Note 9 — Chapter II · HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATION FOR INJURIOUS AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRIES IN ENGLAND

“Defects of ventilation are in theory dealt with under the Nuisance Removal Act.... In practice these powers are hitherto almost unapplied; partly because the magnitude of the evil is but most imperfectly appreciated either by local authorities and justices, or by the slowly suffering artisans themselves; and perhaps still more ... for another reason. In any proceedings ... an official complainant should be ready to state in precise terms what remedy he asks the justices to apply. Now, to describe suitable ventilation for a workplace there must be a fair amount of intelligence and discrimination.... An average inspector of nuisances cannot dictate ventilation off-hand, as he would direct the clearance of a dust-bin. Justices acting without skilled advice cannot themselves order in detail particular means of ventilation.... Thus it seems, the evil is left unabated.... Against the other sources of disease to which the report has referred, no law yet pretends to make provision.”—Fourth Report of the Medical Officer of the Privy Council, 1861, p. 29.