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from epidemics, must still be regarded as an exception to the average
—it has its tale of death to recount everywhere. But sickness, of the
epidemic Haas especially, has not been altogether indiscriminate in its
visitations. It is true we have seen some of those diseases attack the
inmates of abodes of the wealthy, as well as the poor, where all sanitary
conditions were most completely fulfilled ; but this, of course,
must be regarded as the exception—the general laws of health and
disease still remain as a guide. Some of those laws are, beyond dispute,
which every Medical Officer of Health can confirm, that the badly
drained houses, the badly ventilated, are the selected abodes of zymotic
disease, amongst dirty people: and further, that,commonly, while among
the cleanly, where drainage is complete, and ventilation perfect, where
typhus is almost unknown, this same disease shall visit the former class
of people, one after another, lay low the whole of them, and almost for a
certainty claim a share of some victims.
I have dwelt, at length, I am aware, on zymotic disease. It is the
most important of all If it cannot bo extirpated, it ought to be
diminished. It can be. If I review my experience, during the past
year, where death from typhus has taken place, I may say, with confidence,
that in five houses out of 6,* defective ventilation has been manifest,
apart from other sanitary evils not overlooked at the time.
Your Board have long been sensible of this fault among the
poorer dwellings, but, at the same time, aware that the District itself
was not in a portion with its wealthier neighbours, felt disinclined at
the outset to resort to constraint, in order to bring about a change in
this respect You were satisfied for a season in issuing printed notices
on tho subject, pointing out the advantages both to landlords and
tenants, in the hope that moral influence would be sufficient. In some
cases it has proved adequate to tho emergency ; but, in the far greater
number, perfectly futile. In this difficulty, you then determined, fortified
by the provisions of the 8th and 13th sections of the Nuisances
Removal Act, to have recourse to the decision of the magistrate.
With the conviction of the necessity for such a step, that it will
very materially diminish zymotic disease, especially fevers, and modify
• There an probably not less, than 2000 houses, of the poorest class, where
the upper sashes are fixed and immoveable; and these have been principally the
abodes of fever and zymotic pestilence.