Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-30
THE SANITARIAN.

Wehave received the April and May num-
bers of a new monthly, published simulta-
neously in New York and Chicago, called
The Sdnitdridn, which is devoted to the
art and science Of preventing disease, and
commanding all the benefits of sound health
and longevity. 1t would be difficult to over
estimate the importance or scope 6 interests
involved in the discussions Of this work.
The laws of health apply to all alike; for all
that live must die, and may live in severe
pain, or with no pain at all. In some cities
and sickly rural districts, half of all the
children born die before they are five years
old, and many that survive might as well be
dead and out of their misery, Ignorance
and vice are unfriendly to health and Ion
gevity. New Orleans has a population of
about 100000, one-fourth of whom are
blacks. Their constitutions inherited from
blood in a tropical climate; are better adsp
ted to resist malarisl influences, and other
morbific atoms, than the constitutions of
the Caucasian race; yet in place of death
rate less than that Of whites, six more
blacks in 1000 die in year than of whites.
Colored babes and children under five, with
colored mothers, fare worse than the aver
age of their race. Estimating children IN
der two years, and black and white alike in
natural health, where the blacks should
lose PCS TO be equal to the. white rate of
mortality, the actual loss is sos. From
the vital statistics before us it would not
be difficult to calculate the time when the
50,456 colOred persons enumerated in the
census of 1870, will not have one repre-
sentative of th"ir race in New Orleans,
unless by immigration. Ii this race can
not live in Louisiana, where Oil this CONT
nent can they do better? Longevity is the
aim of nature, as is proved by cur common
love Of life, and thousand other obvious
facts. But maternal neglect Of offspring,
and real or Embellishments, are elements
in the great battle Of life not the less pow.
erful because generally ignored by philan-
thropists and statesmen. Nature is forever
at war with vice, and for reasons best
known 10 herself, kills of the
Idle and tho vicious. Seneca
was greatly distinguished among the
Romans for his profound insight into morals
aud human nature. He said: "NOn accept
mus 0iten breUen, Sed Jdcimus." ave do
not accept short life, but make it," There
is a volume Of truth in the distinction be-
tween accepting "short life" from bounti-
full Nature, and y aking life naturally
long and happy, both short and full of pain
and trouble. IT society makes nine-tenths
Of the diseases and affections suffered by
mankind, and shoTtens the average OF
human life more than half, then
there is something TO learn in 'The
.SGnitGridn" which is worth knowing. 1t is
published by A. S. Barnes & Co., New
York, at three dollars year. To the me-
deal profession, aud all interested in the
sanitary regulations Of cities, the proper
ventilation of schoolrcOms, churches, and
o.her buildings, this periodical will be of
practical utility. We shall take another &C.
casion to show that the large and gratuitous
manufacture of sick people, whether in in
fancy or old age, or any where between, is
very far from being profitable industry.
DIR. Franklin said, "Public health is public
wealth"