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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1870—71. 5
raising up some crotchet or another." Such was then the opinion held of Sanitary
Reformers, and by a Eepresentative Man !
The Acts under which Vestries had to work were very imperfect, giving forth uncertain
readings, so that no clear decision could be reached. Opposition was strong on every
hand; the magistrates sympathised with the defendants. Property and its rights were
apparently invaded; and property and its rights have always claimed more support than
property and its duties. All was new and disturbing, and the results were not yet apparent.
An Act containing the most beneficial designs, must injure some one when put into
operation. Time must pass, experience must increase, and fruit must be gathered, before
it will be accepted and appreciated. The simple notice of an Inspector now, will bring about
what a summons and visit to the Police Court could not then. Such, at that period, was
the state of public opinion, and the provision of the Law. And what was our physical
condition? In every yard were one or more of what Dr. Arnott truly called "the foulest
receptacles in nature," namely, cesspools; these gave off unceasingly foul effluvia, filling
meat-safe, cupboard, passage and room. The smell met you on entering the house, abode
with you whilst you remained in it, and came out with you on leaving it. The Parish was
burrowed with them, and the soil soddened with the escape of their contents. The emptying
them proved a true infliction. They have now been emptied for the last time, filled up
with coarse disinfecting materials, and water closets substituted for them. A change so
great and advantageous, should claim the hearty acknowledgement of every man and
woman, who values health, comfort, and cleanliness. They would not now be endured for a
moment; yet with what difficulty were they abolished. They were clung to, as if some old
and honoured relic was about to be ruthlessly torn from its possessors. No man may compute
the extent of disease, and the number of deaths, that took their origin from them, in
the air above and in the earth beneath. Indirectly connected with these, I would next
mention the pumps that stood here and there, inviting the thirsty and those whose water
supply was deficient, and the name of the latter was legion; for water was given only three
times in the week, and for a very short space of time. The water which filled these shallow
wells, came from the surface of the roads, from cess-pools, and slaughter-houses; from
church-yards and other impure sources. The walls of these wells had fallen into ruins; and
were covered with a ropy slimy layer of substance, offensive to smell and touch; whilst the
water was considered to be cool, pure, and delicious. The removal of these slaughterwells
was looked upon as a wrong done to the poor, yet cholera dwelt in them ; and to
them many a mound was raised.
The roads are now more frequently and carefully swept, and the refuse more speedily
removod: and when we consider the composition of this refuse, and the extent to which it
was carried by wind and traffic, we may look upon this improvement as no slight boon.
Pigs were wont to haunt our streets and roads in search of food, of the most loathsome
disgusting kind. Any one who could afford to keep a pig did so, to his own injury
???at of his neighbour. Their condition and surroundings were filthy, as negligence and
???f convenience could make them. There were also public sties in which from ten to
???igs were huddled together, and the smell from which the winds carried far and wide.
??? abolish these required a great effort, and which has only just been crowned with final
???cess.