Genre:

Regular Feature, Biography

Subjects:

Industry, Disease, Public Health, Bacteriology, Government, Sanitation, Crime, Analytical Chemistry

    Observes that early in his career as Home Secretary Herbert H Asquith turned his vigilance to the 'exceptionally high [...] mortality among the linen workers' of Belfast, and commissioned a 'thoroughly competent official' to investigate the causes that had previously 'escaped attention'. The subsequent 'report when received was clear and conclusive. The hot, damp air of the factory, charged as it was with the waste product of the linen manufacture, brought on phthisis'. Applauds the 'linen manufacturers of the North of Ireland' for acting upon the 'recommendations of Mr. Asquith's commissioner [...] with commendable promptitude', even though the necessary improvements to factory conditions will involve 'an expenditure of several thousands of pounds'. (232) Also expresses 'regret that under the circumstances Mr. Asquith did not see his way clear to liberate Mrs. Maybrick', and suggests that he 'appears to have believed that, whatever the technical flaws of her trial may have been, she was in fact guilty of attempting to poison her husband, even if he died from some other cause, and so Mrs. Maybrick remains under lock and key to this hour' (235).