Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-09-05
HEALTH OF CITIES.


As general rule, when The body is ex-
amined after death. whether of Ia child or
adult, one or more organs are fnund in
state Of disease; facl which induced
physician 10 state tina! he looked upon
every adult he met in the streets of London
as walking museum or morbid anatomy.
Our of 49 ,059 people who died in London
in the year 1916, 22,275 were carried off
before they reached their fifteenth year;
and only 2.24l died of old age, which
Boerhave stated 10 be the only disease
natural 10 man. In addition 10 this it
must he known thai oul Of the number Of
deaths thus mentioned, Ia 1868 we're from
diseases oflhe organs of respiration, and
the great source of these diseases was the
respiration Of impure air. One grand
means TO prevent such diseases Is 10 have
well ventilated houses, aud to keep the air
in motion, for in warm weather the air
always contains large quantity of animal
and vegetable mailer in Inc form Of The
Ova of infusoria and the seeds Of The lower
vegetable organisms. The act of breath
ing, too, is a great cause Of rendering the
air impure. The air in The lungs is ex-
posed to ITO, 100000 of cells, having
surface equal to thirty times that Of the
body; 80 that during respiration the air is
deprived Of oxygen. and becomes loaded
with deadly carbonic acid gas, and is rem
dered totally unfit for second respiration,
being in reality, no longer atmospheric
air but a poisonous gas. A second cause
of the deterioration of the air, is the com-
buslion of lamps. gas lights, candles, &c.
A single candle is nearly as injurious 10
The air as a human being; two fourteen
hole arsand burners consume as much air
as eleven men. third snurce Of atmos
pheric mpurty is the vapor, loaded with
animal matter, given off from the lungs
and The skin; each Of these paris pour out
an ounce of fluid every hour; SO thai, in q
church containing FIVE hundred people,
twelve gallons Of noxious fluid are given
off in two hours. A fourth source Of bad
air in towns is the large quantity Of de.
composing animal matter left to give of its
efIluvia; and the difficulty there is in the
renewal of the air IN towns by means of
the winds, on account Of the vicious mode
Of their construction and their large size.
Certain diseases are traceable to the
J# MaPs 81 sv[ahlu fssh f sf6As aka HUast
fertile origin of numerous diseases, The
common 'cold." In England and Wales
10000 people die annually Of consump-
lion, and the greater amount of. cases, is
among indoor laborers; and in The city Of
New York abou, $500 die Of consumption
per annum, mos. OF these being confined
within doors.
One grand means Of promoting health
would be the construction of better ventila-
ted houses, M living, sleeping, or work.
Ing room, should contain less than 144
superficial feet, nor he less than eight feet
high, aud it should nave one window at
least opening at the top, also au nper fire
place to the chimney.
Every building in which gas is used,
should have plans to carry of The pro-
ducts of combustion, and not allow them
to escape in The room, and also to supply
fresh air.
Diseases that arise from want Of vcn,ila-
lion. are scource To society. Those who
are mcrciful to animals; should not forget
that they need plenty Of fresh air likewise.
This, we are sorry TO say, is but LILLE
thought Of by the majority; horses are
housed most miserably in our cities, and
this is one great cause of a disease called
The heaves, (lho horse consumpion,) The
high rents for both dwelling houses among
the poor, and for stables Of our carmen, are
no doubt the reasons Of putting up with
snail apartments. What The remedy for
this evil is, we are not able lu divine, and
great growing evil it is.-Scienlifc
American.