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are, I believe, more often associated with imperfect ventilation of sleeping
rooms than is generally supposed.
Overcrowding.—The obvious effect of overcrowding of houses is to
multiply, in proportion to its amount, all the mischief of insufficient ventilation.
The extent to which this occurs would be surprising to any not
acquainted with the dwellings of the poor, in which it is not uncommon to
find a whole family of six and seven, and occasionally eight, and even ten,
of various ages, occupying a room whose cubical capacity, in relation to
its imperfect ventilation, could not be more than sufficient for two pair of
lungs Its demoralizing tendency needs only to be mentioned to be
understood. Of its relation to disease Table I. is sufficiently eloquent;
but, in confirmation of it, I may mention that, in a table inserted in my
local report for the week ending May 31, 1856, it was shewn that in the
60 cases of small pox which took place amongst the poor, the occurrence
of the disease was associated with overcrowding in every instance, without
exception, and in some to a fearful extent. In one instance 5 persons
slept in a space of 360 cubic feet, being 72 cubic feet to each pair of
lungs; four out of the five suffered from the disease, which is but little
matter for surprise, when it is asserted by excellent authority that, in
dwelling houses with their present defects of ventilation, 500 cubic feet is
the minimum space compatible with the maintenance of health.
The means of remedying this monstrous evil, although obvious, are
unfortunately obstructed by a most uncompromising necessity—poverty.
The labouring man, with a large family, cannot afford to pay for more
than one room. More space—larger rooms—larger houses—mean only
to him the payment of more hardly-earned money, and the consumption
of less food. The Lodging-house Act has doubtless prevented much
social misery; and the clause in the Metropolis Local Management Act
relating to this subject may be expected to prevent more; but it must
with sorrow be confessed, that the operations of both is too limited to be
addressed with any great confidence of success towards the suppression of
this evil. For the above economic reasons, it is impossible to extend the
principles of the Lodging-house Act to general application, and because
the amount of space allowable for each person would depend essentially
upon the means of ventilation which it might possess. As overcrowding
must without doubt, therefore, occur to a greater or less extent, our
endeavours should be directed towards rendering harmless the evils which
overcrowding produces. It would appear that, while retaining the use of
the law for aggravated cases requiring such interference, it is from a complete
system of ventilation that a sufficiently comprehensive remedy for
this evil can be alone derived.
The ventilation of rooms and houses should consist simply of a means
by which a complete freedom of ingress and egress of air—exit of foul
air from within, entrance of fresh air from without—in accordance with
natural laws, may be secured. Although it must be confessed the subject
is beset with difficulties, it is curious that this great object, depending on
so simple a principle, has not yet been attained in the construction of
houses. Manv artificial means, however, are applied to rooms for this
purpose with very considerable benefit; although, in the absence of a
solution of the great problem of ventilation by natural means, these must
be accepted as temporary though scientific makeshifts. The most