatest interest in their application?
He did not suppose that any person resident in Dudley was
aware that such a comparative state of things existed. They
had the facts now before them, and he therefore anticipated
that he should receive all the assistance they could render
him in making that enquiry, while he stayed in Dudley. They
perceived that the jurisdiction of the General Board of Health
arose from the excessive mortality, over 23 to 1,000, which
the Legislature regarded as such an excess as to call upon the
General Board to take proceedings to apply the act without
any petition from the locality. The mortality of Birmingham,
Sheffield, Bradford, and Leeds, was less than Dudley, and he
did not believe the mortality of Manchester was higher. He
could not recollect a large town in the whole country, except
it was Liverpool, as it existed previous to the application
of sanitary measures, that was in such an awful condition
as Dudley appeared to be. It was growing worse, as was the
condition of most unimproved towns. The filth accumulating
in open cesspools, ash-pits, privies, &c., in consequence
of badly-constructed channels and drains, was constantly
saturating the earth, and going into the subsoil underneath. As
that saturation increased, the unhealthiness of the town would
increase, and there would come a time when the subsoil of such
towns would become a mere dunghill, and the site of the town
would be uninhabitable. They saw themselves how the healthiness
of the place had decreased since 1841. He next explained the
manner in which he intended to conduct that enquiry. Awaiting
the assembling of the inhabitants that morning, he had taken
down several complaints that had been made to him of nuisances
existing in the vicinity of houses, and he should be glad to
enter more upon his minutes. He would place also upon his
minutes the name of any person who should wish to accompany
him in making an inspection of the town. He should adjourn
the enquiry, as far as that room was concerned, until that
inspection was complete. He should have to depend upon those
who accompanied him to point out the worst parts of the town,
and, if there was a difference of opinion existing amongst
them, he should wish both parties to accompany him. After other
general observations, he concluded by saying that his object
was to discharge faithfully his duty to the Board of Health and
the inhabitants of Dudley.
About five minutes before Mr. Lee concluded his address, Isaac
Badger, Esq., entered the room. As soon as the Inspector
sat down, Mr. BADGER said he wished to ask a question, as he
had that morning met most of the principal gentlemen of the
town, not one of whom knew anything about the origin of the
enquiry. He wished for some information why the meeting was
held, and was proceeding to remark that although he did not
deny something of the sort was wanted, yet that he thought
Dudley could very ill afford to go to any expense at all;
when Mr. LEE interrupted him with "Don't make a speech, if
you please; if you ask any questions I will answer them."
He had before met with cases of this sort, where gentlemen
of influence in the locality came in after he had given his
explanation of the cause of the enquiry--an explanation which
in the present instance had occupied an hour in the delivery,
after waiting nearly another hour past the time appointed--and
would have him to go over the explanation again, for their
personal information. He would put it to those present whether
such a thing could be expected from him.--Mr. BADGER said it
was an important thing for the town, and he was surprised
the authorities knew nothing about it. He might have signed
a requisition if he had been asked to do so, and he wanted
to know who was the cause of the meeting being called.--Mr.
LEE: As they doubtless knew there was to be an enquiry here
this morning, they should have been here at ten o'clock.--Mr.
BADGER: What I have asked for is information that the town
ought to have, but as he refuses to answer the question, I will
now withdraw. I saw a very respectable medical practitioner
yesterday, and he tells me--Mr. LEE: You had better address
yourself to me, sir.--Mr. BADGER: All I have to say is, that
the town never was in a more healthy state than at present;
and I object to the whole proceedings. Mr. Badger then left
the room, accompanied by J. G. Walker, Esq.--Mr. LEE said that
any other gentleman might come into the room and put such
questions, and with equal reason expect him to answer them.
It was not a matter affecting his own convenience, but it was
a waste of time which he would not permit. The gentleman had
thought proper to withdraw, and perhaps he would say that he
had been refused information, but there were those present
who could correct such a statement. At a subsequent stage of
the proceedings, the Inspector, in reply to a remark that
he had spoken to Mr. Badger "in a way to which he was not
accustomed," said he had no respect of persons, and could make
no distinction between the rich and the poor.
Mr. Fletcher presented the evidence taken before Mr. Slaney,
M.P., in 1842, while inquiring into the state of Dudley under
the Public Health Commission; and after receiving some evidence
as to the nuisance in existence, Mr. Lee adjourned the inquiry.
