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29
UPON THE SANITARY STATE OF CLERKENWELL.
and rapid, and its visitations occasional, have rendered its fatal nature
strikingly obvious, and set in action means for remedying those unfavourable
sanitary conditions which produce greater ravages when it is absent from
among us. Again, let us compare the mortality from cholera and the other
zymotic diseases with that of the British army in the late war with Russia.
The mortality of the British army in the Crimea was great; Parliament sat
night after night to discuss its cause; committees were formed and engaged
for months in the same occupation; and the whole country was in an uproar
about it. But, why this? for more human beings lose their lives in England
every year than British soldiers perished in the Crimea during the whole
war. And the cause in which the brave soldiers lost their lives was noble,
and for the good of mankind; whilst those who die here of zymotic diseases
lose their lives in no cause whatever, neither are the circumstances of their
deaths investigated; and this notwithstanding even their vastly larger number.
Now, it might be remarked that it is easy to say what ought to be done,
but far more difficult to show how it may be practically carried out. This,
I think, is a more apparent than a real difficulty.
There can be no question that improving the dwellings of the poorer class,
and rendering their sanitary conditions more favourable, will diminish their
mortality. Now, this improvement will be effected at the expense of landlords,
who in most cases can well afford to pay: the expense cannot come
from the public rates. Here then will parentless families be kept from the
workhouse; here then will what would have been childrenless parents have
their children living, who may keep them from the workhouse in their old
age. This will diminish the poor-rates; and an equivalent increase of the
Vestry-rate will suffice to effect these few improvements, which must be done
by the public purse. But, it may be said, what is the use of diminishing
one rate if another be proportionately increased? Now, the increase will be
but temporary, for the benefit will be permanent. It has been shown over
and over again, that when once the expense of properly arranging the sanitary
conditions, especially of the poor, with whom they are most defective, has
been accomplished, the mortality is permanently diminished, and the benefit
lasting. And, mind ! the greatest mortality falls among the poor, principally
the inhabitants of pourts and alleys, and those living in over-crowded houses.
Let us then use every endeavour to reduce the amount of this fearful mortality.
Let us carry out fully the provisions of the Local Management Act.
Let each person breathe as pure air as possible. Let those manufacturers
who are doing a thriving business, but poisoning their neighbours, be compelled
to adopt every possible means to prevent contaminating the air. Let
everyone who has suffered from any of the infectious zymotic diseases take
care that he exposes himself not unduly until his garments have been purified.
Let parents take care that they do not send their children who have just
recovered from one of these pests to school, or to mix with other children,
until their garments have been properly purified.*
Let proper aid also be afforded to the needy poor to do these things,
where their own means are insufficient for the purpose. In one of my
weekly reports to the Vestry, I advised that where zymotic diseases were
present, a certain quantity of charcoal should be supplied for the use of the
poor, under a medical certificate; for this substance has remarkable power in
*Schools form very general media for the propagation of infectious and contagious
diseases among children.