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.

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    out, want of cleanliness will generally be observed within, the dwellings of the lower orders—and that dirty streets and dirty habitations are usually found to be combined with moral and social degradation, sickness and destitution, squalor, misery, and early death. [40.] What is the reason that, in some parts of the Metropolis, the streets, courts, and alleys are cleansed daily, while in others they are only cleansed at indefinite and irregular periods ? Among the reasons why in some districts the streets are cleansed at stated periods, while in others they are cleansed only at indefinite and irregular periods, may be mentioned the following:— 1. The partiality, caprice, and other corrupt motives of the local authorities—(or else why is Fleet-street comparatively clean whilst Clare Market is disgust¬ ingly filthy ?) 2. The negligence and inattention of the local autho¬ rities. 3. Their pitiful and disgraceful sacrifice to economy, which frequently refuses the funds requisite for cleansing. 4. The want of power to enable them to enforce street¬ cleansing, and empower them to dispose of the refuse (as is the case in the parish of Hackney). 5. The carelessness of surveyors. 6. The nature of the contracts entered into. 7. The number and clashing interests of Local Boards. [41]. Are those courts which are private property cleansed by the public scavengers ? By the replies to this question it is found that courts which are private property are scarcely ever cleansed by public scavengers. Their condition as to cleanliness is en¬ tirely dependent on the exertions of the inhabitants. The evils resulting therefrom are:— 1. That they are seldom cleansed at all. 2. Where cleansed, much additional labour is neces¬ sarily entailed on the poor, whose domestic duties become neglected in consequence.