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same for these four sub-districts, and somewhat
less in the, last one than in the first three. But contrary
was the fact; for in two of these sub-districts
the Cholera-mortality, for equal numbers of population,
was times as great as in the other two.
It would therefore appear that in certain lowlying
levels—to constitute them favourable soils
for the disease, there must be joined to their first
condition of lowness (with the mere watery dampness
which it implies) some other and second condition;
one, which is of extreme frequency in such
districts, though not essentially present there.
This second condition impends wherever there
dwells at such levels a certain density of population;
it mainly varies with the degree in which that dense
population lives in the atmosphere of its own excrements
and refuse. In this respect I cannot refrain
from saying, that the giant error of London is its
present system of drainage. Probably in considerable
parts of the metropolitan area, house-drainage
is extensively absent: probably in considerable
parts, the sewers, from the nature of their construction,
are very doubtful advantages to the districts
they traverse: but the evil before all others,
to which I attach importance in relation to the
present subject, is that habitual empoisonment of
soil and air which is inseparable from our tidal
drainage. From this influence, I doubt not, a large
proportion of the metropolis has derived its liability
to Cholera. A moment's reflection is sufficient to