Report of the Health of London Association on the sanitary condition of the metropolis; : being a digest of the information contained in the replies returned to three thousand lists of queries, which were circulated amongst clergymen, medical men, solicitors, surveyors, architects, engineers, parochial officers, and the public.

  • Health of Towns Association (London, England)
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Health of London Association on the sanitary condition of the metropolis; : being a digest of the information contained in the replies returned to three thousand lists of queries, which were circulated amongst clergymen, medical men, solicitors, surveyors, architects, engineers, parochial officers, and the public. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/70
    SICKNESS AND DISEASE. [1.] Have you observed sickness and disease to arise from badly-constructed and ill-venti- lated dwellings, from imperfect sewage, and from bad cleansing of the streets, courts, and alleys ? The weight of evidence from actual observation, and the concurrent testimony of all (except one) who have been interrogated on this subject abundantly prove that sickness and disease, in their varied forms, and with their varied consequences, and even death itself, are continually and extensively resulting from the faulty construction and the imperfect ventilation of dwellings, from the deficiency or total want of sewage, and from the filthy and dirty state of a vast number of the streets, courts, and alleys in this great centre of civilisation. It is, moreover, proved that these prolific causes of disease and death spread their fatal influence all around, and even to very distant situations. It is difficult to convey an impression of the general sen- timents of horror entertained by the respondents regarding £< the dreadful devastation of human life,” and the “ lament¬ able extent of sickness and disease” caused by bad drainage and sewage ; while it is in evidence that£< these evils have a direct tendency to create more serious ones in uncleanly habits, and a train of vices which sweep away many thousands of the poor, whose lives are one scene of misery and ill- health.” Destructive as these evils are, they almost neces¬ sarily, indirectly, produce others equally destructive, as mental depression, moral degradation, drunkenness, &c. It is likewise stated, and proved, that disease has often been traced to these causes, not only among the poor, but amongst the middle classes to a great extent, and that the sickly appearance and depraved general health which cha¬ racterise a vast proportion of the inhabitants of certain parts of the Metropolis have their true origin in these causes. It