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the complaint. We shall always steadfastly aim (for in this I feel
I have an able, zealous, and faithful colleague in your Superintendent
Sanitary Inspector, Mr. Collingwood, with whom it has now been
my duty and privilege to work for nearly four years, and to whose
indefatigible industry, no less than to his unswerving honesty of
will and purpose, many of the Vestry will join me in bearing
testimony), I say we shall always aim at making Sanitary work in
our parish real, that is at carefully sifting the complaints that are
genuine from those that are imaginary—But we have to trust in a great
measure to outsiders to inform us when there is a real grievanceThere
lies the difficulty, but it is only a difficulty which increases when
as sometimes happens we find it necessary to obtain evidence
to enforce Sanitary requirements. As yet the public generally
have not roused themselves to the importance of true sanitary
work. It is this apathy we have to contend with, and which is the
true barrier to the carrying out of more efficient sanitary measures.
That apathy is too often ignorance. I will make but one suggestion
to meet the difficulty. If at every church and chapel (for here
we ought to find the true spirit of work and progress), Sanitary
Organization Societies (not Charity Organization Societies), were
started, what an immense work they might effect ! Ignorance is the
parent of filth, and filth is the parent of disease; knowledge is
the parent of cleanliness, and of the love of the beautiful, and these
bring forth health. We may be certain of this, that in sanitary
measures, even so simple a thing as cleanliness requires to be learnt
just as much as the Latin grammar; and similarly too, its use is not
always appreciated at the time it is being learnt. Where else can we
look for it to be taught, but to recognised teachers ?
Were I asked to make a list of the Nations of the World,
arranging them according to their position in the scale of civilization,
I should fix that position, according to the amount of soap used per
head of the population.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
1st October, 1876.
C. MEYMOTT TIDY.