[Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough.
- Bacup (England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1907
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and the sudden change from the hot air inside to the cold outside predisposes to respiratory diseases. In regard to out-door occupations the stone trade is the chief one. The fine dust from the stone predisposes to bronchial diseases and phthisis. Black Fogs.—Fogs and mists cannot be prevented, but the Black Fogs which have been so frequent during the latter part of the year ought to be considerably lessened. These fogs not only lessen the amount of health-giving sun- shine but also cause a considei-able amount of disease of the respiratory organs, shortening life and increasing our mortality. The evils of breathing the filth laden air are not so evident and readily appreciated as impure water. If they were, something would be done speedily to prevent sickness and death. The fine soot and other solids inhaled interferes with the respiratory functions of the lungs and predisposes to chest diseases. The smoke nuisance might be abated with more careful stoking at our mills and factories. The greater evil arises, however, from our domestic chimneys. On Monday, we have had some very black fogs. The mills have been closed at noon on the previous Saturday. Sanitary Authorities, whei’e black fogs are so common ought on health grounds to seek powers to supply gas for motor power to our mills and factories, and to domestic houses for cooking and heating at such a low price that it would be considered extravagant waste to burn coal. Possibly, if supplied at prime cost it would be sold at 9d. per 1000 cubic feet. No private company ought to have the monopoly to supply gas for these purposes for profit making. The question is one of national health, and steps will have to be taken in our crowded Lancashire towns to pi’event the pollution of the “ vital air ” of the people. Tlie following table gives the deaths for the ])ast 10 years :—](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28898576_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
