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and ought to supersede the rude hands and arms
process in vogue so many centuries.
The working journey-men bakers made an appeal
to the public about a year since to support a reform
movement for their trade. The daily papers at the
time made some severe comments upon the present
system of fabricating bread—there the matter rests.
From the Daily News.— "In the middle of the nineteenth century,
Dough-making is still a cruel labour! The closed knuckles must be
violently thrust into a huge mass of tenacious dough, which must be
raised by the muscular effort of the arms, and turned and tossed over
repeatedly with the most violent exertion. The workman who performs
this hard task has consequently received the too-expressive appellation of
moaner (geindre), because the exhaustive nature of his toil is betrayed by
the heavy stifled groans which are forced from his chest. Every part of
his body is soon overflowing with perspiration, which falls in large drops,
and is amalgamated with the dough he is kneading; and he is entirely
overwhelmed with fatigue by the time he has reached the end of his
killing labour."
The Public Baths.
The opening of the new Public Baths and Washhouses
for use in this parish is a sanitary measure of
no little importance, and meets with general approbation.
I have in former Reports pleaded for public
baths as a needful luxury for the artizan class engaged
in dirty occupations, such as stokers, engine-drivers,
smiths, stable-men, and others, and am pleased to find
this great sanitary want has been supplied for them.
It will not only largely contribute to the promotion of
cleanliness of person and clothing, but will materially
lessen the danger of spreading contagious diseases
throughout the community.