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houses on the site, or if parties were not willing to build houses for the
poor, the ground should be allowed to increase the width of the public way.
The poor are for the most part crowded together in the bye places of large
cities and towns, cut off from all association with persons in a superior
position of life, and whose abodes are visited only by the parish medical
officers, the relieving officers, the sanitary inspectors, and the police. It is
very easy but futile to say that the poor, as a class, are so dirty and demoralized
that it is in vain to attempt to teach them habits of cleanliness and to give
them clean and comfortable homes, and so make this an excuse for doing
nothing either to instruct them or to improve their habitations. The fact is
that our efforts in these directions have been upon a very small scale, and the
result corresponds with our efforts. Much might be done to improve the
physical condition of the poor by a frequent inspection of their rooms by a
sufficient staff of sanitary inspectors appointed by the local Boards. Every house
which is let out in weekly tenements, or which is below a certain weekly rent,
should be registered under the provisions of the Sanitary Act, so that the landlord
might be held responsible for the cleanliness of the staircases, passages, and
domestic conveniences, which are common to all the tenants. I have known
women of cleanly habits complain of the indifference of their fellow lodgers
to cleanliness, and saying that it was in vain for them to keep places clean ;
for no sooner had such places been cleaned, than they were again dirtied. The
effect of this labour in vain must be to demoralize persons so circumstanced,
and reduce them to the squalid condition of their immediate neighbours.
Again, the depressing atmosphere of these crowdcd localities engenders the
craving for intoxicating drinks, which, when used, produce only a temporary
excitement; and, unfortunately, intoxicating drinks can be readily obtained
through the facilities which are afforded by the numerous shops close at
hand where such drinks are sold.
The efforts of local Boards might be greatly assisted by voluntary associations
employing judicious persons in visiting every room which is occupied by
the poor in a given district, and in kindly giving advice and instruction to
the heads of families as regards cleanliness, education of children, and other
matters important to their well-being, and, where necessary, aiding them
in carrying into effect their lessons of instruction. This kind of frequent
and friendly intercourse with the poor will inspire confidence and respect,
and will certainly be attended with beneficial results.
The deaths in this District during the year which were caused by tubercular
diseases, including consumption, have been 458, which is at the rate
of 18 per cent, of the total mortality. Many of these deaths might be
prevented by improving the ventilation of the crowded localities.
As Billingsgate Market must either soon be enlarged or removed to
another site, it would be very desirable that, while benefitting the public by
affording them greater facilities in obtaining a supply of fish, an endeavour
should be made to improve the health of the whole population of London.
This might be done by fixing upon a site which, while in every respect most