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"filth fevers" both in England and in Tasmania;
his persistence in
repeating this story time and time again was surely remarkah le.
the many examples he quoted were thes e:
. • • Liverpoo l, too , I may properly cite, as it was in this
gigantic commercal town, I acquired my first impulse to the
pursuit of sanitary knowledge from witnessing in its ce llars,
courts and garrets, the terrible results of unsanitary
conditions. The rate of mortality during my long experience
there was as high as 39 per 1000; it is now les·s than 27,
the saving being nearly 4,000 human lives per annum. It has ,
hmv'ever, cost an enormous sum to effect this ....
In a paper to the Epidemiological Society of London, I have
spoken largely on this subject and illustrated it forcibly
by the history of the terrible fever which was imported by a
convict ship in August 1839 , am1 which spread so extensively
and destructively amongst those with whom it was so
injudiciously brought into contact, in those days of disregard
to quarantine . Upwards of 900 cases were treated in Hobarton
hospitals alone and seventy eight died within twelve months
from its commencement.
Amongst
Hal l considered that Hobarton was without any comprehensive well-connected
scheme of sewerage and drainage:
obj ectionab le in form, capacity and material .
what did exist was partial and
After describing its
most offensive manifestations , he proposed an effective system based on
the writings of Robert Rawlinson of the English Sanitary Commi ssions .
Some of Hall's words would bear weight even today:
I \dll not enter upon the discussion of theecmomical disposal
of the se\•.rage for agricultural purposes , but it does seem a
terrib le waste to throw such valuab le fert ilizing materials
into the sea. It will, however , be a serious consideration
for the engineer whether the present outlet ought to be
continued in use. As a sanitarian I am quite satisfied it
- will ultimately be most detrimental to the healthy condition
of our beautiful and commodious harbor.
Since Hobart Town had come under municipal government , its rate of
mortality had improved;
the death rate to the level of the rural areas .
Hall hoped that efficient sewerage would reduce
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