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15
sans; they are not fitted for the accommodation of
the very poorest of unskilled labourers. And here
there is work of no ordinary difficulty for the philanthropist;
for at present the denizens of the
worst districts of the City are so little accustomed
to the comforts of a decent home, that their habits
are but little removed from those of the untutored
savage, and all our efforts at sanitary improvement
are frustrated by ignorance and carelessness.
Every sanitary appliance is abused, water butts and
cisterns are broken, pipes and taps stolen, drains
purposely stopped up, closets intentionally fouled,
and the dust and refuse of the house cast into
every out of the way corner. It is, indeed, almost
impossible to deal with this condition of things;
and there is little or no hope for any permanent
improvement, until there is an education of
this class of tenantry, to a better use of sanitary
appliances; and this can only be done through the
example of better homes and more considerate
landlords.
The sickness returns among the poor have not
been so numerous as usual during the year. Altogether,
there have been 10,187 cases of illness
attended by the medical officers of the City unions,
the average number per annum for the last four
years being 11,486. The most important ailments