New-York tribune., 1874-10-24

bnt an uncompromisinr war with uncleaniness OF
ALI kinds But to neglect of personal cleanliness
epidemics might well be due For thousand years
after the civilization of the Egyptians heJewst the
Greeks. and the Romans faded, there was not man
or woman in Europe that ever took a BATH hehce
arose the wOndrous epidemics of the Middle ages
which cut off one-fourth of the population OF Lu-
rope-the spotted plague. the black DEATH the sweat
ing sickness and the terrible mental epidemcs
which followed in their train-the dancing MANIA
the mewing mania, and the biting mania Inc
monks made no little mischief. initiating the foui
habits of the hermits and saints of early Christian
times and the association Of filth with religion led
men to cease TO connect disease with uncIeanIness'
and TO resort TO shrines and winking virgins Ior
cures of maladies produced by their own physical
and moral Impurities.
Even now. continued Dr. Playfair we don't un-
derstand thoroughly the processes of purllcatlon'
whether natural or artificial. but we know how the
atmosphere contains in itself the power of freeing
itself from corrupt matter: by motion and by the
attacks of oxygen upon all such matter burning up
the products of decay and turning organic into IN
organic matter But we only half learn the lessons
nature teaches u.s. We don't allow garbage to De
thoroughly oxidized but dig holes and store u up
where the air cannot penetrate and where the great
est facilities are offered for injurious putrelacuon
Or we poison rivers with it, pouring IN far more mat
ter than can be reached by natural agents. The
ONLY safe rule is to allow none at all TO be poured In
After full consideration, DR.. Playfair declared he
was in favor of prohibiting both manufacturers ana
Municipalities from using rivers for drainage Next
he urged thorough ventilation and the prohibition
of oyercrowding-one of the most prolific sources OF
disease and crime. He challenged Mr. Dsraeh 10
make good his promises of sanitary legislation OF
rather of sanitary administration for what is wanted
is thorough execution of existing laws by suitable
functionaries and under scientific supervision. II
rightly understood Dr. Playfair, he would abolish
the existing Local Government Board, transfer It's
powers TO the Home Office and divide the latter
into two departments under one responsible head
one department for Justice and police, the other
dealing with the physical interests OF the people
Then he would not be satisfied with reducing deaths
Science ought to diminish disease of all kinds ana
he computed that there are yearly not less than
900 900 cases of preventable illness in Great Britain
II was the system of registering deaths which drew
attention to their number and led to efforts to bring
down the rate of mortality. He would for the same
reason have every case of sickness registered and
LET science deal with them also, and city compete
with city for the smallest percentage OF sickness
Not till that done could public health be admin
istered with full intelligence.
/ have gwen the dryest part OF Dr fldNIdlI eA-
ceedingly interesting address-the mere skeleton OF
it. AS delivered, it abounded in illustrations OF
every character IN quotations OF the most unex-
pected kind, in humorous comment on all sorts OF
serious matters-and was heartily applauded. 1t was
in fact as amusing as it practical and valuable
All Dr. Playfairs scientific knowledge, which Is both
voluminous and exact. does MOTTO Use Mr.. Emer-
sons phrase-Overload his wit. And l suppose l
need not remark that the lessons he reads TO Glas
gov have an application even in New-York
a. u c