The Popular Science Monthly, Vol 1 May to October, 1872 Classic Reprint

Excerpt from The Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 1: May to October, 1872

Iof various testimonies to this, one of the most striking was that given by Mr. Charles Mayo, M. B., of New College, Oxford, who, having had to examine the drainage of Windsor, found that, in a previous visitation of typhoid fever, the poorest and lowest part of the town had entirely escaped, while the epidemic had been very fatal in good houses. The difference was this, that, while the better houses were all connected with the sewers, the poor part of the town had no drains, but made use of cesspools in the gar dens. And tnis is by no means an isolated instance. Ly asserted by those who, every morning, read of chaos at the Admi ralty, or cross-purposes in the dock-yards, or wretched army organiza tion, or diplomatic bungling that endangers peace, or frustration of justice by technicalities and costs and delays - all without having their confidence in officialism shaken. Building Acts should insure better ventilation in small houses, says one who either never knew or has forgotten that, after Messrs. Reid 85 Barry had Spent in fail ing to ventilate the Houses of Parliament, the First Commissioner of Works proposed that the House should get some competentengi neer, above suspicion of partiality, to let them see what ought to be done. 1 And similarly there are continually cropping out in the press, and at meetings, and in conversations, such notions as that the State might provide cheap capital by some financial sleight of hand; that there ought to be bread-overseers appointed by Government 2 that it is the duty of Government to provide a suitable national asylum for the reception of all illegitimate children. 3 And here it is doubt less thought by some, as it is in France by M. De Lagevenais, that Government, by supplying good music, should exclude the bad, such as that of Offenbach.' We smile on reading of that French princess, celebrated for her innocent wonder that people should starve when there was so simple a remedy. But why should we smile? A great part of the current political thought evinces notions of practicability not much more rational.

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