Village Sanitary Economy. 
217 
for sanitary purposes, which thoy, in their turn, may recover 
wholly or partially from their tenants; but this provision really 
acts very slightly in favour of villaj^e improvements, which, to 
he acceptable to the general body of rate-payers, must not only 
be palpably necessary, but must render the property rated more 
valuable commercially. The. little chance there is, in fact, of 
recovering- payment from labouring tenants renders the small 
owners of cottage property opponents rather than friends to 
sanitary reform. 
But sanitary economy does not deserve the name unless it 
brings to the whole community interested advantages at least 
equal in value to the instalments by which the money expended 
will be repaid. To realise them, however, it is necessary to have 
special regard to the character of the persons benefited, and to 
look to indirect results as a means of helping to make up the 
required return. To do this a value must be put on the in- 
■creased health and vigour gained by the labouring class forming 
that large proportion upon which the more wealthy of our vil- 
lage population depend for the productions of the land and the 
maintenance of their own position and comforts. It is a great 
point gained by the employers of labour if they render the 
physical powers of their workpeople more effective, but it is of 
equal consequence that those services should be improved in 
character, and thereby made more valuable, by the home influ- 
ences of cleanliness and comfort, which really serve to elevate 
character and promote education. 
If these results are the consequence of Village Improvements, 
as they assuredly will be, then the answer to the question, " What 
is village sanitary economy," should be enlarged beyond that 
xilready given in the opening passage of this paper, by adding 
that the return will consist : physically, in health and increased 
duration of life ; socially, in the comfort and cleanliness of home 
and body ; and morally, in mental advancement and influences, 
which, when added to the more tangible return due from the 
improvement of house property, cannot fail to repay any fair 
outlay in structural works : — 
The objects to be aimed at to ensure these results in small 
towns and villages are as follows : — 
First. The provision of sufficient space and means of ventila- 
tion within the dwellings of the labouring class to 
secure pure air, and that proper accommodation 
which will secure cleanliness and decency at the same 
time. 
Second, A copious supply oi jyure tcater. 
Third, Sewerage for the removal of the refuse of dwellings. 
