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13
as the fever bill; and much of the immorality among the
labouring classes may be attributed to a similar source.
A process of mutual poisoning is going on in rooms
occupied by too many persons, during which carbonic acid
gas is thrown off from the skin and lungs of each person ;
and when we consider that one or two per cent, of this
agent, if breathed for several hours continuously, has
produced alarming effects, it becomes imperative on the
Medical Officers of Health to counteract the evils of air
so vitiated. Besides, we must not overlook the organic
particles exhaled from the lungs of each person, which,
floating in the atmosphere, probably occasion disease and
death to the greatest extent in the more densely populated
districts.
V. Under-Ground Dwellings. A few examples of
some of these, situated in the Belgrave Sub-district, are
now given.
Avery Farm Row, No. 13. Staircase in a very dangerous
state. The room exceedingly dirty, and the floor
covered with the debris of rotten harness.
Ditto, No. 6. The front kitchen dark and unwholesome.
Two infants are received here to be nursed during the day.
Flask Lane, No. 3. A small kitchen occupied by a man,
his wife, and five children, and only 6 feet 3 inches high.
Ditto, No. 2. A man, his wife, and three children
occupy the front kitchen, which is only 6 feet 9 inches high.
Upon this state of things being represented to the
sanitary committee, it was referred to the Vestry, who
directed the district surveyors to report upon the underground
dwellings.
YI. Cow Houses. The Metropolitan Association of