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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1873—4. 13

The Metropolis Local Management Act was passed in tho last quarter of 1855, and
Vestries commenced their duties early in the following year. Let the let the Laboruesr have
their meed of gratitude, seeing that this great work has been done witout fee or reward;
indeed, not only without fee or reward, but often whilst suffering from abuse and cpmtempt.
It is a fact now thoroughly recognised, that the tendency of the people is more and
more to aggregate in towns. It is the age of "great cities." In thus associating together,
man is probably impelled by the same instinct as that which influences "the Beaver, the
Bee, the Ant," and other animals and insects. Man is formed for society, and much of
his happiness springs from it. And it is by these aggregations that the great works in
science and art, as well as the basis of political freedom have been accomplished. " Great
cities rule the world." They may be descried as the ultimate destination of man. The
town population outnumbers by far the urban population. This is just the reverse of what
was the case some fifty years ago. And this decrease on the one part, and increase upon
the other, has ever since that period been gradually and constantly going on. It is not the
result of a sudden and wayward caprice on the part of the people. This change throws an
ever increasing responsibility upon all Bodies charged with the maintenance of the Public
Health in Towns and Cities.
Town life is characterised by increase of disease, and by shortening of life. It involves
overcrowding, impure air, craving after excitement, and the opportunity for the gratification
of the passions, all of which lead to the most unhappy results. And many of the
homes in them, if we may use that word, are such as tend only to demoralise and destroy.
Families consisting of father, mother, grown up sons, and daughters may often be met
with, living and sleeping in one room. Health, morality, humanity in such conditions are
totally impossible. A journeyman Carpenter, or Engineer, I forget which, writing upon
this subject in Fraser's Magazine, most truly remarks, that the poorer members of the
Working classes often fare worse than the beasts of the field. In every requisite of health,
their dwellings are inferior to most stables. "We have seen" he says "piggeries in
Comparison with which the same may be said of them, and any Master of Fox-hounds,