46.— THE LIFE OF THE CITY. 

 By Francis Edward Masey, F.R.I.B.A. 



The title of the remarks which I offer for your consideration is, 

 1 admit, a spacious one, for the subject is of such vital importance 

 under modern conditions of living as to deserve a Congress entirely 

 to itself, and that continually sitting. 



It would be, however, neither appropriate nor possible on this 

 occasion to deal with other than one aspect of this subject, namely, 

 a consideration of some of the contributions made up to the present 

 time by physical science towards the solution of the problem, for the 

 existence of which it is admittedly largely responsible, namely, in the 

 promotion of physical health in the city life. This I divide for con- 

 venience into two heads. Firstly, some consideration of the know- 

 ledge placed at our disposal by the discoveries of Science during 

 the past centur\', and then some suggestions as to how this know- 

 ledge may be best turned tO' practical account. 



The enquir}' is a complex one, for we find on one hand prac- 

 tical science bringing within reach of all undreamed-of opportunities 

 for human development, whilst on the other the deteriorating effect 

 of modern city life which the development of that same science has 

 called into being, and which seems to be threatening not only the 

 health, but the very existence, of our race in its higher develop- 

 ments. 



Applied science, however, having come to stay, with its fac- 

 tories and mines and machinerj' and countless other accompani- 

 ments bom of chemical and mechanical inventions, it is for us to 

 determine whether their present detrimental effects upon physicaJ 

 health are a necessary condition of its existence, or whether they 

 result from an imperfect and unscientific relationship, which, 

 although clearly remediable, is allowed to exist between it and our- 

 selves. 



Whatever be our conclusion, our clear duty is to endeavour to 

 shape the industrial conditions of human life in cities sO' as to as 

 far as possible counteract their deteriorating tendencies. 



To realise that the burning importance of this subject has not 

 entirely laid hold of the mind of the urban committees, we need 

 not look far for symptoms, such as the languid interest shewn by 

 citizens in Municipal government, the tendency of Municipal Coun- 

 cils to limit their activities to such elementary, though essential 

 duties as drains, water, and street paving, the absence of any 

 compulsory standary of proficiency in sanitary science in two such 

 important occupations affecting the health of the community as 

 Medicine and Architecture, and, above all, in the permitting of 

 private interests to disfigure and injure the city to the detriment of 

 the community without effectual hindrance. 



The principal directions in which perhaps more conspicuously 

 the application of scientific methods towards ameliorating the con- 

 ditions of city life may be considered as follows : — 



