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yards of courts and alleys, where, in consequence of the obstructions to
ventilation and to the admission of sunlight, caused by the very close and
improper arrangement of the houses, the ground and basements of the
houses are almost constantly damp; where the house refuse, and often
worse filth, is trodden under foot and remains to be amalgamated with the
slushy soil, undisturbed by the ineffectual, or more frequently untried
efforts of the scavenger; and where, as a result of these, the sanitary
mischief within the houses is so much aggravated by the damp and
unwholesome air without. It is essentially necessary (as I have had
frequent occasion to point out in my fortnightly returns) that these places,
of which there are upwards of 40 in the town, be paved throughout;
a proceeding which, while forming the best and cheapest remedy for these
evils, would ensure cleanliness at the smallest possible amount of labour.
A bucket of water swilled over a smooth, such as a paved, surface, will
effect more cleanliness than any amount of sweeping applied to an
unpaved, or what is worse a pitched surface, as it is called; and which, it
may be observed, forms one of the most ingenious contrivances for the
obstruction of scavengering.
Having brought to your consideration some of the most important of
the causes acting injuriously upon the health of this town, together with a
summary of the proceedings which have been adopted for their removal,
it remains only to shew the results of the measures adopted. It is gratifying
to be able to report that, since your Board commenced operations, there
has been a considerable improvement in the public health, by a diminution
of mortality equal to the saving of upwards of 4 lives on an average of 10
preceding years, exclusive of cholera years, and of 25 lives on a similar
average, inclusive of cholera years; and by a very considerably less amount
of sickness, as evidenced by its diminution amongst the poor to the extent
of 1-6th. To some these may not appear to be very great or notable
results; had they been greater, however, they would have been open to
distrust, inasmuch as the operation of most sanitary measures must of
necessity be gradual, and require time for the development of their effects.
Indeed a very considerable, perhaps the most considerable portion of the
beneficial results to be anticipated from sanitarian agency will only be
realized in the course of time, to be experienced by the rising generation.
If it be considered how much the removal of sanitary evils is obstructed
by prejudice, ignorance, supposed private interests, and other obstacles;
and that, in most cases, such removal can only be effected by the application
of remedies in detail, and often by the exercise of much patience and
perseverance: and looking to the shortness of the period over which the
operations of your Board have extended, the above results are as great as
could have been anticipated by the most sanguine sanitarian.
In reference to the dissatisfaction expressed at the supposed great
expense attendant on the carrying out of measures of sanitary reform, it
is to be observed that the putting into operation a new system is no doubt
attended, pro tanto, with additional expense, the returns for the outlay of
which, although evident to the sanitarian, are not perhaps sufficiently—
because not immediately—obvious to the ratepayer; the results being, as
before observed, chiefly prospective, but the ultimate effect must be one of
great economy. The results of the sanitary operations of last year are