Healthy homes, and how to make them / by Wm. Bardwell.

  • Bardwell, Wm. (William)
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Healthy homes, and how to make them / by Wm. Bardwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    a fresh family supply, which in turn feeds the domestic demon—an un- healthy home. If you care to examine the component parts of this monster, you will find prominent the fatal cesspool, which sends up its deadly emanations, or the defective drain, which as readily poisons the surrounding air. It is no argument for common sense to urge that such things have been from time immemorial. Modern progress, it is to be hoped, has weakened the power of, if not annihilated, every ancient absurdity. The one we have just hinted at, is more with the former than the latter class—more diminished than destroyed. One body of men, in whose honour I wish to mention it,—the medical profession,— have with no uncertain voice denounced the dangers here complained of. None could be found so competent to trace the effect to its true cause; and the opinion they have expressed accords with what I have long since formed. On this opinion I have, with considerable confidence, based the remedies proposed. They are,, I am persuaded, calculated to meet the dangers which abound; and, from the simple and economical principles on which they can be worked, no one can have occasion to fear giving them a fair trial. It is plain to any one who gives the subject one moment's thought, that the defective state of the sanitary arrangements of London, forms not a mere shadow, but a cloud of the very deepest hue and the most threatening aspect. With an almost incredible increase of popula- tion, there Imivc been comparatively no progressive strides to provide for its better and healthier distribution. Corporate bodies look on bewil- dered and inactive, or waste time, which could be better employed, in radically puerile discussions on the most extravagant means of remedying present and proximate evils. Successive governments have confused the grave and general importance of the subject; but from some motive, or no motive, have taken such steps as have proved unfit to grapple with the danger. Science has presented much, and propounded more; but the mischief still stalks untouched. It would hardly repay the investiga- tion, to enquire why so little has been effected; or why so long a time has been suffered to elapse, without testing such proposals as appeared best framed to supply a confessed and deplored deficiency. For my purpose it is enough to know that things are no better, but perhaps much worse, than they were years ago. My chief object is, to direct attention to what seems to me the best, the simplest, and the most eco- nomical means, of rendering the homes of our people healthier, and therefore happier, than they at present are. There is, I feel, something truly noble and commendable in a desire- even a desire—to sound the depth of wretchedness, with a view of plucking out those things which contribute to its worst state. But that
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