Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 47308-h.htm or 47308-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47308/47308-h/47308-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47308/47308-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/sanitaryevolutio00jeph Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capitals have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS. A more extensive transcriber's note can be found at the end of this text. THE SANITARY EVOLUTION OF LONDON by HENRY JEPHSON, L.C.C. Author of "The Platform: Its Rise and Progress" "The discovery of the laws of public health, the determination of the conditions of cleanliness, manners, water supply, food, exercise, isolation, medicine, most favourable to life in one city, in one country, is a boon to every city, to every country, for all can profit by the experience of one." G. GRAHAM, Registrar-General, 1871. A. Wessels Company Publishers Brooklyn, N. Y. MCMVII DEDICATED TO THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL BY ONE OF ITS MEMBERS THE AUTHOR 4, CORNWALL GARDENS, S.W. CONTENTS MAP _Facing page_ 1 PAGE CHAPTER I 1 CHAPTER II (1855-1860) 82 CHAPTER III (1861-1870) 155 CHAPTER IV (1871-1880) 221 CHAPTER V (1881-1890) 288 CHAPTER VI (1891-1901) 349 CHAPTER VII (1901-1906) 401 INDEX 435 [Illustration: SKETCH MAP OF LOCAL DISTRICTS IN LONDON. REFERENCE TO NAMES OF PARISHES AND DISTRICTS NUMBERED ON THE MAP. 1. Clerkenwell. 2. Holborn. 3. St. Giles'. 4. Strand. 5. St. Martin-in-the-Fields. 6. Whitechapel. 7. St. James', Westminster. 8. Westminster. 9. St. Saviour's, Southwark. 10. St. Olave's, Southwark. 11. St. George the Martyr, Southwark.] The Sanitary Evolution of London CHAPTER I THE health of the people of a country stands foremost in the rank of national considerations. Upon their health depends their physical strength and energy, upon it their mental vigour, their individual happiness, and, in a great degree, their moral character. Upon it, moreover, depends the productivity of their labour, and the material prosperity and commercial success of their country. Ultimately, upon it depends the very existence of the nation and of the Empire. The United Kingdom can claim no exemption from this general principle; rather, indeed, is it one which, in the present period of our history, affects us more vitally than it has ever done before, and in a more crucial manner than it does many other nations.