There are other nuisances which contribute to contaminate the air. I have, in visits from house to house, noticed that the dust heaps are allowed to accumulate to a frightful extent, they are neither more nor less than one vast mass of decayed animal and vegetable matter, with a good proportion of the remains of decomposed fish. The consequence was that if windows were opened for the purpose of ventilation, a worse condition of the room was induced. Further, I cannot help remarking that the sanitary condition of the streets and courts in my district, especially part of Bell-street, Charles-street, George-street, part of Devonshire-street, is far from satisfactory. Those that live in the cellars in these streets are constantly inhaling poisonous exhalations arising from putrid animal and vegetable matter, and I am sure the stench which arises from stinking muscles and cockle shells, must be injurious to health. I would ask upon what principle do the authorities do their work? Broad streets, squares, and open thoroughfares appear to me to be oftener watered and swept than these out-of-the-way courts, alleys, and narrow streets, which are overcrowded with a teeming dirty population. Surely these are just the places that require the greatest care, for these are the places which, if they do not breed an epidemic, would readily foster it. The slums of a city ought to be made as healthy as possible, not only for the good of those who live in the slums, but for the good of the community at large. Society is like the body; one member cannot be affected without the whole body suffering. It is not only right, but profitable to make the dwellings of the poor healthy, and to surround them by all the protection that preventive measures can do. Sickness is one of the worst calamities that can befall the poor labouring man. When laid low, all his resources are cut off. His family, and so must he, go without the necessaries of life, or run up a heavy score at the small huxter’s shop. His rent cannot be paid; and should his illness last long, both he and his family become a burden to the ratepayers; and should he recover his health, it is weeks, aye, months before he can recover his position and stand free from debt. Now, suppose that this illness was brought on by the defective sanitary condition of his dwelling, and his own neglect of proper attention to cleanliness, why it is at once evident that it is the interest of the landlord to see that his houses are healthy, for a dead man pays no debts, and a sick man pays no rent; further, it is the interest of the tenant to observe the laws of health. What pen can describe the racking torture of disease and poverty combined? I have visited houses where the head of the family has been thrown of work, by ill-health. I have witnessed the gradual departure of articles of ornament from his little room, soon to be followed by other pieces of furniture, until even the necessary utensils of civilised life were gone.