New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
SANITARY SCIENCE.

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH Asso-
CITATION AT CINCINNATI-ADDRESs by DIR. SIZE
PHEN SMITH OF NEw-YoRK.
| CINCINNATI, May 1.-The American Public Health
Association assembled here this morning DIR. Ste
phen Smith of New-York in the chair. Drs. Elisha
Harris and L. H. Jaynes chosen secretaries In
the absence of the regular secretaries ACOmmttee
on the Order of Business was appointed. The open
| ing address was delivered by DR.. Smith on " The
Limitations and Modifying Conditions of Human
Longevity as the Basis of the Practical Application
of Sanitary knowledge" He spoke in substance as
| follows:
Man is member Of the great family Of vertebrates
He has the mode Of development. growth, and
decay and the same laws govern structural waste and
repair In considering the subject OF longevity, there
FORE observations must not be limited to the human
subject. Every animal is endowed with given amount
OF life-matter which ia, to speak, his "stock IN
trade" This also called protOplasm. bopasm, &c.
The age to which given animal lives unless destroyed
by accident depends upon the amount OF this femat
ter with which it is endowed and the with which
this matter is expended. During that period OF life
marked by the growth Of the animal this hfematter
is capable of renewal to limited extent. The amount
OF vital force with which animal begins life depends
principally upon the completely Of its organism Ami
mails having but few and simple organs have but
little vital endowment. High evolution indicates large
ebrate family, find that ranks first In the scale
for completely OF organism for high evolution and tn Q
conclusion is therefore, that he has naturally long
lease Of life. Vital expenditure In the struggle
for food, in reproduction etc. The longevity OF animals
thereto depends much upon the conditions which, sur
round them. Man. by his immense brain development
capable OF diminishing TO its minimum this expehii
ture OF his vital He gather his food from AZ
with but little labor and render II dgestbe b
cooking he may regulate his appettes and passions
give them heathfu play he may repair tho waste
OF age accident, by artificial teeth or limbs We
must conclude. therefore, that was born 10 long
life The length Of that life potential longevity
is indicated by anatomy and physiology. Growth occu
pies about onefourh the animals hfe and growth in
man is completed at about Is. This would make his
natural lease OF life about 100 years. Most recent
authorities fix the normal longevity of man at 90
or 100 years. Absolute longevity, or the extreme
at about 10 years. or at the fnrthest years Old
host Of moral and physiological pOstcentenarian
monsrosties are regarded as myths by the best stu
dents
for long life and inquire TO what extent he realizes his
Inheritance we are amazed at the result. According TO
the Of 1870 IL appears that nearly one Ot the
persons VINO annually die III this entire country are chill
dren under five years OF age. 1t VIII surprise no one
that per cent Of the deaths are under 70 years OF age
but 5000 reached 1880 1900, $685. 1880 657O
lOO 1880 1000, $3.50; 1900, IS and upward or this
nearly 10000 persons dying only about one IN 400 lived
outhe full of life allotted TO man. II we inquire the
OF this enormous waste OF human me- the answer
meets every hand. The earth and air, the food
germs Of sickness and death Inc diseases which con,
sumo mans vital forces are legion Every organ ana
every tissue Of his body yuneraDe TO their attacks
Indeed contemplation Of the manifold causes OF death
which arrayed against mankind at every step may
well excite surprise that 80 many survive infancy But
modern science teaches that these three
for the part artificial and that most OF the dis
which prove destructive are OF mans own Gre
alton, and preventible. And still further, the
diseases which he cannot prevent are susceptible OF
modification and control 20 that extent that they may
be rendered comparatively harmless The all-mportant
question Is, how IS that knowledge to be applied. .
peope IN these matters The general facts Of phySoo@y
aud pathology. the basis Of preventive medicine, should
effective books should be prepared on those subjects
adapted every grade OF scholarship from the infant
literary colleges II only requires properly prepared
and illustrated textbooks and competent teachers to
make the work OF instruction In these branches prac
teal aud efficient in every department OF our public
and private schools.
medical profession III sanitary science aud the reduction
OF that science to daily practice In practice the
until the has begun operate before he begins
apply his knowledge. One fact in nearly every case OF
and that is that at period the disease might have
been prevented; and he recognizes how infinitely
advice should be constantly sought in methods Of pre-
venton as well as in methods OF cure To render this
porate sanitary science in their of study
The third requisite is that professions OF archtec
ture, engineering and allied departments OF business
should De educated IN sanitary science. How rarely il
building constructed with reference TO the health and
probably made 10 conform TO some ancient STYLE whether
the building is Tor a residence, church, hospital or
bank. 1t must be Grecian, Roman, Gothic or Renas-
sauce, nothing at all. We can never have healthy
homes pubic building until new race Of architects
and engineers Is educated in the principles OF modern
sanitary architecture and all forms aud made
70 conform to those principles.
The fourth requisite Is that the state should enforce
those needl regulations winch require private interest
to yield to the demand OF the public welfare ana hence
tue necessity OF municipal aud State OrganiZl
lions constituted to exercise supreme Jurisdiction In
sanitary administration These bodies should not only
In Of ns nj
but should also constitute advance OF explorers
IN new fields. And nnally, the General GOyerument
should cooperate with State governments Ia tue wOrA VI
collecting and dlhlsiDg Information.
OF Sanitary reform IN this country exceedingly
favorable. An agitation has evidently begun IL
daily taking on larger aud yet larger dimensiOns State
and Municipal Boards Of Health are RAPIDLY
In all parts Of the country ana even Congress taken
into consideration the question OF organizing bureau
OF Public Health not unlike those OF Education aud Az
rcuture. The medical profession Is beginning TO
fest deep Interest Ia sanitary science, department
uesty discussing Inc various questions relating ~ It's
ur1ctical application. Tie American Medical AssOCia
lion the National Congress OF the profession. cOntem
Mates forming an Important auxiliary body devoted 70
The investigation OIL questions retailing 10 the puUlc
health.
ia abnut 10 axe It's place Composed as ii Largely Is OF
men engaged sanitary WORK. ought To aid powerfully
I'M dyanCng this reform IN harm0hlzng measures aud
nrthOds of securing tho cooperation o health authOr
it, the country O systcmaZlng leglsdllOn
ana of rendering Boards OF Health more permanent ana
more seeutnc. The field which IL Occuprs Is different
from that any other oTgahildtIOh iJa success WIZ
depend upon the degree OF Interest whch lis members
Itye In The objects which 10 aims 10 dccOmp rl, va ;
inc promotion Ol measures Tor mo prtCLcdl appled
lion OF puDc hygiene