Chapter 379: All the Insiders

Chapter 376 – All the Insiders
Although it was known early on that the Central Health Committee would not be able to bring any good news, from the analysis of the written documents and verbal statements brought by Drs. Russell and Barry, the current situation could no longer be summarized with just the word bad.

Even before the onset of cholera, the British government had noticed this disease originating from the South Asian subcontinent, and had sent experts to various cholera outbreak countries to study and learn. In order to prevent the importation of cholera, they even resolved to restart the harbor quarantine measures against the Black Death in the medieval period.

However, when the cholera really came to this island, their efforts still collapsed at the touch of a button.

Over the past two months, more than 700 local health boards have been set up across Britain, but because of Britain’s distinctive national character and ancient traditions of self-government, the central health boards have had limited communication and guidance from the local health boards.

Many of the measures deemed feasible by the Central Board of Health, when they reach the local level, can only be labeled as `suggestive’ initiatives in order to avoid being attacked as an abuse of free citizenship and a restoration of authoritarianism.

Of course, apart from the fear of being attacked on these spiritual levels, the tendency of the Cabinet to be compromising was also due to the constant pressure exerted by the trade merchants on the government in Parliament for fear of affecting the shipping trade. On the other hand, they were equally fearful of the localized mass riots that could occur at any time in the vicinity of government institutions, hospitals and cemeteries.

So it was that a series of sanitation recommendations from the Central Sanitation Commission reached the local level, and the result was that the most that could be done at the local level was the determined sweeping of garbage.

There is no denying that the removal of urban garbage is indeed an essential part of the process of combating infectious diseases, and that it does have the effect of improving the sanitary environment.

However, the problem is that apart from sweeping up garbage, the local authorities have done very little in other areas.

However, the reason why they do so is, in a way, helplessness.

In stark contrast to the Bishop of Exeter’s leadership, local parish councils remained adamantly opposed to any increase in monetary expenditure as a result of the introduction of the Central Board of Health or Orders in Council, even after the enactment of the Cholera Act.

As for the other measures recommended by the Central Board of Health, they may be really good, but they are really unaffordable except in very few districts. Moreover, it is true that temporary bodies such as the Local Health Boards are not legally empowered by Parliament to do anything.

The Exeter authority has declared itself to be in a state of complete paralysis, for it is now unable either to provide separate cemeteries or to continue to clean up the filth of private houses.

He said, “A town like Leith should not expect any voluntary contributions to appear capable of providing effective precautions for the sanitation and comfort of the existence of the lower classes. We have no municipal funds, and even if police policing funds could legally be used for public health, they are at present exhausted.”

But the bill stood, though.

After all, trash sweeping is arguably the cheapest, most efficient, and most preventative measure that will show the big boys that the government is indeed doing something.

There isn’t a single law on public health up and down the country, and there’s no way for the Cabinet to leapfrog straight over Parliament to give temporary executive powers to local health boards, and circling back around and back around, they do have to make do with the streets.

Penalties include, but are not limited to, the parish council not being allowed to withhold taxes during the period of the penalty and returning money from the church fund to parishioners.

The words of Mr. James Snells, Chairman of the Leith Local Health Board, in an earlier letter to the Privy Council on letterhead requesting central financial assistance, were full of sound and fury against the local rich.

Worse still, even with all the street work, there were still a number of places that declared their ‘ammunition stores’ exhausted after two months of war with cholera.

After all, under the leadership of such a respected and socially responsible figure as the Bishop of Exeter, the Exeter faithful, with a population of just 10,000 people, were at the very least united in their efforts to contribute what they could.

It was not until he saw this place that Arthur realized why the Bishop of Exeter had previously led the charge in the local area. It turns out that the local health committee is restricted in every way, if the coronation of the bishop does not help to preside over the funeral ceremony, use their own power to assist in the prevention and control work, then I am afraid that even the dead can not be approved for the cemetery.

