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176
Now these were traced by the Inspectors, who from
their previous knowledge were able to inform the
medical attendants of the nature of the cases they
were treating. But in every instance, I believe, the
medical man refused to recognise the case as one of
typhus ; and all attempts, therefore, at isolation or
removal to hospital, or disinfection failed.
The Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act,
1868, though not perfect, is one of very great value.
It gave large powers properly applicable to exceptional
cases, and (what was almost of equal importance)
could be held in terrorem over landlords who
grossly neglected their duty. One of its chief surviving
defects, according to my opinion, is that
(equally with the Nuisances Removal Acts) proceedings
under it have to be based on a certificate to
the effect that a house or houses are "in a state
iujurious to health so as to be unfit for human
habitation.'' Now, as I have before stated, a house
may be so delapidated as not to be fit for occupation,
and yet not unhealthy; it may be filthy and yet the
filth may be of a kind that does not involve unhealthiness;
it may stink, and yet the effluvia may
be due solely to the persons and dresses and furniture
of the occupants. It may present all these
defects in combination, and yet there may not only