1865.] On the Predisposing Causes of Pestilence. 389 



ing to the terms of the Police Act,* is 154 adults, and yet on the 

 June visit of the police, there were found 186 adults and 64 children, 

 almost all single families without lodgers." Dr. Gairdner does not 

 consider the landlords responsible for this overcrowding, for the 

 houses are usually sub-let ; but he urges the owners only to let the 

 houses subject to the regulations of the Police Act as to overcrowding. 

 Neither does he recommend summary evictions, which cause great 

 inconvenience and distress, and simply transfer the evil complained of 

 (overcrowding) to some other quarter, perhaps to some previously un- 

 tainted locality ; but like the Paris Commission, he recommends that 

 all cases should, if possible, be amicably adjusted and sanitary reforms 

 introduced into the habitations where the exciting causes of disease 

 have been seated ; in fact, that a good understanding should be culti- 

 vated between the authorities and those who are unfortunate and igno- 

 rant, rather than wilful offenders against the laws of nature and society. 



The Paris Commission, whose reports testify through their in- 

 creasing bulk to its great activity, has, during the last four years, 

 performed marvels in the way of sanitary reform, "j" They have had a 

 difficulty to contend with, happily no longer experienced here ; 

 namely, an imperfect water supply for the interiors of dwellings. " In 

 Paris," the report says, " fountains are multiplied, and many of them 

 serve at the same time for the embellishment of the city and to satisfy 

 its domestic wants, whilst in London, there are no public fountains, 

 no monuments, nothing to adorn the public thoroughfares, but all is 

 reserved for the interiors of the houses : thus the differences in the 

 manners of the two peoples are revealed ; " and then it goes on to speak 

 in terms of high commendation of the water-taps, and water-closets, 

 and shower-baths found in England in the houses of working men 

 paying 125 to 150 francs rent ; luxuries supplied to the fortunate 

 tenants at an annual charge of about eight francs, or 5 per cent. 

 on the rent : ' A Rugby, petite ville de 8,000 habitants, sur les 1,100 

 maisons 700 a 750 ont execute leurs prises d'eau et ont au moins deux 

 robinets, l'un dans la cuisine, l'autre au water-closet." We fear that 

 our French readers will not think so highly of our sanitary arrange- 

 ments after the revelations which we are compelled to make, but cer- 

 tainly the picture that has been drawn of us by the Sanitary Commis- 

 sion of Paris, may well serve to obliterate from the minds of indignant 

 Englishmen those sketches of English society with which some French 

 penny-a-liner lately entertained his countrymen. Thinking Frenchmen 

 seek out the useful traits in the social life of England, and turn them 

 to good account, and it would be well if thinking Englishmen would 

 profit by the good taste of their neighbours, and employ their resources 

 in the erection of public structures that shall at once adorn our cities 

 and supply our social requirements. 



The Commission, as we have said, finds the need of a better water 

 supply to the tenants of houses, for they observe, that there can be no 

 health without cleanliness, and no cleanliness without abundant and 



* See Dr. Gairdner's 'Keport, August 1, 1864, p. 12, note. 'Glasgow Police 

 Act.' 



t ' Rapport General, &c, 1860-61.' C. de Mourgues Freres. Paris, 1863. 



