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abundant opportunities of contrasting the actual condition of our
population with that of other communities, which greatly, if they do not
altogether, neglect the means of averting those numerous and fatal
diseases, which men are apt to engender, whensoever they settle
permanently upon one spot of ground.
Ten years ago the death-rate of Shoreditch was 28 in 1000. It has
been steadily brought down to 24 and even to 23.5. And this important
gain is enhanced by the fact that it has been achieved in a constantly
growing population. On the other hand, there are numerous small towns,
and even villages, by no means densely inhabited, if regard be paid only
to the number of inhabitants per acre, where the mortality is far higher
than in Shoreditch. I have lately paid a visit to Dartmoor prison, and
the adjoining collection of houses, called Prince Town. A few hundred
persons may be described as living in the centre of a moor, which is
swept by the freest and purest winds. Ample supply of good water is
at hand, yet there is scarcely a house to be found where Scarlatina,
Typhoid, or Typhus Fever, or Diphtheria, have not more than decimated
the inhabitants. These diseases do not prevail amongst the prisoners,
whose general sanitary condition is well cared for. But they are found
amongst the families of the warders, whose quarters, in respect of crowding
and bad ventilation resemble the dwellings of the moor-men.
These dwellings have no sewerage. The sewage soaks into the wells; the
rooms are low pitched; the windows small; and the houses are in many intsances
as much overcrowded as are any rooms in this town. Such examples
prove how entirely artificial are the diseases which it is the object of the
sanitarian to eradicate. They also show that there are no natural advantages
of site that cannot be easily annulled by neglect. The three fundamental
conditions for the preservation of the health of communities are a
clean soil, pure water, and pure air. The effective Drainage and Sewage
which Shoreditch now generally enjoys, have secured the first condition.
The water supply is good, indeed far better than is generally obtained in
the country, where wells are often necessarily used.
The main difficulty consists in preserving clean air. The improvement
of the soil has done much toward this end. But there are constantly