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sufficient to prove that these measures are such as to deserve the cordial
co-operation of every one; not only of those who entertain a proper regard
for their fellow creatures, but of those (and they may be assumed to constitute
a great majority) who have a proper regard for themselves, whether
in reference to the state of their body or their pockets. To the rate-payer
in general, their economical tendency is shewn by a reference to the poorrate:
72 per cent. of all paupers are made so by sickness. If to the sum
represented by this sickness, and its attendant loss of labour, loss of
wages, loss of means of future labour—health, be added the expense of
resulting deaths, funeral expenses, and maintenance of orphan families,
the amount of poors' rate resulting from sickness cannot be less than
3-4ths of the whole. If the rate-payer, as a practical economist, wishes to
diminish the amount of poors' rate (and there can be no doubt of the
desirability of that in this parish), he must first become sanitarian, and
diminish the mortality and sickness of the poor. There is no other way.
To owners of houses of the labouring classes, from whom so much
valuable assistance in furthering the objects of your board could be
derived, it is equally a question of economy; for whatever expense they
incur towards increasing the healthfulness of the houses of their tenants
will be amply paid for, not by higher rents, but by rents better paid; for,
as they are already too well aware, the sickness or death of the labouring
man, or of some of his family, is the most frequent cause of the loss of
rent which they sustain.
By every principle of humanity it must be admitted to be just to insist
upon the preservation of health at the expense of wealth; for life, which
possesses a very considerable monetary value, has also a value to which
money cannot be entertained in relation. But, fortunately, no such sacrifice
is required; for the maintenance of one is the preservation—more—
the development of the other. Hence, therefore, the present system of
sanitary legislation, whose primary object is the preservation of the health,
strength, and energy of the people from which our armies and navies are
to be recruited, our land cultivated, our commerce and civilization extended,
and the general well-being of society maintained, is based (and this is,
perhaps, the greatest means of ensuring its success) upon principles of
the strictest economy; and it is well for mankind that it has supplanted a
state of things which, admitting of the destruction of life and health by
causes within human means of prevention, could only be equally reprobated
by the moralist as a most inhuman one, and by the economist as ft
most extravagant one. It may be well to add, as, in a measure, indicative
of the operation of the Metropolis Local Management Act, that I have not
met with a single case of obstruction to the performance of my duties.
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
G. E. NICHOLAS,
Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth.
4, Church Row, Wandsworth.