The Noxious Gases Bill.

  • Midleton, William St. John Fremantle Brodrick, Earl of, 1856-1942.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Noxious Gases Bill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    3/17 page 855
    1879. the noxious gases bill. their side, it was understood that their objections increased, binally, it became apparent that an opposition had sprung up which must prove fatal at so late a period of the Session, and the Bill went the way of many others. Whether its opponents have been wise in their generation in administering to it so early a coup de grace is a question which remains to be answered. We venture to think that a very brief recapitulation of the facts which have been elicited by the Commission will satisfy the public that the time has arrived at which ‘ something must be done.’ It so, such a conviction is sine- to bear fruit before long, and delay is not always in favour of those- who may be supposed to have their reasons for desiring it* Ike evidence produced is in one respect satisfactory. The witnesses, with very few exceptions, deposed to the good effects which had been the swift result of recent legislation. Improved machinery, greater care in manufacture, better plant, and a more vigilant system of supervision had been all but universally adopted. It is needless to say that all this must mean a largely increased expenditure of capital, and give rise to apprehensions, which are not altogether un- reasonable, of any further legislative restrictions upon the works. On the other hand, the improvements in the various methods of manu- facture have been materially neutralised by the increase in the works. In the case of Widnes they would seem to have doubled with- in the last few years. Concentration, which was once looked to as a partial remedy for the evils complained of, is now rather a subject of dread. The volume of gas poured forth from many contiguous chim- neys, all conforming strictly to the Act, may be as deleterious in its effects on vegetation, and as difficult to dilute, as the fumes belched forth from one notorious offender. The mischief is thus carried fur- ther afield, and blame is imputed to individuals for that for which the extension of our commerce is really responsible. It must be added that to the general rule of good conduct there are some flagrant ex- ceptions. The really well-managed works complain with reason that inspection is not sufficiently stringent as yet to bring up the careless members of their body to the proper level, and that the whole trade suffers in the public estimation by the unprincipled and illegal; conduct of a comparatively small minority. Large emissions of gas- also take place from works not as yet subject to inspection—another' grievance which finds a prominent place in the complaints of those who are trying to do their best. Having thus stated briefly the outlines of the question, we pro- ceed to examine more closely the situation as disclosed by the report of the Commission. Noxious gases may be roughly divided for practical purposes into two classes—those which are injurious to animal or vegetable life, and those which are simply offensive to the smell. I here are of course gases which are both, but many of which, like sulphuretted hydrogen, the public complain with
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3