1885 .] 
153 
The Limits of Sanitary Reform. 
without the slightest regard to health, and exert, in conse- 
quence, a most prejudicial effedt. State interference is here, 
in fadt, much more necessary than in fadtories, since in the 
latter the hands go home at night, if not also during the 
dinnei-hour, whilst in large selling-shops — whol^ale and 
w tail T~ a Very Iar ? e P ro P orti . on live and sleep on the premises. 
We have made it our business to colledt information con- 
cerning the sanitary condition of such concerns, not omitting 
the monopolist drapers, who are now so common, and we 
regret to say so prosperous, in all quarters of London. We 
cannot, oi course, name the establishments to which we 
refer, as independently of the score or more of adtions for 
libel which would be our reward, our informants would reap 
immeJiate dismissal, and would be boycotted throughout the 
trade. 
In these shops phthisis and scrofula run riot, the former 
perhaps more among girls, and the latter among young men. 
Of this any medical man may convince himself with little 
trouble ; the seamed and knotted necks of the sufferers tell 
their tale too plainly. No less striking are the narrow, 
hollow chests, the worn, weary expression of the features, 
and the sudden flush of the cheeks on any exertion. Now 
it may be urged that the hands are phthisical or scrofulous, 
as the case may be, when they enter these establishments. 
This we deny : many of them are enticed up from the 
country by delusive advertisements ; but the conditions under 
which they are placed are admirably adapted to foster any 
tendency to disease. Deficiency— or rather absence — of 
ventilation, and an atmosphere charged with the produces 
of the combustion of gas,— which in these shops is burnt in 
prodigious quantities,— are prominent elements of evil. The 
sleeping apartments are small, and, especially as far as girls 
are concerned, two have to sleep in one bed, the one perhaps 
already consumptive. Then there is the absence of open-air 
exercise. From morning to night the whole time, substan- 
tially, is spent in a standing position, which fatigues much 
more than does a brisk walk. 
Some time ago an outcry was raised touching the cruelty 
of thus compelling girls to stand for the entire day, and not 
permitting them to sit down even in the entire absence 
of customers. Some shopkeepers were, we believe, shamed 
into allowing their shop-girls to sit down when disengaged ; 
but this trifling amendment soon melted away. We have 
heard of cases where girls have been savagely reproached 
for leaning on the counter when at liberty. We know even 
of an instance where the head of a certain firm removed 
VOL. VII. (THIRD SERIES). N 
