Abstract

What I Believe

A hundred years ago the accepted way of dealing with extreme poverty-- what was called destitution-- was poor law relief. This relief took one of two forms-- maintenance in the general mixed workhouse or a niggardly dole of unconditional outdoor relief. A century of experience has discredited both. As a result of extensive observation and experiment by all sorts of persons, officials and philanthropists, the author recorded in innumerable bluebooks and scientific treatises, there has been, gradually created a whole series of new social institutions vitally affecting human behavior-- a veritable framework of prevention. Instead of threatening the sick person with the workhouse if he applies for relief, the public health authority has come more and more to seek him out, in order to cure him and to prevent any spread of disease.