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that class herd together, availing themselves of the sordid accommodation offered,
for which a very low price is charged. In such persons uncleanliness to a large
extent, and unhealthiness and even actual disease, infectious or non-infectious,
will probably be found to exist. If, therefore, care is not taken to insure
cleanliness and other healthy conditions as to air supply, water supply, and so forth,
these houses may become a source of danger, not only to their inmates, but to the
general public. The legislation, therefore, on this subject had for its object, by
inspection and control, to secure for the poor in these houses conditions safeguarding
health and preventing the spread of disease, which people better off are
supposed to be able to secure for themselves (see per Lindley J. in Langdon v.
Broadbent, Justice of the Peace, January, 1878, page 56). The statutes in
question are therefore to be regarded simply as measures of sanitarv protection.
Applying these considerations to the first ground on which the decision in Booth v.
Ferrett was based, it seems impossible to admit that the fact that the house or
building in question was carried on for charitable objects and not for gain, would
take it out of the measure of sanitary protection if otherwise it would be within
it. The question is not with what object or with what motive the house is
carried on, but whether the house is such or is so carried on as a lodging house as to
be within the provisions of the Act, as it is clearly within the mischief aimed at
by the Act. It is to be observed that the learned Judges in Booth v. Ferret
differentiated the house in that case from a common lodging house only on the
two grounds which I have mentionel. If large numbers of the most wretched
class are sleeping in common rooms, insanitary conditions are, in the absence of
inspection, supervision and control, not unlikely to arise, and it was the object of
the law to secure that inspection, supervision and control. We fail to see the
relevance in this connection of the motive actuating the keeper of such a house,
whether it be philanthropic or mercenary."
SPECIAL REPORTS.
In reference to these the following correspondence has taken place: —
Health Department,
Vestry Hall Pancras Road, N.W.
19t.h February, 1900.
The Secretary,
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.
Sir,
Public Health (London) Act. 1891.
Regulations as to Medical Officers of Health.
General Order of 8th December, 1891.
In the General Order of the Local Government Board relating to Medical
Officers of Health, dated 8th December, 1891, Clause 16, it is provided that the