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Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
anticipated. The developemental state of sanitary science is not calculated to lighten the
duties of those who are called upon to put its teaching into practice. The laws of life and
health, are, amongst the educated and higher clases but partially understood, and still less
observed; whilst, amongst the ignorant and the lower classes, they are not observed at all,
because they are not even partially understood. The only possible mode of preserving
health is to comprehend these laws and obey them. The elements however of sanitary
science are available for use, and the immediate duties of Vestries are plain ; they must
insist that a plentiful supply of pure water be given to the people, that there be efficient
drainage, good water closets and dust bins; that there be provisions made for the speedy
and regular removal of all refuse matter; that the streets be cleansed, repaired, and
watered; and that the wretched habitations which disfigure and disgrace our town be replaced
by such as are fit for men to dwell in, and which they may feel some pride in calling
their homes. Whilst, however, Yestries have their plain and paramount duties to perform,
the people have no less theirs. For a thorough completion of sanitary work, it is imperative
that the people should be willing to profit by that which is done for them, and to cooperate
in producing a satisfactory result. This will requiro that they be educated in the
principles of sanitary science, and the necessity and wisdom of obeying the laws of health.
It was truthfully said by the Hon. and Rev. W. H. Lyttleton when speaking on the
Practical Teaching of sanitary science in National Schools, "that so long as the poor are
unwilling to obey sanitary laws, we shall be Sisyphus like, constantly rolling stones to the
the top of the hill, which will immediately roll down again. Let then the principles of
of sanitary science, the consequences of the good and evil, which flow from obeying or
neglecting its laws, be thoroughly taught in our schools."
Nuw, what aspect does this, and also other Parishf-s present, not only with their condition
which the generation of men now living remember, but with their condition ten
years ago, when Vestries had not been established! We may call to mind the thousands
of cesspools which burrowed the earth, and which cesspools collected together would have
formed a lake containing 300,000 cubic feet; or an exhaling surface of nearly 62 acres ; or
a canal, ten miles in length, fifty feet in width, and six feet six inches in depth. Where
now is this reeking, malarious mass, polluting the earth, the air, and the water ? It is being ,
carried far away, and by sewers so stupendous, that the like have not been seen since the
days of the Romans. Where are those open ditches with which we were so familiar a few
years back, the sides of which were strewed with garbage, and at the bottom of which crept
in a sinuous course the black and fetid stream, here and there dammed up by some dead
animal, or other foul matter ? No where to be seen ; filled up, and forming part of the
highway, or other useful and innocent purpose. Whilst those sewers, which from want of
fall and imperfect construction were merely elongated cesspools, have all been replaced by
others constructed on efficient and scientific principles. Who is now called upon to witness
the disgraceful scenes which were daily occurring at our infra-mural burials ? Within this
Metropolis 52,000 interments were wont to take place annually, and the amount of gas
evolved therefrom, according to a calculation of Dr. Playfair, would be equal to 2,572,580
cubic feet; and all that part of it which the soil did not absorb, escaped into and mixed
with the air above. The gates of the churchyards are for ever closed to the entrance of the