Not every clergyman can be as courageous as the Bishop of Exeter, although the old man had once denounced Scotland Yard on the phenomenon of the ‘London warbler pandemic’, but judging from what he did afterward, the old man’s words and actions were indeed out of the public interest.

But from the feedback received by the Central Board of Health, it was clear that the results were not as good as they could have been.

The Diocese of Christchurch is a case in point, refusing to pay for public health expenditure after repeated requests from the Lord Chancellor’s Department, the Home Office and the Central Health Board for the Diocese to comply with the order, and failing to respond to the government’s paperwork that has not been read.

But as bad as the situation in Exeter is, they are all doing OK compared to the news coming from Leith.

According to the report of the Central Board of Health, the local health commissioner for Exeter, Devon, had yesterday sent an eight hundred-mile dispatch to London.

And naturally Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor, who is the supreme head of health work in the country, is furious at the rebellious behavior of the parish of Christchurch.

He has asked the Lord Chancellor’s Department to publish an order directly and publicly in the British Gazette that the Diocese of Christchurch must pay within a week two hundred pounds from the Relief Tax for cholera medical treatment.

In response, Parliament urgently passed a Cholera Act, and in that Act the government demanded that local parish councils pay a portion of the public health expenses, and that if the parish refused to pay the expenses, it would be penalized accordingly.

They requested the Cabinet to take over the powers of the Exeter Board of Health from the Poor Clans, formed by the amalgamation of the local Poor Clans under an earlier Order in Council.

But humorously, the local parish council’s response to the Chancery Office was a flippant one – this is a messy order, and Christchurch refuses to obey it.

But more dramatically, and rather more Britannically, after weeks of stalemate, it was the Chancery Office that finally relented.

A week later, the Lord Chancellor’s Department reprinted a new order in the London Gazette, no longer requiring Christchurch to enforce the order, but instead agreeing to authorize the local Board of Health to raise 100 pounds for medical treatment through public donations.

As Arthur read the reports, he also finally understood the reason why the two doctors were on fire.

He was getting on fire even looking at these things, let alone these two who were working in them.

Dr. Russell took off his hat and fanned himself vigorously, although the winter in London was cold, it didn’t affect his ability to overclock his brain at the Central Board of Health in any way.

Russell opened his mouth, ”Coming back, Mr. Hastings, we’ve seen that report you got back from Liverpool. In fact, it’s not just Liverpool that’s doing the work of investigating the source of cholera, we’re doing a similar expedition in London. But the introduction of statistics into medical work is a very good attempt indeed. We analyzed the cases of the outbreak in London based on the Liverpool experience, but the results we came up with well ……”

Arthur raised an eyebrow and put down the paper and asked, “There are discrepancies in the results?”

Dr. Barry nodded, “According to the investigation, close to half of the cases in London occurred south of the Thames. In order to figure out why this is, our medical investigators were sent to Bermondsey, where the cholera started in London is this.

Based on the reports coming back from the investigators on London Street, we did find that the drinking water in the area was not in good shape. It was filled with foul-smelling sewers, and a narrow band of water would even take on a thick greenish slime under the bright sunlight.

Some of the water couldn’t even be called water anymore; it looked more like mud. Yet we are told that this is the region’s drinking water. But as bad as the drinking water is, we don’t have enough evidence, based on data comparisons, to show that residents who get their water from this well suffer more than those who get their water from other sources.

Residents of the Bermondsey area do not have a higher incidence of disease than residents of the surrounding area. Of course, we agree with you to a certain extent that water from such a dirty well certainly causes deterioration in the health of the local population, but there is no way for us to easily make a judgment on whether or not it is a vector of cholera infection.” Dr. Russell also added in a self-deprecating manner.

“But having said that, if you want to revamp the poor sanitation of the slums, I raise my hands in favor of it. Because even if remodeling the city doesn’t work against cholera, it will definitely have a preventive effect on other diseases such as scarlet fever and whooping cough.

