He then spoke of the advantage arising to the health of the
population generally by the new dwellings for artisans.
He remarked that these improved dwellings "afford accommodation to a
population per acre as dense as, and in most cases even denser than,
that afforded by the buildings which they replaced. Within limits it is
not the density of population which regulates the health. But if a dense
population is spread over the surface or close to the surface of the
ground, by which means all movement of air is prevented, and if there
are numerous corners in which refuse is accumulated, it will be
difficult to prevent disease. Dr. Angus Smith's experiments show that
while there is less oxygen and more carbonic acid in the eastern and
in the more crowded parts of London, yet in open spaces the amount of
oxygen rises and the carbonic acid diminishes very considerably; and
that we are exposed to distinct currents of good air in the worst, and
equally to currents of bad air in the best atmosphere, in towns like
Manchester.
Dr. Tyndall showed that where there is quiescence in the air the
tendency of his sterilized infusions to produce organisms was increased.
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