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and had more than once rectified the drainage of those houses ;
but, at the desire of the Committee, a statement respecting the
court was drawn up by the Medical Officer of Health, and forwarded
to the patrons of the school, and to the proprietor of the
houses. It was recommended that the number of inhabitants in
the court be reduced, and the water closet accommodation made
more ample and less conspicuous; and in their hands the matter
is left.
Thomas Street and its neighbourhood.—This street is very
densely peopled, for it contained 600 inhabitants at the census
of 1851, and there is no reason to believe that the number has
since decreased. As there were many cases of fever there, an
examination was instituted, with the following results:—
No. 2. Staircase and some of the rooms very dirty, roof
leaky, house ill ventilated.
Nos. 3,4,5,7, and 8, in a similar condition, with untrapped
gullies, and uncovered ash-pits.
No. 9, clean, but exposed to the effluvia from the dust-bin
of No. 9, Robert Street, round the corner.
These houses, which contain on an average at least 30
inhabitants in each, were evidently built with the view of
economizing every square inch of space, and without an adequate
staircase window or skylight for giving air to the body of
the house. Moreover, each room is inhabited by a separate
family, and the door, window, fireplace, and bed, are placed in
the least favourable situations for ventilation. But as it is
evident that in a population so crowded, any little defect in the
mode of carrying off animal exhalations may lead to disease,
the authority of the Committee was exercised to induce the