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18
It may be said that for the solution of this problem
economic difficulties have to be met with. With this
aspect of the matter I am not concerned, save to point
out as a practical consideration that the loss of productive
capacity due to ill-health and the expense of
maintaining institutions which would be unnecessary
in a healthy community amount in the aggregate to an
enormous sum which might well counterbalance the
expenditure on decent housing for the people, whatever
this expenditure may be.
Any medical officer faced with the conditions to be
found in Bethnal Green must record his conviction as
to the urgent necessity for proper housing in the
Borough. The indelible picture of dying Tuberculosis
patients in small and very overcrowded rooms, sleeping
in the same bed with their children and so of necessity
infecting these also, will haunt my mind for the rest
of my life.