However, we cannot say whether the slums should be revamped or not, or whether the city’s water supply system should be remodeled. Councillors have budget overruns to consider, and parish councils are reluctant to fork out a penny more for public health. Even if the two of us, Barry and I, carried shovels and went out into the local area and did the real work, digging a dozen feet a day would be the limit of what we could do.”

Balin also nodded slightly as he looked at Arthur beside him, “So that’s the problem now. All of us sitting here are in agreement with making changes to our city. But the problem is that the budget has to be approved by the council, the concept has to gain the approval of the community, and those willing to invest in public health are now in the minority.”

Disraeli spoke up, “Mr. Baring, I’m not going to lie, even though you’re a Whig and I’m a Tory, we see eye to eye on the investment side of public works. Instead of this ad hoc debt prevention every time a disease arrives, we should just make a big investment to solve the underlying problem. If we can prevent disease through urban regeneration, in the long run that investment will actually make money for the government because it avoids large, uncertain and temporary public health spending.”

Bahrain returned, “We do share the same views, but we have different problems. If we look at the Whig Party, of which I am a member, their main aversion is to the problem of expansion of government power due to cholera, but they are not too resistant to the construction aspect of borrowing.

But your Tory party, even though Sir Peel was a Tory liberal, still insisted on the need for a strong and powerful system of government, and if he had been in Lord Brougham’s place, he would have tried to get the Diocese of Christchurch to cough up as much money as he could.

But accordingly, Lord Peel reacted sensitively to government indebtedness, as did a number of Tories. I fear that it will be difficult to get the government to issue so many construction bonds at once, and bonds with uncertain returns on investment.”

Hearing this, Arthur immediately spoke out, “In fact, both of your worries are redundant, in my opinion, these problems are very well solved.”

Balin shot a glance at the young superintendent, “Do you have a good solution?”

Arthur spoke up, “The concerns of the Whig councilors are fully understandable to me in terms of their determination to preserve the traditions of the freedom of Britannia. But time is fluid and traditions are always changing. Just as at the end of the last century, there were still a number of Whig MPs in the Whig Party who were extremely passionate about the French Revolution, and Edmund Burke sang its praises for a time.

But as the wave of madness of the Revolution rolled higher and higher, the gentlemen slowly calmed down. It was then that they looked back and realized that some of the views they had once held seemed to be mere hot-headedness in the heat of the moment. It was as if the whole Whig ethos had changed overnight.

Just because they hold on to it now doesn’t mean they will hold on to it in the future. I am sure that if they continue to waver on the issue of cholera control, they will agree to sacrifice a portion of their freedom for the sanitary health of the whole community when the disaster comes to them.

If you look closely, public opinion has actually changed a great deal from what it was when cholera first struck. In the past, the traditional view of British society was that infectious diseases were the diseases of the poor, but nowadays, if you look at any London newspaper, all the editorials are concerned with the health effects of poor living conditions, lack of food and clothing, squalid living conditions, and indulgent lifestyles.

Although gentlemen and ladies have been concerned about poverty in the old days, it should be the first time that it has been discussed almost daily as it is now. The Bishop of Exeter’s cry that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ is practically a creed now, and perhaps it may be inscribed on his epitaph in future.”

Disraeli, as a figurehead in the London publishing world now, is of course aware of this shift in ethos, and as a forward-thinking writer, he’s all but begun formulating a new book around this new hotspot before.

More than that, he was even planning to drag Dickens along with him on the big wave.

Although they were now being hailed as the leaders of fashion fiction, it was not a good reputation in Disraeli’s opinion. Even though he had made his fortune by writing fashion novels, if he wanted to become a great writer like Shakespeare, he should still write something with depth and substance, and lean towards the traditional literature of Britain.

After all, he had been looking at the haters of Blackwood’s, who prided themselves on Britain’s highest literary tastes, with displeasure for a long time.

