On the health of London, during the six months terminating September 28, 1850 : read before the Medical Society of London, November 2, 1850 / by John Webster.

Date:
[1850]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the health of London, during the six months terminating September 28, 1850 : read before the Medical Society of London, November 2, 1850 / by John Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    portant, has become the “ Cloaca Maxima” of London, and that it carries off the exuviae of its immense population, it is marvellous that matters are not much worse. The innumerable nuisances which are so often created, prove also most injurious to the public health. Some of these might be mentioned ; as, for instance, the manufactory of artificial manure close by the Spitalfields workhouse, containing 400 children and a few paupers. Here bullock’s blood and night soil were re- cently desiccated by the dry heat of a kiln, thereby causing a most power- ful stench, which produced severe typhoid fever and other diseases of an intractable form. Again, in the “ Potteries” near Kensington, 3,000 pigs were kept: and the process of fat boiling was also carried on so ex- tensively, that the atmosphere became tainted for half a mile round ; whilst the hovels for the inhabitants could scarcely have been surpassed for filth and misery by any thing known in Ireland. But even in aristo- cratic neighbourhoods, the best means to improve the salubrity of a dis- trict are not only neglected, but schemes are occasionally proposed which would have an opposite and injurious tendency. The parks—justly called the lungs of London,—St. James’s and Kensington Gardens, for example, are encumbered with trees, whilst further additions are sometimes made injudiciously, so that free ventilation is interrupted, and damp engen- dered in localities, where the light of the sun and the winds of heaven ought more freely and constantly to penetrate.1 Besides neglecting such matters, it was actually intended, in the summer of 1849, to spread over the surface of Hyde Park the filthy contents of the great common sewer which passes through its centre, in order, it was said, to have more grass for the cows there grazing, the scheming projectors never thinking of the lungs of those Londoners who might come here with the intention of breathing the pure north-western breeze, but, in reality, to sniff the mephitic exhalations produced by such contemplated irri- gations. Fortunately, a strong representation in the proper quarter prevented the proposed abomination, just when all the machinery was completed, so that the absurd proposal was never carried forward ; although a memento still remains of the original idea, in the shape of a huge iron pump with a large handle, which now points towards the field of its projected, but hitherto abortive, operations. I will now proceed to make a few observations on some circumstances, the judicious or improper application of which materially influence the health of individuals, and hence of communities. I allude to, 1 Food ; 2. Clothing ; 3. Habits or Customs ; and 4, Bodily Exercise. Food. Although many individuals in London may sometimes not have sufficient food for proper nourishment to support their physical frame, others exist who would enjoy often much better health, were they more careful in regard to dietary. This truth particularly applies to children and persons of sedentary habits. The quantity of animal food which many of these parties consume, is far beyond the requirements of nature ; hence arise stomach complaints, visceral congestions, and, in old people, apoplexies, paralysis, with other maladies occasioned by 1 A great improvement would be effected, if the high wall on the north side of Kensington Gardens were replaced by an iron railing, so that the wind might blow freely through the trees to dry the gravel walks and grass, the dampness of which reatly diminishes the pleasantness and salubrity of this promenade.