1865.] On the Predisposing Causes of Pestilence. 393 



in small well-built and well-fitted cottages, such as are springing up 

 in all the outskirts of our great towns ; in the encouragement of 

 " Home Missions," and Educational Establishments for the poorest 

 children ; and generally in the firm but conciliating interference of 

 local authorities in sanitary arrangements. All these matters require 

 that false delicacy should be put aside, that much self-denial should 

 be exercised both by giver and receiver, and that the great mass of 

 the people should be awakened to the dangers in the midst of which 

 they have so long reposed in security. Does it not seem a dreadful 

 thing to say, that if a conflagration were to sweep over a very large 

 area of Liverpool, London, Glasgow, or indeed over the low parts 

 of any of our overcrowded cities, it could only be regarded as a bless- 

 ing to the wretched creatures Jwho would be temporarily rendered 

 homeless ? And yet who will deny it, after reading Lord Shaftes- 

 bury's statement,* that when "Wild Court, Drury Lane, London, 

 was rendered habitable by the ' Labourers' Friend Society ' (who pulled 

 down the houses and rebuilt them as models), the vermin lay beneath 

 swarming in living masses in layers, from two to three inches thick, 

 and that the well-known insects ejected from the houses amounted at 

 least to a ton's weight." 



We might refer fully to the labours of the late Prince Con- 

 sort, Lord Kinnaird, Earl Shaftesbury, Miss Burdett Coutts, Mr. 

 Peabody, the managers of the " Labourers' Friend Society," the 

 Eev. Cecil Wray (of Liverpool), Mr. Peacock, and others, who, 

 from philanthropic motives, have promoted the erection of healthy 

 dwellings ; but these examples are, from their very rarity, so well 

 known, that it is needless to dwell upon them. There is another 

 feature in the model lodging-house movement which deserves special 

 attention. When conducted with a view to profit, as it has been 

 both by private individuals and Joint Stock Companies Limited, 

 the adventure is remunerative, and this is the guarantee for its 

 extension. We have looked over the reports of existing Models, 

 and watched the growth of small cottages situated even at a distance 

 from the centres of labour, and they leave no doubt concerning their 

 success as pecuniary investments. There are many persons, not 

 always of the wealthier classes, who would gladly give their thought 

 and leisure to supplement the capital of those to whom 10/. or 501. is 

 no object, and would aid in the formation of Joint Stock Model 

 Lodging-house Companies ; and there is no reason why such establish- 

 ments should not be at least as plentiful as hotels— if not as gin 

 shops ! 



Here, then, is one of the great resources of modern wealth and 

 civilization which can be advantageously applied to remove the 

 prevalent causes of contagious disease ; and not alone will philan- 

 thropists be easily found to undertake the formation of the new abodes 

 for the unfortunates whose " homes " we have been describing, but 

 the officers of health will be grateful to these who provide shelter for 



* See ' The Eeport of the Lodging House Committee,' prepared by Dr. Trench. 

 Liverpool: McCorcpuodale (1861;. 



