the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第39节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
plait trimmings and make and finish the hats。〃
Yet this mother and her three children we are considering have done
no wrong that they should be so punished。 They have not sinned。 The
thing happened； that is all； the husband； father and bread… winner； was
struck down。 There is no guarding against it。 It is fortuitous。 A family
stands so many chances of escaping the bottom of the Abyss； and so many
138
… Page 139…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
chances of falling plump down to it。 The chance is reducible to cold；
pitiless figures； and a few of these figures will not be out of place。
Sir A。 Forwood calculates that …
1 of every 1400 workmen is killed annually。 1 of every 2500
workmen is totally disabled。 1 of every 300 workmen is permanently
partially disabled。 1 of every 8 workmen is temporarily disabled 3 or 4
weeks。
But these are only the accidents of industry。 The high mortality of
the people who live in the Ghetto plays a terrible part。 The average age
at death among the people of the West End is fifty…five years； the average
age at death among the people of the East End is thirty years。 That is to
say； the person in the West End has twice the chance for life that the
person has in the East End。 Talk of war！ The mortality in South Africa
and the Philippines fades away to insignificance。 Here； in the heart of
peace； is where the blood is being shed； and here not even the civilised
rules of warfare obtain； for the women and children and babes in the arms
are killed just as ferociously as the men are killed。 War！ In England；
every year； 500；000 men； women； and children； engaged in the various
industries； are killed and disabled； or are injured to disablement by
disease。
In the West End eighteen per cent。 of the children die before five years
of age； in the East End fifty…five per cent。 of the children die before five
years of age。 And there are streets in London where out of every one
hundred children born in a year； fifty die during the next year； and of the
fifty that remain； twenty…five die before they are five years old。
Slaughter！ Herod did not do quite so badly。
That industry causes greater havoc with human life than battle does no
better substantiation can be given than the following extract from a recent
report of the Liverpool Medical Officer； which is not applicable to
Liverpool alone：…
In many instances little if any sunlight could get to the courts； and the
atmosphere within the dwellings was always foul； owing largely to the
saturated condition of the walls and ceilings； which for so many years had
absorbed the exhalations of the occupants into their porous material。
139
… Page 140…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
Singular testimony to the absence of sunlight in these courts was furnished
by the action of the Parks and Gardens Committee； who desired to
brighten the homes of the poorest class by gifts of growing flowers and
window…boxes； but these gifts could not be made in courts such as these；
AS FLOWERS AND PLANTS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE
UNWHOLESOME SURROUNDINGS； AND WOULD NOT LIVE。
Mr。 George Haw has compiled the following table on the three St。
George's parishes （London parishes）：…
Percentage of
Population Death…rate Overcrowded
per 1000 St。 George's West 10 13。2 St。 George's
South 35 23。7 St。 George's East 40
26。4
Then there are the 〃dangerous trades；〃 in which countless workers are
employed。 Their hold on life is indeed precariousfar； far more
precarious than the hold of the twentieth…century soldier on life。 In the
linen trade； in the preparation of the flax； wet feet and wet clothes cause an
unusual amount of bronchitis； pneumonia； and severe rheumatism； while
in the carding and spinning departments the fine dust produces lung
disease in the majority of cases； and the woman who starts carding at
seventeen or eighteen begins to break up and go to pieces at thirty。 The
chemical labourers； picked from the strongest and most splendidly…built
men to be found； live； on an average； less than forty…eight years。
Says Dr。 Arlidge； of the potter's trade： 〃Potter's dust does not kill
suddenly； but settles； year after year； a little more firmly into the lungs；
until at length a case of plaster is formed。 Breathing becomes more and
more difficult and depressed； and finally ceases。〃
Steel dust； stone dust； clay dust； alkali dust； fluff dust； fibre dustall
these things kill； and they are more deadly than machine… guns and pom…
poms。 Worst of all is the lead dust in the white…lead trades。 Here is a
description of the typical dissolution of a young； healthy； well…developed
girl who goes to work in a white…lead factory：…
Here； after a varying degree of exposure； she becomes anaemic。 It
may be that her gums show a very faint blue line； or perchance her teeth
140
… Page 141…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
and gums are perfectly sound； and no blue line is discernible。 Coincidently
with the anaemia she has been getting thinner； but so gradually as scarcely
to impress itself upon her or her friends。 Sickness； however； ensues； and
headaches； growing in intensity； are developed。 These are frequently
attended by obscuration of vision or temporary blindness。 Such a girl
passes into what appears to her friends and medical adviser as ordinary
hysteria。 This gradually deepens without warning； until she is suddenly
seized with a convulsion； beginning in one half of the face； then involving
the arm； next the leg of the same side of the body； until the convulsion；
violent and purely epileptic form in character； becomes universal。 This is
attended by loss of consciousness； out of which she passes into a series of
convulsions； gradually increasing in severity； in one of which she diesor
consciousness； partial or perfect； is regained； either； it may be； for a few
minutes； a few hours； or days； during which violent headache is
complained of； or she is delirious and excited； as in acute mania； or dull
and sullen as in melancholia； and requires to be roused； when she is found
wandering； and her speech is somewhat imperfect。 Without further
warning； save that the pulse； which has become soft； with nearly the
normal number of beats； all at once becomes low and hard； she is suddenly
seized with another convulsion； in which she dies； or passes into a state of
coma from which she never rallies。 In another case the convulsions will
gradually subside； the headache disappears and the patient recovers； only
to find that she has completely lost her eyesight； a loss that may be
temporary or permanent。
And here are a few specific cases of white…lead poisoning：…
Charlotte Rafferty； a fine； well…grown young woman with a splendid
constitutionwho had never had a day's illness in her lifebecame a
white…lead worker。 Convulsions seized her at the foot of the ladder in the
works。 Dr。 Oliver examined her； found the blue line along her gums；
which shows that the system is under the influence of the lead。 He knew
that the convulsions would shortly return。 They did so； and she died。
Mary Ann Tolera girl of seventeen； who had never had a fit in her
lifethree times became ill； and had to leave off work in the factory。
Before she was nineteen she showed sympto
