Persons are
deterred from settling in the neighborhood by the aguish character of the
country. Many persons, attracted by the beauty of the locality, wish to
come down and settle; but when they find the liability to ague, they are
compelled to give up their intention. I may mention that the village of
Erith itself, bears marks of the influence of malaria. It is more like one
of the desolate towns of Italy, Ferrara, for instance, than a healthy,
happy, English village. I do not know whether it is known to the
committee, that Erith is the village described in Dickens' _Household
Words_, as Dumble-down-deary, and that it is a most graphic and correct
description of the state of the place, attributable to the unhealthy
character of the locality."
He also stated that the ague is not confined to the marshes, but extends
to the high lands near them.
The General Board of Health, of England, at the close of a voluminous
report, publish the following "Conclusions as to the Drainage of Suburban
Lands:--
"1. Excess of moisture, even on lands not evidently wet, is a cause of
fogs and damps.
"2. Dampness serves as a medium for the conveyance of any decomposing
matter that may be evolved, and adds to the injurious effects of such
matters in the air:--in other words the excess of moisture may be said to
increase or aggravate atmospheric impurities.
"3. The evaporation of the surplus moisture lowers the temperature,
produces chills, and creates or aggravates the sudden and injurious
changes or fluctuations by which health is injured.
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