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cases are, however, by no means the rule, but only the exception ; and, thanks to
the exertions of ragged schools, city missions, reformatories, public reading rooms,
and other similar agencies are, I trust, yearly decreasing in number. Improvements
in the outward conditions and in the moral state of the poor must go on
hand in hand.
In the language of Mr. Simon, late medical officer of health in the City, now
medical officer to the General Board of Health, " In the midst of inevitable
domestic filth who can wonder that personal cleanliness should be neglected ? In
an atmosphere which forbids the breath to be drawn freely, which maintains
habitual ill health, which depresses all the natural spring and buoyancy of life,
who can wonder that frequent recourse should be had to stimulants, which, however
pernicious in themselves, still for a moment dispel the malarious languor of
the place, give temporary vigour to the brain, and cheer the flagging pulses of a
poisoned circulation? Who can wonder that habits of improvidence and reck-'
lessness should arise in a population which not only has much ignorance and
prejudice amongst it, but is likewise often unacoustomed to consideration and
kindness ? Who can wonder that the laws of society should at times be forgotten
by those whom the eye of society habitually overlooks, and whom the heart of
society often appears to discard ?"
The duty of helping those who from poverty, ignorance, or vice cannot help
themselves, is becoming distinctly recognised, and must be manfully undertaken
by all who are not themselves in such a condition, before many of the evils under
which the poor groan can be to any great extent removed. All who have made
themselves acquainted with the condition of many of the poor in London will
agree with me when I say that before their moral and religious state is likely to
be remedied, their physical condition must be improved, and their homes made
more comfortable; they will then be fitted to receive the instructions of the
schoolmaster and the minister of religion. On you devolves, to a great extent,
the solemn responsibility of carrying out the preparatory work. As auxiliaries
in this work, the support and establishment of societies for improving the dwellings
of the poor, of public baths and washing houses, of societies for providing
places of recreation for the children of the poor (such as the Playgrounds' Society
lately established), are very important, and might be effected either by the Board
in its corporate capacity, or by the exertions of individual members.
UNWHOLESOME FOOD.
The chief things under this head which have been brought under my notice
during the year are decaying animal and vegetable products. For instance,
about 500 putrid rabbits have been seized by the Inspectors, chiefly from the
street stalls, and in smaller quantities from shops. In the summer a large
quantity of mackerel, lobsters, and crabs, in a decaying state, and, from time to
time, rotten fruit and vegetables have also been seized. No diseased meat so bad
as to warrant seizure has been of late discovered, and the Inspectors report that
there is a better quality of aieat sold in the poorer districts now than 18 months
ago. The sausage makers' shops have been frequently visited, and scarcely any
meat palpably diseased has been found, though much of it has been " very poor
and skinny." It is, however, totally impossible to discover many diseases of
animals unless the whole carcase is seen; and the public will only be protected
from the consumption of diseased animal food whon an efficient system of inspection
is carried out of all animals immediately they are slaughtered.
WORKHOUSE.
The mortality during the year 1857 in this building amounted to 347; a
few more than in 1850, but very much below the average of three preceding yeart,