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12
Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.

This points to the necessity of making every available opening for currents of air in the
closer and sicklier districts, of removing everything promptly that unnecessarily vitiates the air, of
encouraging a higher standard of cleanliness in back districts; by the example of public cleanliness and
care, and by compelling those refractory persons, who injure their neighbours by their neglect, to put
their places in order. A man may, of course, be as filthy as he likes, if he has a taste that way, but he
has no right to carry it to the extent of injuring others. In this Table will be seen also, that forty-one
persons have been taken off in the very prime of life by consumption: although the disease is hereditary,
everything that tends to purify and freshen the atmosphere will diminish its ravages. Open spaces
to which children can readily be taken, will do very much to eradicate the seeds of the disease in early
life. I have seen children with all the symptoms hinting at decline, become quite well by judicious and
regular exposure to the air. The dreadfully vitiated air of our courts, alleys, and close rooms, produces
and fosters this disease, which destroys more lives than any other. I need not say any more at present
about parks; of course they are necessary, and the nearer the better. Two cases have been brought before
you,—one the rare opportunity with little effort and little expense of preserving the open space of
ground in Red-cross-court. This court alone costs the parish, as I believe, at least £100 a-year in
pauperism. The other is Henry-street and Etham-street; a small opening is greatly needed here, it
was reported upon some months ago. The landlords of this small, densely-packed neighbourhood
greatly desire the opening of these thoroughfares, and the 2,000 poor people that live in this small
space, can scarcely have a greater boon bestowed upon them. The seventh Table shows the extent of
sanitary work during the quarter. About half the cases ordered, are reported as unfinished at the end
of the quarter, and some remain from previous quarters; the cases are specified; some may perhaps
have been done since, but there are great arrears. This Table is partly constructed from the Inspector's
book, and the work is chiefly his. I am, however, acquainted with the particulars of every case, and
advise with him upon each. One of the earliest and most special orders of the Vestry was that he should
act thoroughly with me. I am most glad to say, that he does so to my perfect satisfaction.
I have lately visited all the cow-yards, 18 in number, containing 207 cows. The cows, with
some exceptions, look healthy. In the most neglected cow-houses I find the most unhealthy, sickly
cows. These cows are generally quickly got rid of. It appears to pay some persons to call round and
purchase sickly, diseased, or dying animals; the cows may, therefore, look well, and a quick succession
of sickness take place, and be in this manner removed. One cow-keeper had lost a large number, and had
given up the business. Another had lost a few, and some of the cows looked as if they were becoming sick.
Many of the cow-yards require great improvement—periodical cleansing, improved paving and drainage,
and a better water supply; the dung-pits are defective, open, and in hot weather steaming up and infecting
the air. As the principle of draining over or under the service is of the utmost importance, the decision
of a full Vestry upon the principle is desirable before proceeding; sure I am that the existence of
many thousands of feet of almost stagnant foul liquid, slowly running from cow-sheds and piggeries, cannot
be right in close neighbourhoods, when perhaps half of it would be evaporated by the heat of the sun
before it could arrive at the distant sink. The first dairy authorities agree that "hot, close cow-houses are
disgraceful affairs." Mr. Martin, one of the first, says, "As the slightest acidity and putrescence affects
the milk, it is of the utmost importance that the place should be as pure and clean as possible." Recollect
also how the question of good milk bears upon the deaths of children, which are so enormous with us.
I have visited all the lodging-honses in this parish with Inspector Price and Mr. Wellman.
They were 25 in number, containing 714 rooms and 827 lodgers. The police regulations, for order,
cleanliness, and prevention of disease, are in the highest degree satisfactory. That the amount of disease,
and of the worst kinds, was formerly enormous, I, as an old parish surgeon, well know. It rapidly
infected others; not so now. The open indecencies have almost passed away. The expense to the
parish, of these places, occupied by the most improvident and the filthiest of people, must have been
enormous. I saw but two cases of illness in all the houses, and one of them was from intemperance.
Fever, small-pox, and the like, cannot spread; they are immediately reported and removed, and the
places are cleansed before others are allowed to. occupy. The benefits are so great, that the employment
of the same regulations in the more crowded and filthier houses of the poor, can only be a question of