The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-05 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF 4212.8.

At themeeting on Wednesday, the Beriof SMITE*.
BURT in the chair, the following paper was redv "On
House Accommodation, its Social Bearings Individually and
Nationally," by Mr. ROBERT REITLIABON, C.E. The
author said that the hones accommodation of the name
would be principally considered, some of its defects would be
pointed out, some of the resultant evils would be dmailied,
and certain seggestions for means of improvement and of
sanitary regulations would be made. He thought the im-
portance of the subject in a moral point of view was very
great, for if the dwelliugs of the poor ware in such a state
that their inhabitants must necessarily be surrounded with
vice and immorality from their very birth, secondary means
of reformation would be of little avail. This country, how-
ever, by no means stood alone in this respect; the habita-
tions of the poor were in a neglected state in almost every
part of the world. After giving an historical sketch of the
state of henna in former times, the author dwelt at con-
siderable length on the present condition of our own poor in
this respect. Centuries of neglect and of seasoning bad
bleated the national some. to the taint of foul air, fur most
frequently the only industry shown was to block out fresh air
in order to secure heat. After describing in detail the
wretched state of the home* of the poor, and •
of the dismiss sad misery resulting from ratire
author drew attention to the great expenses that perishes In-
curred by their neglect of these sanitary matters. He knew
of instances in which the rent was paid by the pariah merry
times over, and not unftequently mon than the punkas,.
money was expended in one year. After touching upon tore
defects so constantly found in modern houses, even of the
better clew, and dwelling at some length upon the faulty
construction and miserable condition of most matey we•
tape, ho passed to the subject of defective ventelatios, wlWit
he stated to be one of the evils most common both le puha"
mid private buildings. Mr. Rawlinson then quoted nese-
rose extracts from reports by the inspectors of the Genera
Board of Health in TEAM/ towns in England, showing how
wretched was the sanitary condition of the houses of the
poor. He stated that • close study of house accoinroodstion
had led him to conclude that, as a rule, men so constructed
their habitations as to vitiate the common atmospheric air
by Wises on improper sites ; by teat .og those sites
nnfoeaed, undreieed, unpavrd, and =cleansed ; by using
improper materials fur homes, and by adopting unsoltsble
*um ; by totally swisoaog &decimate means to secure venti-
lations; by overcrewthig, bY indiscriminately mixing the
an" tea by allowing the adoption of habits of di& The ter
suit in all comes had been to produce fever, plague,
and ether atalognes diseases. With reference to • reserip
for thaws evils, ILL Rawlineon gave it as his opinion that is
parishes, cooperation', or separate districts there should be
on Mopeds, of *nine appointed, end that, upon en out-
break of ooniegione feet, amell-pox, or other symeeio
ease, the perish dealer, load medical officer,, er keel ler
specter of nelessices, should have power to the pre-
mises sad report ID di, Load embattles ; the" ftr• sheen
be local power to Wit en prow mos d verilletiost
cottages sad room tenements; saddest ithermuking eledmth.
soil sad cube, draining might be aimed, or night bars.
cried whom required. After • Isar efirlis ef
=de in which ha thought bow ohimil "
genial oat, Mt. Marlinson pew or
emmtisi. M vas Or the reel siollimisn Is di
simesnimati I""
les gime
deem of living a healthy and mend We. caw M.P.
A dieennion meensd. in 3"'" 0
Dr. Wyld. Dr. W. Lewia, Marc . tkott,
ate, FAX., Tot** the chairmen, end about wog pi