OCR Text |
Show Au Epidemic in 1 lverpool. A severe fever epidemic has taken possession of Liverpool, and still continues con-tinues to spread. This epidemic is attributed to overcrowding, to the filthy habile of the pr-opl. and the atmospheric influences combined therewith. there-with. "Energetic measures' says the Pail MoU Gazettt, "are being taken by the authorities to check the disease. Temporary hospital sheds are to be erected; the Privy Council is to be applied ap-plied to for power to put into operation opera-tion tho clauses of the Prevention of Diseases Act empowering the boards of guardians to compel the removal to hospitals of patients from houses in crowded localities, and the district medical officers have recommended house-to-house visitation, and the temporary closing and disinfection of the houses in which fever has occurred. All these measures are very proper to be taken, but even if successful in extinguishing ex-tinguishing the outburst of disease, they do not destroy the inward spark, which will again before long burst into a flame and pursue the same destructive destruc-tive career before it can be subdued. The fever is but the natural consequence conse-quence of evils resulting from that imperfect im-perfect sanitary legislation, against the inefficiency ot which it is a striking protest. The testimony of the medical officers o1' the town discloses horrors enough to make our blood run cold. The effluvium surrounding the women who live in these fever houses, it is said, may be discovered at a distance of some yards Such i- the state of dirt and decradatiun to which our poor are rcductd. YVc do not interfere because be-cause thi is u land of liberty, a pour man's house is his ea-tle, and from his castle he is allowed to scatter death ,md de-trueti'in through the country.'' |