BIRMINGHAM
1
1378 NOTES FROM INDIA. the state of affairs with the disreputable and the submerge residuum of the population ? 7 Mr. William C. Menzies, manager of the City Improve ments Department, in a report dated Nov. 15th, 1900, say that at that time his department had provided 373 one roomed tenements. 853 two-roomed tenements, 138 wit] three rooms, and 11 with more than three rooms. In al there were 1375 tenements, and of these 467 were he claims, suited for the poorest classes, as there wer single-roomed tenements at 5 and two-roomed tene ments at ;E8 2s. per annum. But there are a numbe of married men who do not earn .61 a week, whose wive: cannot earn anything because they have to attend to thei young children, and who cannot out of less than 20s. feec and clothe themselves, buy a little furniture, and pay 2s. week, or C5 a year, rent. Even if they succeed in doin this then they have only one room to live, cook, and sleel in, and this is not enough if there are several children, Since the publication of Mr. Menzies’ report the number oj tenements has been increased to 1455. Then there ar( old houses that have not been pulled down but have beer purchased and repaired by the corporation, and these arf subdivided into 116 one room, 123 two-room, and 93 three- room tenements. Altogether, and counting the seven municipal common lodging-houses, the Family Home, and the tenement dwellings, the corporation now lodge in all 11,875 persons. The minimum charge for a bed in a common lodging-house is 31d. per night. The minimum rents are f.4 10s., 6 16s., and <E12 9s, per annum for one-, two-, and three-roomed tenements, and the maximum charge is <B8 15s., <E14, and .E21 respectively. The position, therefore, stands thus. The population of Glasgow according to this year’s census is 753,766. The I submerged tenth," therefore, amount to 75,000. A few of this class may be counted among the 2430 occupants of the seven municipal common lodging-houses. Probably not one among them can be included in the 7000 or 8000 tenants inhabiting the corporation tenement dwellings. It is these 75,000 who constitute the gravest danger to the community. It is among them that the plague will spread most rapidly should it obtain a firm foothold in Glasgow, and it is from them that it will extend to the other and more fortunate classes. Then, after all, is the term "submerged tenth" correct ? 7 To judge from the deplorable, sordid, bedraggled aspect of the population seen in the streets of Glasgow, it might be questioned whether the proportion of the sub- merged does not exceed a tenth of the inhabitants. Whether submerged as the consequence of drink, idleness, vice, or as the result of unmerited and unavoidable poverty, the phy- sical facts remain the same. Whatever may be the moral aspect of the question, and though some may have but them- selves to blame, these human wrecks are a perpetual menace and danger to the whole community. With the plague reappearing in Glasgow this problem must be faced, nor has there been any attempt to burke this necessity. As already mentioned, and as described in previous issues of THE LANCET, the subject has been very fully discussed at Glasgow. What action, then, will now be taken ? 7 NOTES FROM INDIA. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) The Plague Epidemic.-An Important Addition to the Lady Du,‘erin Victoria Hospital in Calcutta. FLUCTUATING weekly returns characterise the present recrudescence of the plague epidemic throughout India. Last week there were 8372 deaths, while the week before there were 8551. The Bombay Presidency returned 7372 deaths ; Bombay city, 180 ; the Punjab, 248 ; and the Mysore State, 392. For the corresponding week last year the total deaths for the whole country were only 2505. During the past week there has been an increase in the Mysore State and in the Punjab. Elsewhere the disease is slumbering, A Christian annexe has lately been put to the Lady Dufferin Victoria Hospital in Calcutta. The hospital is to consist of wards for female native Christians and children. Two wards are to be set aside for emergent and maternity cases where females of every class, creed, and nationality seeking admission will be received. The building is detached from the main hospital, but is worked by the lady super- intendent and her staff, Oct. 26th. BIRMINGHAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) A Dcfunct Sanatorium. THE tendency of education among all classes in the present day is the exercise of intelligence to suit their own needs and requirements. This has found a singular exempli- fication in the failure of the sanatorium at Sutton Coldfield. The land and buildings of this admirably-adapted institution were given in 1896 for the purpose of accommodating a special class of patients. It was estimated that patients would contribute 10s. 6d. a week during the time that they were present, and that from other sources also a profit would be obtained which would well meet the establishment expenses, any deficiency being made up by the funds allocated from the Hospital Saturday and Hospital Sunday organisations. In the year 1900 it was found that the total deficiency, including the contribu- tions from these two sources, amounted to E277 Is. 1M. The committee, seeing that it was impossible to maintain the institution on the original lines, agreed to sell the land and buildings to the town council of Sutton Coldfield for the sum of .69000, and a Local Government Board inquiry has sanc- tioned the purchase. The reluctance of patients to avail them- selves of the advantages of this place has arisen largely from the fact that they prefer to go to seaside places, and the estab- lishment of such by the Hospital Saturday Fund at Llandudno has drawn them in that direction where the convalescent insti- tutions are under the control of this fund. It is proposed to add 20 more beds to