Disraeli concurred.

“In fact, I’ve noticed the change; once upon a time, our upper and middle classes have always held a liberal philosophy and were less inclined to adopt an intrusive attitude towards the lifestyles of our lower classes.

But these past few months, somehow, they’ve all shifted their attention and are happy to share their healthy lifestyles with them. From polite exhortation at first, to passionate, almost vehement criticism, there were even some gentlemen and ladies who began to hope for some …… well …… positive, proactive, less liberal means to ‘help’ them change their habits. ‘ them to change their habits.

This year’s criticism of the “drunkenness” of the workers was probably the largest I have ever seen. And the bishops are also flattered by the sudden gain of so many supporters, the bishops of the House of Lords even hope to use this opportunity to push for the prohibition of alcohol in the country, and it would be even better if it can be accompanied by the prohibition of opium ……”

Hearing this, Balin just coughed softly, “Mr. Disraeli, you’ve gone too far.”

Disraeli also understood what Bahrain meant.

Although he and Bahrain shared the same viewpoints on transforming the city, there was still a difference in their basic plates due to the difference in party affiliation between the two.

Disraeli was able to rise to power by playing the tradition card, and it was only right for him to speak on behalf of conservatives like the clerics.

But behind Baring is the entire City of London and the British trade merchant community, for which there is no point in talking about either prohibition of alcohol or opium.

However, accordingly, if it really came to the point of banning alcohol and opium, let the Whigs expand the power of the Sanitary Commission seems to be not impossible to negotiate. After all, the status quo of cholera is right in front of us, and the choice between the two benefits is the more important one, and the two harms is the lesser one, this kind of choice is very simple to do.

Arthur’s words allowed Balin to open a new thought, he raised his eyebrows and suddenly asked softly towards Disraeli: “If …… I mean if …… the Tories ask the House of Commons to organize a Prohibition Committee, do you think the success rate is high? ”

Disraeli’s smile first stiffened, then blossomed even more brilliantly, “Although the success rate is not high, but if the bishops’ will is so strong, then I, as their loyal fan, will have to make do with reluctance.”

Balin closed the document in a serious manner, “Of course, although saying so may offend the sacred majesty of the bishops, I don’t think banning alcohol will solve the problem. After all, as you can see, one of the important precautions Mr. Hastings proposed when he was in Liverpool was to replace unclean drinking water with beer.”

Dr. Russell couldn’t help a small smile on his tired face when he heard this, “I’ve heard about that one, too. Arthur Hastings, the Royal Cask of Britain produced by the University of London in 1829. I have to say, the bishops can be quite venomous in their cursing. It might actually be true that drinking alcohol is healthier than drinking all that unclean green gooey water.”

Arthur spoke without much concern, “If the bishops had read our latest report, they might not be so opposed to drinking beer.”

“Hmm?” Dr. Barry asked, “Any new developments on your end?”

Arthur nodded slightly and said, “Actually, after returning to London, I privately sponsored a cholera investigation team based on the University of London Medical School, led by a young man I brought back from Liverpool, and it was his report that convinced me that there was some correlation between cholera and water sources. Of course, my private investigations of this kind can at best be of some informative nature to Parliament.

However, I think that if the Whig gentlemen want to clarify that there is no necessary connection between cholera and beer drinking, it would be best if they could initiate a special committee of inquiry into the source of cholera in the House of Commons. If they are willing to do so, I will be happy to share with them the information I currently have at hand.”

Hearing this, Balin laughed and raised his own beer to clink glasses with Arthur, “A hero’s opinion. Mr. Hastings, it seems to me that both Guinness and Chivas should share some of their advertising money with you.”

Arthur just let out a soft laugh as he waved his hand, “Mr. Balin, you misunderstand, I’m just a small policeman from Scotland Yard. If they really want to advertise, they can talk to Mr. Disraeli in detail.”

(End of chapter)