[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr].

  • St. George the Martyr (Southwark, London, England). Parish Council.
Date:
1864
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Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/38 (page 20)
    20 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark. In December, 1848, when cholera was general in the neighbourhood, the proprietor was compelled to close the place, owing to a sudden and severe outbreak of diarrhoea in the workhouse. In consequence of this the occupants returned to their ordinary state of health. Five months after, the manufactory was reopened. In the course of a few days the wind again blew from the unhealthy point, and filled the workhouse with an insufferable stench. The first night forty-five boys whose dormitories faced the works, were seized with diarrhœa. The manufactory was then finally closed, and no like attacks from diarrhoea happened any more. Effluvium is lighter than common air, and consequently is carried away from its source, to fall and work its evil influences afar off. Indeed, epidemic poison may undergo some change, or be decomposed, as happens to the poison of malaria in large cities; a fact which has been observed to occur in many of the cities of the Western States of America, as also in Rome. The effluvia destroys the morbid poison. The power which these effluvia may have for evil, will be modified by the locality in which noixous trades are carried on, and by the manner they are carried on, as well as by the nature and state of the decomposing matter. The workmen employed, are those of a good sound constitution; for the delicate and ailing would never undertake such disgusting trades. Besides, they are liberally paid, and can command substantial diet. A man well fed would pass through an epidemic un hurt, whilst one ill, or imperfectly fed, would fall a helpless victim. If these works were conducted in small il-ventilated workshops, whereby the emanations become concentrated, little doubt would remain of their pernicious influence ; death under such circumstances has followed to those thus exposed, as suddenly as from a stroke of lightning. But, surely, stench is itself a nuisance, even if entirely free from harm. Air, impregnated with foul effluvia, is avoided alike by the savage and the sage ; all are akin with regard to this. And whilst granting the necessity and utility of these trades, they render life near them unplea sant. They also stand as serious obstacles in the way of improving the neighbourhood; for there no one would care to build, or if they did, would build but the lowest class houses. Such a locality is doomed to remain stationary, or, to degenerate. But there comes an end to their continuance in towns. On the 9th day of August, 1874, it will not be lawful to continue to carry on such businesses in the like situations; until then, these smells and annoyances must be borne with ; for, although they may be lessened by care and cleanli ness, they cannot be entirely got rid of by any means within our knowledge. Thus time and circumstances do much for us; they help us onward in our way; but as fast as we advance, in like proportion stretches wider the horizon cf duty. The place of rest which once seemed near, keeps ever receding. We shall always have to march, and to march it may be victorious over every obstacle, yet never shall the final triumph be achieved. Always will there remain work to be done. It is however a great and good work; it seeks impartially the benefit of all; it belongs to no sect; wears no party badge; and is not limited to any class of individuals girt around by professional education and ceremony. Every mortal can do something; the divine in his study and in the house of prayer; the general in his camp; the legislator and the magistrate in their constant ordering of the people; and the physician in his daily conversance with scenes of every kind, and intercourse with men of every class. So shall that which has been done, be but the mere earnest of that which shall be done. HENRY BATESON, M.D. April 26th, 1864. Medical Officer of Health.