the sanatorium at Blackwell with part of the proceeds of this sale to the amount of .B6000. which will in addition provide a winter garden for male patients and allow of the reconstruction of the drains. Therefore, though success has not been associated with the benevolent intentions of the donor on the lines originally laid down it will come in another form upon a wider and more appreciated basis. Hospital Saturday and Sunday b’2cnrls. The board of delegates in connexion with the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund met on Oct. 30th, when cheques were given to the various medical charities for the amounts appor- tioned. The committee take pride in the equipment and organisation of this fund, which, with the exception of some per cent. for management, collection, and distribution, is all iven to the medical charities of the city. The amount of ;his year’s collection was stated to be 17,285, further amounts having yet to come in. The street collections lave been abandoned this year. The various cheques were ;hen handed to the representatives of the different in- stitutions. The Hospital Sunday collections this year go to- lie General Hospital. The amount so far received has )een .E4192, but the total has not yet been reached. Some nterest has attached to this year’s subscription by the ’act of an effort being made to mix up the question of the ate Consultative Institution with the medical officers of he General Hospital. An attempt to show that the dvertisements of titles applied equally to each institution nd that the defunct organisation had been much maligned n a recent controversy resulted in some addition being made o the amount given. Nov. l2th. ________________ LIVERPOOL. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Royal Southern Hospital Dinner. THE eleventh annual dinner of the Royal Southern Hos- pital took place on Nov. 2nd, at the Adelphi Hotel, under the presidency of Mr. Alfred L. Jones (now Sir Alfred L. Jones, K.C.M.G.). The guests included the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, the Bishop of Liverpool, Sir William M. Banks, Mr. Boyle, Consul for the United States of America, Mr. A. F. Warr, M.P., and others. The Chairman, in proposing "The Royal Southern Hospital," said that if there was one thing in Liverpool in which the public took a special interest it was in their noble hospitals. Too much praise could not be bestowed upon the very liberal men who had put the hos- pitals in their present position. The toast was responded to by Mr. William Adamson (the president of the hospital) and Dr. William Carter, the senior physician. Dr. Carter referred to the widespread prevailing ignorance
Transcript of BIRMINGHAM
1378 NOTES FROM INDIA.
the state of affairs with the disreputable and the submergeresiduum of the population ? 7
Mr. William C. Menzies, manager of the City Improvements Department, in a report dated Nov. 15th, 1900, saythat at that time his department had provided 373 oneroomed tenements. 853 two-roomed tenements, 138 wit]three rooms, and 11 with more than three rooms. In althere were 1375 tenements, and of these 467 were
he claims, suited for the poorest classes, as there wer
single-roomed tenements at 5 and two-roomed tenements at ;E8 2s. per annum. But there are a numbeof married men who do not earn .61 a week, whose wive:cannot earn anything because they have to attend to theiyoung children, and who cannot out of less than 20s. feecand clothe themselves, buy a little furniture, and pay 2s. week, or C5 a year, rent. Even if they succeed in dointhis then they have only one room to live, cook, and sleelin, and this is not enough if there are several children,Since the publication of Mr. Menzies’ report the number ojtenements has been increased to 1455. Then there ar(
old houses that have not been pulled down but have beerpurchased and repaired by the corporation, and these arfsubdivided into 116 one room, 123 two-room, and 93 three-room tenements. Altogether, and counting the seven
municipal common lodging-houses, the Family Home, andthe tenement dwellings, the corporation now lodge inall 11,875 persons. The minimum charge for a bedin a common lodging-house is 31d. per night. Theminimum rents are f.4 10s., 6 16s., and <E12 9s, perannum for one-, two-, and three-roomed tenements, and themaximum charge is <B8 15s., <E14, and .E21 respectively.The position, therefore, stands thus. The population of
Glasgow according to this year’s census is 753,766. TheI submerged tenth," therefore, amount to 75,000. A few ofthis class may be counted among the 2430 occupants of theseven municipal common lodging-houses. Probably not oneamong them can be included in the 7000 or 8000 tenants
inhabiting the corporation tenement dwellings. It is these
75,000 who constitute the gravest danger to the community.It is among them that the plague will spread most rapidlyshould it obtain a firm foothold in Glasgow, and it is fromthem that it will extend to the other and more fortunateclasses. Then, after all, is the term "submerged tenth"correct ? 7 To judge from the deplorable, sordid, bedraggledaspect of the population seen in the streets of Glasgow, itmight be questioned whether the proportion of the sub-
merged does not exceed a tenth of the inhabitants. Whethersubmerged as the consequence of drink, idleness, vice, or asthe result of unmerited and unavoidable poverty, the phy-sical facts remain the same. Whatever may be the moralaspect of the question, and though some may have but them-selves to blame, these human wrecks are a perpetual menaceand danger to the whole community. With the plaguereappearing in Glasgow this problem must be faced, nor
has there been any attempt to burke this necessity. As
already mentioned, and as described in previous issues ofTHE LANCET, the subject has been very fully discussed atGlasgow. What action, then, will now be taken ? 7
NOTES FROM INDIA.
