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14
it is no doubt accounted for by increasing urbanization, by the
steady decrease in the size of bed and living rooms, and by the
lessened curtilage to dwelling houses.
It is an odd reflection that what sanitation has gained
on the one hand has been thrown away on the other.
The higher standard required in drain work, closets, bathrooms,
and so on has led to an economy in air and light. Whatever
be the indecency of overcrowding in parts of London, there
is no overcrowding so unhealthy as that which occurs amongst
many middle-class families living in small flats and double tenements,
even though each person be allotted a separate bedroom.
There is no doubt at all but that very many cases of phthisis
amongst servants, shop girls and clerks, are directly related to the
tiny rooms allotted them for sleeping in dwellings which a builder
would describe as "replete with modern and up-to-date sanitary
arrangements."
The deaths from pulmonary diseases other than phthisis
during 1905 were below the average. Probably one reason for this
is that there was so little serious influenza.
Deaths from zymotic diseases other than those tubercular
were also relatively few. So, too, were the deaths between 15
and 65 years of age.
Housing.
The Workmen's Dwellings constructed by the Council are
kept in excellent condition, are keenly sought after, and all are
tenanted.
Several proposals and schemes for increasing the provision of
Workmen's Dwellings have been considered during the year, but no
definite steps have been taken.