Chapter 376 Everyone Is a Traitor

Although it was known that the Central Health Committee would not bring any good news, the analysis of the written documents and oral statements brought by Russell and Dr. Barry showed that the current situation could not be simply summarized as bad.

Even before the cholera attack, the British government had noticed this disease originating from the South Asian subcontinent and had sent experts to various cholera outbreak countries for investigation and study. In order to prevent the import of cholera, they even made up their minds to restart the port isolation measures taken against the Black Death in the Middle Ages.

However, when cholera really came to this small island, their efforts still collapsed.

In the past two months, more than 700 local health committees have been established across Britain, but due to Britain's unique national character and ancient tradition of autonomy, the Central Health Committee's communication and guidance to these local health committees is quite limited.

Many measures considered feasible by the Central Health Committee can only be named as "suggestive" initiatives when they are passed down to local governments to avoid being attacked as trampling on free civil rights and the restoration of autocracy.

Of course, in addition to the fear of these spiritual attacks, the reason why the cabinet showed a tendency to compromise was also due to the pressure that traders constantly put on the government in parliament because they were worried about affecting shipping trade. On the other hand, they were also afraid of local mass riots that could occur at any time around government agencies, hospitals and cemeteries.

Therefore, this also led to a series of health recommendations from the Central Health Committee being passed down to the local areas, and the final result was that the most local things were done to sweep garbage unswervingly.

It is undeniable that cleaning up urban garbage is indeed an indispensable part of the process of preventing and controlling infectious diseases, and it can indeed play a role in improving the sanitary environment.

But the problem is that apart from sweeping garbage, the achievements of local governments in other aspects are really lackluster.

However, the reason why they did this was, to some extent, helpless.

After all, sweeping garbage can be said to be the cheapest, most efficient, and preventive measure that allows everyone to see that the government is really doing something.

As for the other measures recommended by the Central Health Committee, they may be really good, but except for a few areas, they are really unaffordable. Moreover, from a legal perspective, the parliament does not really give them any power as temporary institutions such as local health committees.

There is no law on public health in the country, and the cabinet cannot directly bypass Parliament to grant local health committees temporary administrative powers. After going back and forth, they can only do something on the streets.

What's worse is that even if they do something on the streets, many places still announced that their "ammunition depots" were exhausted two months after the war with cholera began.

According to the report of the Central Health Committee, the local health committee of Exeter, Devon, sent an urgent message to London yesterday.

The Exeter authorities announced that they were completely paralyzed because they could neither provide a separate cemetery nor continue to clean up the filth of private homes.

They asked the cabinet to ask the poor society formed by the merger of multiple local poor relief committees to take over the power of the Exeter Health Committee according to an earlier Privy Council Order.

It was not until he saw this place that Arthur understood why the Bishop of Exeter had taken the lead in the local charge. It turned out that the local health committee was restricted everywhere. If His Majesty the Bishop did not help to preside over the funeral and use his power to assist in prevention and control work, then I am afraid that even the cemetery of the deceased could not be approved.

However, although the situation in Exeter is very bad, compared with the news from Leith, they are still okay.

After all, under the leadership of such a respected and socially responsible figure as the Bishop of Exeter, the believers in Exeter, with a population of only 10,000, are at least united, contributing money and effort.

In a letter submitted to the Privy Council earlier to request central financial assistance, Mr. James Snells, chairman of the Leith Local Health Committee, was full of condemnation and sarcasm against the local rich.

He said: "In a town like Leith, don't expect any voluntary donations to provide effective preventive measures to ensure the hygiene and comfort of the living environment of the lower classes. We have no municipal funds, and even if the police security funds can be used for public health according to law, they have been exhausted."

For this reason, the parliament urgently passed a "Cholera Act", in which the government required local parish committees to pay part of the public health expenses. If the parish refused to pay the expenses, it would be punished accordingly.

The penalties include but are not limited to: the parish committee shall not withhold taxes during the period of punishment, and return the funds in the church fund to the parish residents.

However, although the bill was passed.

But judging from the feedback received by the Central Health Committee, the effect was obviously not satisfactory.

Not every priest can be as courageous as the Bishop of Exeter to take responsibility. Although this old man once reprimanded Scotland Yard for the phenomenon of "London prostitutes", judging from his subsequent actions, the old man's words and deeds were indeed out of public interest.

In sharp contrast to the Bishop of Exeter's leading by example, the parish committees in various places still firmly opposed any increase in financial expenditure due to the implementation of the Central Health Committee or the Privy Council Order after the promulgation of the Cholera Act.

The Christchurch Diocese is such a negative example. After the Court of Chancery, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Health Committee repeatedly asked the diocese to execute the order, the Christchurch Diocese still refused to pay public health expenses and did not respond to the government documents.

