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impressive character and barristers of eminence
appear in opposition. Magistrates occasionally
misread Acts of Parliament. And last, but not least,
persons required to do sanitary works, even under
the order of the magistrate, not unfrequently do them
perfunctorily and imperfectly, but in such a way as
just to escape the penalty attached to non-compliance.
Some of the above remarks will be illustrated by
what follows.
The very basis of our proceedings under those
clauses of the Sanitary Acts, which relate to dwelling
houses is that there shall be a nuisance or injury to
health. Now mere dirt does not necessarily imply
unhealthiness, still less do mere dilapidations.
Holes in ceilings, holes in walls, holes in floors,
rickety staircases and broken bannisters may and do
all exist without causing the slightest danger to
health. Blackness of walls and ceilings may be the
simple consequence of dirty occupations or the effects
of smoke, and in a sanitary point of view perfectly
harmless. Even the foul atmosphere which may be
tound associated with these conditions may be due
simply to the fact that the windows are closed, and
so many people with unwashed bodies and frowsy
reeking clothes on their backs are accumulated on
the premises. I speak thus, not to conjure up