The public health a public question. First report of the Metropolitan Sanitary Association on the chief evils affecting the sanitary condition of the metropolis, with suggestions for their removal; and containing the proceedings of the public meeting held at Freemason's Hall, Feb. 6th, 1850.

  • Metropolitan Sanitary Association (London, England)
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The public health a public question. First report of the Metropolitan Sanitary Association on the chief evils affecting the sanitary condition of the metropolis, with suggestions for their removal; and containing the proceedings of the public meeting held at Freemason's Hall, Feb. 6th, 1850. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Address of the Bishop of Chichester. 18 merit, first, for enlarged powers to deal with this vast question; and, secondly, that these powers might be entrusted to discreet and practical men. There would in any case he considerable difficulties to overcome, and therefore the necessity for these powers being wisely and discreetly exercised. But if they attained these two objects, they would do great and important services to religion, as well as to all the best interests of humanity. The Bishop of Chichester in moving the first resolution observed, —The present meeting was not called for the mere purpose of expressing sympathy for the poor alone, but to contribute in every possible way towards the amelioration of their condition, and to protect the health of other classes also. Where human beings were oppressed by physical wants and disease, and compelled to take up their abode in low and miserable dwellings, the decay of virtue and morality was inevitable. They were deprived too of receiving any benefit from the advanced social condition of society at large. He was to ask the meeting to affirm the simple fact, that with the exception of the city of London, with a population of 125,000 persons, that great metropolis, with more than 2,000,000 of human beings, was totally destitute of any adequate provision or effective plan whereby the comforts, health, or lives of the people could be watched over and preserved. The exertions of individuals to remedy such an evil, unless otherwise assisted, would, in his opinion, be nugatory. His Lordship in the chair had observed that with respect to a bill on sanitary improvements, great care and discre¬ tion would be necessary, inasmuch as private property and vested interests were concerned. They knew it was quite impossible to bring the owners of even one small court or alley, much less the owners or occupiers of any large district, to concur in any measure for the general good of their particular locality. It was therefore not only desirable, but absolutely necessary, that the aid of the legislature should be sought. Why that large metropolis was not included in the late act he could not say ; but after the experience of the year through which they had gone, and the knowledge since acquired, he thought many of the difficulties in the way of such a measure would be removed. It was now impos¬ sible not to feel that all the objections made to sanitary arrangements must give way before the overwhelming proof of the existence of a necessity which demanded remedial measures for the preservation of the public health. That the exclusion of the metropolis from the general