As the highest person in charge of national health work, Lord Chief Justice Brougham was naturally furious about the rebellious behavior of the Christchurch Diocese.

He asked the Court of Chancery to publish the order directly in the British Gazette, requiring the Christchurch Diocese to pay 200 pounds from the poor tax within a week for cholera medical treatment.

But the humorous thing is that the local parish committee responded to the Court of Chancery with just a light sentence-this is a chaotic order, Christchurch refuses to obey the order.

But what is more dramatic and quite British is that after the two sides were deadlocked for several weeks, the Court of Chancery finally gave in.

A week later, the Court of Chancery republished a new order in the London Gazette, no longer requiring Christchurch to enforce the order, but instead agreed to authorize the local health committee to raise 100 pounds of medical funds through public donations.

When Arthur finished reading these reports, he finally understood why the two doctors were so angry.

He was so angry just looking at these things, let alone the two people working inside.

Dr. Russell took off his hat and fanned himself. Although the winter in London was very cold, it did not affect his ability to overclock his brain at the Central Health Committee.

Russell said, "Come back, Mr. Hastings, we have also seen the report you sent back from Liverpool. In fact, not only Liverpool is investigating the source of cholera, we are also conducting similar investigations in London. However, it is indeed a good attempt to introduce statistics into medical work. We analyzed the cases that broke out in London based on Liverpool's experience, but the results we obtained..."

Arthur raised his eyebrows, put down the file and asked, "Are there any discrepancies in the results?"

Dr. Barry nodded and said, "According to the investigation, nearly half of the cases in London occurred south of the Thames. In order to find out why this is the case, our medical investigators were sent to Bermondsey, the origin of cholera in London.

According to the report reported by the investigators on London Street, we did find that the local drinking water conditions were not good. That The area is full of foul-smelling sewers, and a narrow strip of water even appears to be a thick green viscous state under the bright sunshine.

Some of the water can't even be called water, they look more like mud. But we learned that this is the drinking water in the area. However, although the drinking water situation is so bad, according to the data comparison, we don't have enough evidence to show that the residents who get water from this well suffer more losses than those who get water from other channels.

The incidence rate of residents in the Bermondsey area is not higher than that of residents in surrounding areas. Of course, we agree with your view to a certain extent that the water flowing out of this dirty well will definitely lead to the deterioration of the health of local residents, but whether it is a medium for cholera infection, we can't easily judge. "

Dr. Russell also added a self-deprecating sentence.

"But having said that, if you want to improve the poor sanitary environment in the slums, I fully agree. Because even if the transformation of the city is useless for preventing and treating cholera, it will definitely have a preventive effect on other diseases such as scarlet fever and whooping cough.

However, whether to transform the slums or rebuild the city's water supply system is not up to us. The councilors have to consider the problem of budget overruns, and the parish committee is unwilling to spend a penny more on public health. Even if Barry and I carry shovels to the local area to really work, digging more than ten feet a day is our limit."

Baring also nodded slightly, he looked at Arthur beside him and said: "So, this is the problem now. Those sitting here all agree to transform our city. But the problem is that the budget must be approved by Parliament, the concept must be recognized by society, and those who are willing to invest in public health are now a minority."

Disraeli said: "Mr. Baring, to be honest, although you are a Whig and I am a Tory, we have the same views on public works investment. Instead of borrowing temporarily every time a disease comes, Prevention is worse than direct large investments to solve the root problem. If we can prevent diseases through urban transformation, in the long run, this investment will actually make money for the government because it avoids large and uncertain temporary public health expenditures. "

Baring replied: "We do have similar views, but we have different problems. As for the Whig Party I belong to, they are mainly disgusted with the expansion of government power caused by cholera, but they are not too opposed to debt construction.

But your Tory Party, even though Sir Peel is a Tory liberal, he still insists on establishing a strong government system. If he were in Lord Brougham's position, he would definitely try his best to get the Christchurch Diocese to pay the money.

But correspondingly, Sir Peel is very sensitive to government debt, and so are many Tories. It is difficult to pass the government to issue so many construction bonds at once, and they are bonds with uncertain investment returns. "

When Arthur heard this, he immediately said: "In fact, your worries are unnecessary. In my opinion, these problems are easy to solve. "

Barin looked at the young police superintendent: "Do you have any good ideas?"

Arthur said: "I fully understand the concerns of the Whig members of parliament about their determination to maintain the British tradition of freedom. But time is flowing, and traditions are always changing. Just as at the end of the last century, there were still many members of the Whig Party who were very enthusiastic about the French Revolution, and Edmund Burke once sang praises for the French Revolution.

