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Art. XIII.—First and Second Reports of the Commissioners for Inquiring into the State of Large Towns and Populous Districts.

1848; Elsevier BV; Volume: 12; Issue: 30 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/00000441-184812300-00013

1538-2990

NULL AUTHOR_ID,

Regional Socio-Economic Development Trends

Life is by no means a constant quantity.It varies both in its fulness, power and intensity, and in its duration.These are no new discoveries, lhey have been known to the world from its earliest period.Although tbe natural term of human existence on earth seems to be fixed at three score and ten, yet there are comparatively few that reach it.And it seems to be rather the limit which the favoured few may reach, than the period which all may expect to fulfil.From the first breath to the great¬ est age, there is an incessant but varying uncertainty of life; and no child, you h, or man, is secure of his earthly being.Sickness hovers over man n all his stages, and death comes at any period; so that the average dura-Uon ol lire in any country or class of men is very materially reduced, and ra™.v rises much beyond half the allotted period.ickness and early death seem to be looked upon not only as the common, but necessary, lot of humanity, and as an inherent condition of our earthly existence, growing, by the order of nature, out of our organization, or in¬ separable from the earth we inhabit, or from the atmosphere we breathe. .rauing with life these conditions of sickness, weakness, and uncertainty tenure, and considering these as arising from causes which are estaoiisned in the creation of roan and the world, it has hardly been a question, "e',h7 c?u1ses, m,ght not be removed, and their evil consequences avoided.Until the leopard could change his spots, and the Ethiopian his kin, man would not think to change this sad condition of his creation, and 13 liability to disease and early death; and, therefore, although the world has devoted sufficient attention to the healing of diseases, it has paid veiy little regard to their prevention.r Yet, notwithstanding it was firmly believed that disease and death at «"■» periods are the common and inevitable lot, it has occurred to ome, that these evils were unequally distributed, that among some people ln s?me localities, sickness was much more prevalent, and childhood ana youth sank much more frequently than in other localities, and among 1848.]SanitaryReform.found what might he supposed to be causes of disease.The poor lived in narrow streets, in closed courts, and in alleys.They suffered for want of drainage, both of their streets and their houses.They had little or no means of removing their own house and personal offal.They were in want of ventilation, light, and pure water.These streets or courts were often wet and muddy, and being the receptacles of all the filth and waste of their bodies and their houses, often sent forth most offensive emanations, and perhaps the miasmatic cause of disease.There was discovered a remarkable and very general connection between the prevalence of disease and the condition of the dwellings and of the streets.In some sanitary maps, which were prepared, representing the condition of the districts and the health of the inhabitants, those streets and courts, which are marked as filthy and undrained, are also marked as the places where the cholera prevailed some years ago, and where fever and other epidemic diseases now prevail most abundantly; and it is not less observable, that in these foul and unhealthy districts are the habitations of the poor.Mr. Chadwick prepared also a supplementary report upon Interment in Towns.This we reviewed in Vol.IX., p. 131, of this Journal, in 1845.To this our readers are again referred for some statements relative to the condition of the labouring poor of England and Wales.Subsequently a large commission, consisting of thirteen persons, was ap¬ pointed by her Majesty the Queen " to inquire into the present state of large and populous districts," with reference to the causes of disease, and the best methods of increasing and preserving the health of the inhabitants.They were directed to inquire in regard to the drainage of lands and build¬ ings, the size, condition of dwellings, the supplies of air and of water, and finally what amendment of the laws and usages could be adopted for the improvement of the health and increase of the comfort of the people, and for the convenience and safety of their dwellings.The men composing this commission were among the ablest in the king¬ dom.Nobles, and philosophers, and philanthropists were joined together and lent their aid in the work.The Duke of Buccleuch was at the head of the board, and Lord Lincoln, Dr. Lyon Playfair, Sir George Graham, and Dr. D. B. Reid were among the members.Here were character and' talent sufficient to ensure a faithful examination of any subject, however difficult, and to go through the work, however laborious or disgusting.These commissioners were empowered to command the aid of olher men! and to make personal examination, either by themselves or by deputy, of the condition of houses, streets, courts, shops, wherever the poor dwelt or worked, or wherever disease might be suspected to originate.They sum¬ moned to their aid men who, from their profession, their habits, or taste, were the most competent to give the desired information.For this purpose, physicians in active practice, philanthropists who were in the habit of visiting the poor, engineers who were employed in the survey of streets, superintendents of water-works of various cities, superintendents of streets, of sewers, and of paving, overseers of buildings occupied by the poor, archi¬ tects and contractors for building drains, water-works, houses, and for paving, were severally examined, and some of them have given reports of great length and interest, in regard to the matters which had come especially under their observation.The first report, in one large folio volume, was presented to her Majesty in June, 1844, and printed in the same year.The second report, in two large folio volumes, was presented to both Houses of Parliament in Feb. 1845, and printed by their order.'Reviews.