The Shadow of Great Britain

708: Chapter 341 All Members Are Traitors_2 708: Chapter 341 All Members Are Traitors_2 In stark contrast to the Bishop of Exeter, who had taken the lead, the parochial committees across the country still firmly opposed any increase in financial expenditure that would result from implementing the orders of the Central Health Committee or the Privy Council after the “Cholera Act” was enacted.

As a prime example of opposition, the parish of Clyst St.

George had refused to pay for public health expenses despite repeated demands from the Lord Chancellor’s office, the Home Office, and the Central Health Committee to carry out orders, often ignoring government documents altogether.

As the highest official responsible for national health, Lord Brougham was naturally furious at Clyst St.

George’s defiant actions.

He demanded that the Lord Chancellor’s office publicly post an order in “The London Gazette”, requiring Clyst St.

George to pay 200 pounds from the Poor Relief Tax for cholera treatment within a week.

But humorously, the local parish committee’s response to the Lord Chancellor’s office was dismissively brief — this order is chaos, and Clyst St.

George refuses to comply.

Yet more dramatically, and quite British in character, after weeks of stalemate, it was the Lord Chancellor’s office that eventually relented.

A week later, the Lord Chancellor’s office republished a new order in “The London Gazette”, no longer demanding the compulsory execution of the order by Clyst St.

George, but instead agreeing to allow the local health committee to raise 100 pounds in medical funds through public donations.

Having read these reports, Arthur finally understood why the two doctors were so frustrated.

These things upset him just by reading them, let alone those working amidst them.

Dr.

Russell took off his hat and fanned himself vigorously; although it was cold in London’s winter, it didn’t stop his brain from working overtime at the Central Health Committee.

Dr.

Russell said, “By the way, Mr.

Hastings, we also saw the report you sent back from Liverpool.

It’s not just Liverpool that’s investigating the source of cholera; we’ve been doing similar research in London.

However, introducing statistics into medical work has indeed been an excellent attempt.

Based on the Liverpool experience, we analyzed the cases that broke out in London, but the results, well…”

Arthur raised an eyebrow and, putting down the documents, asked, “Were there discrepancies?”

Dr.

Barry nodded, “According to our investigations, nearly half of the cases in London occurred south of the Thames River.

To understand why, our medical investigators were sent to Bermondsey, where the cholera originated in London.”

Based on the feedback from investigators on the streets of London, we indeed discovered that the local drinking water was poor.

Foul-smelling sewers filled the area, and the narrow streams of water under the bright sunlight even appeared thick and green.

Some of the water couldn’t even be called water anymore; it looked more like mud.

Yet, we learned that this was the local drinking water.

Although the drinking water conditions were so poor, according to data comparison, we don’t have sufficient evidence to show that the residents drawing water from this well suffered more than those using other sources.”

The incidence of disease among residents of the Bermondsey area was not higher than in surrounding areas.

Of course, to some extent, we agree with your view that the water flowing from such filthy wells would definitely harm the local residents’ health, but whether it is the medium for cholera infection, we cannot easily conclude,” Dr.

Russell added, somewhat self-mockingly.

“However, that said, if you want to improve the dire sanitary conditions in the slums, I fully support it, because urban transformation, even if ineffective in preventing cholera, will definitely have preventive effects on other diseases such as scarlet fever and whooping cough.”

“But whether or not to transform the slums or to reshape the city’s water supply system isn’t up to us.

Legislators must consider budget overruns, and parish committees are unwilling to spend an extra penny on public health.

Even if Barry and I were to grab shovels and genuinely work in the field, digging more than a dozen feet a day is our limit,” Dr.

Russell concluded.

Barings nodded slightly, looking at Arthur beside him, “So, that’s the situation now.

Everyone here agrees on the need to transform our city.

But the problem is, the budget must be approved by Parliament, and the concept must gain social acceptance.

Those willing to invest in public health are currently in the minority.”

Disraeli then spoke, “Mr.

Barings, not to hide the fact from you, although you are a Whig and I am a Tory, our views on public infrastructure investment are actually aligned.

Rather than repeatedly incurring temporary debts to prevent diseases whenever they arise, it would be better to invest heavily from the outset to tackle the root issues.

If we can prevent diseases through urban transformation, from a long-term perspective, this investment is actually profitable for the Government, as it avoids extensive uncertain temporary public health expenses.”

Barings responded, “Our views do indeed align, but the problems we face are different.

For the Whig Party where I belong, their main objection is to the expansion of government power caused by the cholera, but they are not too resistant to debt for construction.

“However, regarding your Tory Party, even though Sir Peel is a liberal Tory, he still insists on establishing a strong government system.

If he were in Lord Brougham’s position, he would definitely do everything possible to make Clyst St.

George pay up.”