Tuesday afternoon was spent in viewing some parts of the town;
and on Wednesday Mr. Lee continued his inspection, in company
with the Rev. Dr. Browne, J. C. Bourne, Esq., J. Maughan, Esq.,
Messrs. Bateman, J. Marsh, and other respectable inhabitants
of the borough. He proceeded to the Friends' Chapel, in the
High Street, Wolverhampton Street, Shaver's End, St. James's
Terrace, the Dock, Vicarage Prospect, Spring's Mire, Stafford
Street, Cross Street, &c., jotting down his observations as he
went along. We may venture to affirm that few places require
the surveillance of an inspector of some kind or other more
than the Ball Court, Belper, Marrian's and Pagett's Yards, the
Barracks, the Lodging-houses, (chiefly occupied by Irish) in
Cross Street, and some other places, which have always been
noted as hotbeds of epidemic and contagious diseases--the
cholera, fever, small pox, scarlatina, and measles, having
always in these localities assumed their most virulent type. By
some of the gentlemen in attendance it was confessed that they
were entirely unaware of such hotbeds of pestilence existing
in such crowded localities. On Thursday Mr. Lee again attended
at the Town Hall, when some evidence was offered on the part
of J. Bennett, Esq., as to Messrs. Smith and Pigott having
certain premises in Tower Street, to which, on account of their
close proximity to the Workhouse, whenever epidemic disorders
prevailed, many pauper patients were always brought, thus
becoming to some extent an hospital for the poor. Mr. Lee was
this day attended by J. G. Bourne, J. Bennett, and J. Maughan,
Esqrs., Messrs. Hollier, Dudley, Bateman, Marsh, and some
others, and inspected the Workhouse, New Street, Tower Street,
Green Man Yard, Birmingham Street, Pottery Fields, &c. Some
of the courts and yards, in Birmingham Street particularly,
attracted the notice of Mr. Lee and the gentlemen with him as
being close, confined, ill drained, and badly ventilated.
As it appears very probable that the provisions of the Health
of Towns Act will be enforced in Dudley (for we cannot imagine
what other report than an unfavourable one can be presented
to the Board by Mr. Lee), would it not be better that the
town itself should take the matter up, and by a new Town Act
or Charter of Incorporation endeavour to procure those powers
which will enable the inhabitants to act for themselves rather
than be compelled to adopt the provisions of the Health of
Towns Bill, which must entail upon the Borough a vast expense,
that at the present time it is but ill able to bear. It is
high time these matters were thought of by the inhabitants
of Dudley, and that the obstinate opposition of some one or
two parties should not be allowed to stop all improvements,
as otherwise they will be compelled at last to adopt those
measures which a little more consideration might have prevented.
We believe Mr. Lee will continue his inspection, which is
expected to last some days longer.
August 16th, 1851. Nothing especially resulted from the above _exposé_
of the flagrant unsanitary condition of this town, except _a scare_,
from which the Town Commissioners (the only ruling authority we
then had in the town), began to fear that their brief authority
would shortly be taken from them by the Board of Health in London;
consequently on October 3rd, 1851, an extraordinary meeting of the
Town Commissioners was held this day at the Hotel, "to consider
the propriety of applying to Parliament for increased powers in the
Dudley Town Commissioners Act," which dated back to 1791. After a
lengthened discussion (in a very numerous attendance of members) it
was resolved on the motion of Mr. C. F. G. Clark, chemist, seconded by
Mr. Thomas Fletcher, "That the anticipated early application of the
Health of Towns Bill to this parish would obviate the necessity of any
increased powers in the Dudley Town Commissioners Act." There was also
a very strong feeling expressed in favour of applying for an Act of
Incorporation as soon as it might be deemed advisable. This desire for
incorporation very soon cooled down, for the town was not incorporated
_for sixteen years afterwards_ (in 1867).
Died, August 24th, 1851, Mr. Wm. Badger, the second son of Thos.
Badger, Esq., J.P., "The Hill Home," Dudley. Aged 34 years.
August 27th, 1851, a new fire engine was sent to this town by the
Birmingham Fire Insurance Company; Mr. C. F. G. Clark was the local
agent.
Died, November 14th, 1851, at Schwalbach, Duchy of Nassau, the Lady
Selina Constance, the first wife of Lord Ward. Aged 22 years.