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stair-case, and the ventilators should be constant objects for
examination by the inspector who visits to see that they are
in good working order.
18(4.—Each room in a dwelling house should be supplied
with a ventilator opening into the fresh air, which
should never be closed, but which may be covered with a
piece of muslin to distribute the air if draughts should be
felt in winter. The ordinary outlets of the room will possibly
be sufficient for the exit of foul or used-up air, but an
Arnott's ventilator let into the chimnev, or a foul-air flue
built from the corner of the room to a distance above the
roof, renders the ventilation more perfect.
Overcrowding.
1864.—The only legal means for preventing overcrowding
is by section 29 of Nuisances Removal Act, section 67
Metropolis Local Management Act (referred to under head
of Waters), and Lodging-house Act.
Section 29 Nuisances Removal Act enacts, That whenever
a house occupied by more than one family is so overcrowded
as to be a nuisance or prejudicial to the health of the
inhabitant", the local authority shall, upon the certificate of
the Officer of Health, cause proceedings to be taken before
the Justices, who are empowered to make such order as they
think fit, and to inflict a penalty, not exceeding 40s., upon
the person permitting such overcrowding. Magistrates have
decided in some cases that overcrowding exists where the
amount of cubic space is less than 400 feet for each person.
But these enactments must all fall short of the purpose,
unless better accommodation is provided for the poor, as the
scarcity and high rental of cottages almost necessitates
overcrowding, which, although not so much felt in this
neighbourhood as many others, still obtrudes itselt upon our
attention sometimes.
No more benevolont. proceeding, to improve the status ot
the mechanic and labouring man, to prevent degradation, and
reduce sickness and mortality, could be undertaken, than that