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
The Plague Epidemic.-An Important Addition to the LadyDu,‘erin Victoria Hospital in Calcutta.
FLUCTUATING weekly returns characterise the presentrecrudescence of the plague epidemic throughout India. Lastweek there were 8372 deaths, while the week before therewere 8551. The Bombay Presidency returned 7372 deaths ;Bombay city, 180 ; the Punjab, 248 ; and the Mysore State,392. For the corresponding week last year the total deathsfor the whole country were only 2505. During the past weekthere has been an increase in the Mysore State and in thePunjab. Elsewhere the disease is slumbering,A Christian annexe has lately been put to the Lady
Dufferin Victoria Hospital in Calcutta. The hospital is toconsist of wards for female native Christians and children.Two wards are to be set aside for emergent and maternitycases where females of every class, creed, and nationalityseeking admission will be received. The building is detachedfrom the main hospital, but is worked by the lady super-intendent and her staff,
Oct. 26th.
BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
A Dcfunct Sanatorium.THE tendency of education among all classes in the
present day is the exercise of intelligence to suit their ownneeds and requirements. This has found a singular exempli-fication in the failure of the sanatorium at Sutton Coldfield.The land and buildings of this admirably-adapted institutionwere given in 1896 for the purpose of accommodating aspecial class of patients. It was estimated that patientswould contribute 10s. 6d. a week during the time that
they were present, and that from other sources also a
profit would be obtained which would well meet theestablishment expenses, any deficiency being made upby the funds allocated from the Hospital Saturdayand Hospital Sunday organisations. In the year 1900 itwas found that the total deficiency, including the contribu-tions from these two sources, amounted to E277 Is. 1M. Thecommittee, seeing that it was impossible to maintain theinstitution on the original lines, agreed to sell the land andbuildings to the town council of Sutton Coldfield for the sumof .69000, and a Local Government Board inquiry has sanc-tioned the purchase. The reluctance of patients to avail them-selves of the advantages of this place has arisen largely fromthe fact that they prefer to go to seaside places, and the estab-lishment of such by the Hospital Saturday Fund at Llandudnohas drawn them in that direction where the convalescent insti-tutions are under the control of this fund. It is proposedto add 20 more beds to the sanatorium at Blackwell withpart of the proceeds of this sale to the amount of .B6000.which will in addition provide a winter garden for malepatients and allow of the reconstruction of the drains.Therefore, though success has not been associated with thebenevolent intentions of the donor on the lines originallylaid down it will come in another form upon a wider andmore appreciated basis.
Hospital Saturday and Sunday b’2cnrls.The board of delegates in connexion with the Birmingham
Hospital Saturday Fund met on Oct. 30th, when cheques weregiven to the various medical charities for the amounts appor-tioned. The committee take pride in the equipment andorganisation of this fund, which, with the exception of someper cent. for management, collection, and distribution, is all
iven to the medical charities of the city. The amount of;his year’s collection was stated to be 17,285, furtheramounts having yet to come in. The street collectionslave been abandoned this year. The various cheques were;hen handed to the representatives of the different in-stitutions. The Hospital Sunday collections this year go to-lie General Hospital. The amount so far received has)een .E4192, but the total has not yet been reached. Somenterest has attached to this year’s subscription by the’act of an effort being made to mix up the question of theate Consultative Institution with the medical officers ofhe General Hospital. An attempt to show that thedvertisements of titles applied equally to each institutionnd that the defunct organisation had been much malignedn a recent controversy resulted in some addition being madeo the amount given.Nov. l2th.
________________
LIVERPOOL.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
The Royal Southern Hospital Dinner.THE eleventh annual dinner of the Royal Southern Hos-
pital took place on Nov. 2nd, at the Adelphi Hotel, under thepresidency of Mr. Alfred L. Jones (now Sir Alfred L. Jones,K.C.M.G.). The guests included the Lord Mayor of Liverpool,the Bishop of Liverpool, Sir William M. Banks, Mr. Boyle,Consul for the United States of America, Mr. A. F. Warr,M.P., and others. The Chairman, in proposing "The RoyalSouthern Hospital," said that if there was one thing inLiverpool in which the public took a special interest it wasin their noble hospitals. Too much praise could not bebestowed upon the very liberal men who had put the hos-pitals in their present position. The toast was respondedto by Mr. William Adamson (the president of thehospital) and Dr. William Carter, the senior physician.Dr. Carter referred to the widespread prevailing ignorance
