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12 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
great difficulties. We possess, however, a higher vantage ground than formerly ; the
experience of the past has rendered plainer to us, and made more easy, the duties of the
future.
Sanitary administration needs no exordium; it aims to embrace all, and to do good
unto all. Nay, is it not like unto Christianity? Does it not first give itself to the poor,
desiring to deliver them from out of the depths of their moral and physical degradation.?
I have felt much surprise at the apathy and neglect shewn by the Clergy in general to
Sanitary Reform.* The minister of religion enjoys immense power, both from his education
and his position, and by the opportunity afforded him of regularly addressing large numbers
of people; hence, to his spiritual teachings might be added with consistency the
teaching of care for the body. Body and soul have one Maker; break the laws by which
they are governed, sin is engendered, and punishment certain. This subject has not
escaped attention; and as I think it one of great importance with reference to the speedier
advance and practice of sanitary science, I will quote two writers who have expressed very
clear opinions upon it. Dr. Druitt, Chairman of the Metropolitan Association of Medical
Officers of Health, purposely made a visit to a town in France, in which the Cholera was
especially fatal. As one result of that visit he makes the following remarks:—"What
strikes us as strange is, that these reverend personages never seem to think that they have
any thing to do with the physical or material topics, just as if that were an altogether
different department, presided over by a different divinity from Him who rules the soul and
the spiritual world. Surely the man who prays fervently to God and the saints to preserve
him from cholera, might be told to take a besom and a pail of whitewash and cleanse his
cottage as an acceptable work. But it is the same with the Clergy here. Whether it be
the cattle plague or the cholera, they preach against vice in the abstract, and leave unnoticed
the most crying sins against the laws of creation, as if they belonged to another
department. Would to Heaven that they would add to the seven corporal acts of mercy
that of cleansing the filthy." And A. K. H. B., the essayist, and a Clergyman of the
Episcopal Church of Scotland thus writes:—"I suppose it is now coming to be acknowledged
by all men of sense, that it is a christian duty to care for our |ellow creatures'
bodies as well as their souls; that it is hateful cant and hypocrisy to pray for the removal
of disease which God by the revelation of nature has taught us may be averted by the use
of physical means, while those means have not been faithfully employed."
During the year ending 30th March, 1867, the births of 2044 living children were
registered. The number of births is less by 145 than in the year 1865-6. The deaths registered
amounted to 1502. This number exceeds by 20 that of the year 1865-6. The excess
of births over deaths is 542. The annual death rate is 27 in 1000 persons living. There
are some districts in England in which the death rate is only 17 in 1000 persons living,
consequently 555 have died, who would not have died had this district been as healthy.
From an analysis of an English life-table made by Mr. Rumsey, we find that tho probabilities
of the duration of life at every age have decreased between 1841 and 1854, and that
* Of course there are many and very noble examples of distinguished Clergymen taking great interest m
sanitary improvements, but it is to be lamented that this is so partial.