But when the crazy wave of the Revolution was getting higher and higher, the gentlemen slowly calmed down. At this time, they looked back and found that some of their previous views seemed to be just hot-headed when their blood was boiling. It seemed that overnight, the entire Whig Party's atmosphere changed.

What they insist on now does not mean that they will insist on it in the future. I believe that if they continue to waver on the issue of cholera prevention and control, when the disaster affects them, they will agree to sacrifice part of their freedom in exchange for the health of the whole society. Health.

If you look closely, the current social opinion has actually changed a lot compared to when cholera first came. In the past, the traditional view of British society was that infectious diseases were diseases of the poor, but now, if you flip through the London newspapers, all the editorials begin to focus on the impact of poor living conditions, lack of food and clothing, dirty living environments, and indulgent lifestyles on health.

Although gentlemen and ladies have always been concerned about poverty, it is probably the first time that it is discussed almost every day like now. The slogan shouted by the Bishop of Exeter, "Cleanliness is second only to piety", is now almost an article of faith, and perhaps this can be engraved on his tombstone in the future. "

As a well-known figure in the current London publishing industry, Disraeli certainly knows about this phenomenon of changing trends. As a forward-looking writer, he has already begun to draft new books around this new hot spot.

Not only that, he even plans to pull Dickens to join him in the big wave.

Although they are now hailed as the leaders of fashionable novels, in Disraeli's view, this is not a good reputation. Even though he made his fortune by writing fashionable novels, if he wanted to become a great writer like Shakespeare, he should still write works with depth and connotation, and lean towards traditional British literature.

After all, he had been unhappy with the group of enemies who claimed to have the highest literary taste in Britain, Blackwood, for a long time.

Disraeli agreed.

"In fact, I have also noticed this change. In the past, our upper and middle classes have always upheld the concept of freedom and were not willing to interfere with the lifestyles of our lower classes.

But in the past few months, somehow, they have all shifted their attention to them, and are willing to share their healthy lifestyles with them. From the initial tactful persuasion to the enthusiastic and almost fierce criticism, some gentlemen and ladies even began to hope to adopt some... well... active, proactive, and not so free means to "help" them change their lifestyles.

This year's criticism of the workers' "alcoholism" may be the largest I have ever seen in my life. The bishops were also flattered to suddenly gain so many supporters. The bishops in the House of Lords even hoped to take this opportunity to promote national prohibition. If opium can be banned at the same time, it would be even better..."

When Baring heard this, he just coughed lightly: "Mr. Disraeli, you are going too far."

Disraeli also understood what Baring meant.

Although he and Baring had the same views on urban transformation, their bases were different because of their different parties.

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

But behind Bahrain was the entire City of London and the British trade group. For this group of people, neither alcohol nor opium was negotiable.

However, if it really came to the point of banning alcohol and opium, it would not be impossible to let the Whigs expand the power of the Health Committee. After all, the current situation of cholera was in front of us. Weighing the two benefits, we should choose the more important one, and weighing the two harms, we should choose the lesser one. This kind of multiple-choice question is very simple to answer.

Arthur's words gave Barin a new idea. He raised his eyebrows and suddenly asked Disraeli softly: "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 froze at first, and then bloomed more brilliantly: "Although the success rate is not high, if the bishops are so determined, then as their loyal supporter, I can only do it reluctantly."

Barin closed the file seriously: "Of course, although saying this may offend the sacred majesty of the bishops, I think prohibition will not solve the problem. After all, you also see When Mr. Hastings was in Liverpool, one of the important preventive measures he proposed was to replace unclean drinking water with beer. "

When Dr. Russell heard this, he couldn't help but smile on his tired face: "I've heard about that too. Arthur Hastings, British Royal Barrel produced by London University in 1829. I have to say that the bishops are really venomous. In fact, drinking alcohol may be healthier than drinking those unclean green musky waters. "

Arthur said indifferently: "If the bishops read our latest report, they may not be so opposed to drinking beer. "

"Hmm?" Dr. Barry asked, "Do you have any new progress?"

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. The leader was a young man I brought back from Liverpool. It was his report that made me believe that there is a certain connection between cholera and water sources. Of course, my private investigation can only provide some reference for Parliament at most.

But I think that if the Whig gentlemen want to clarify that there is no necessary connection between cholera and drinking beer, it would be best to initiate a special cholera source investigation committee in the House of Commons. If they are willing to do so, I will be happy to share my existing information with them."

When Baring heard this, he laughed and raised his beer to clink glasses with Arthur: "Great minds think alike. Mr. Hastings, in my opinion, Guinness and Chivas should share some of their advertising fees with you."

Arthur just laughed softly when he heard this, and waved his hand and said, "Mr. Baring, you misunderstood, I'm just a small policeman in Scotland Yard. If they really want to advertise, they can talk to Mr. Disraeli in detail."