The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-05


the reference, on the ground that there would
net be time enough for the several districts
to hold conventions. 81.
..------.---------.------
Health of Cities.
In an address delivered by Professor
FRANK DONALDSON before the American. Pub.
lie Health Association, met not long since In.
Baltimore, there Is q great deal OF sound doc.
doctrine rational, practical, and east
~ understood. We copy the following.
analysis Of some Of its truthful views and
principles: p
GA tenth of the people Of the cities die Of
consumption. For its prevention, HYGIENE
treatment is the most successful. By drain.
age the mortality Is greatly reduced. An
elastic, dry atmosphere is best. Few OF the
large cities have o mild andtequable climate
favorable to the respiratory organs, the want
of which develops pulmonary complaints.
OF the rich, sixty in thousand are afh 'cted
with the disease, and two hundred ana
twenty three to the thousand of the poor.
Among the children Of the aged and diseased,
itis IN ore frequently found. When dark,
health, consumption is produced.
s'The quantity of oxygen is always oimin-
isbed in Cities even In the streets. Persons
.predisposed to consumption ought not to be
allowed to live in cities. The absence OF
sunlight is a fruitful cause Of the prevalence
of the disease. 1t is not permitted 10 our
houses, and when it does pretend to intrude
our housewives exclude it with heavy cur
fains. The streets are so narrow ana tne
houses so bigh that sunlight seldom reaches
the sitting-rcoms. The school houses are SO
situated that children can never see the sun
s.The sun Is the source OF all light, lire,
and beauty, and is as necessary TO give Color,
and health, and life to animals as to plants.
II correcls musty smells, so prolific OF disease.
There is 90 surer way OF promoting con-
sumption than By the exclusion OF sunlight.
Sedeptary life and inactivity, impure air and
the absence of sunlight in cities, produce a
fearful mortality from consumption. NO
exciting cause is so general as indoor occu.
pations.
"Exce:sive dryness, especially in the
houses of the rich, is bad for health. Many
other Influences of city life contribute to its
prevalence. Proper food is next in impor.
farce to pure air in preventing develop
ment of the disease. To the neglect OF sup
plying to all an abundance of milk and but.
ter is largely attributable the increase and
prevalence OF the disease. The poor espe-
cially get but little hydro. carbonaceous food,
add with the rich it is not the favorite it
ought to De. Close confinement to business,
overwork, and whatever contributes to i'm
pair the vlgor Of the body, tends to develop
consumption. The hygienic treatment OF all
diseases is the great medical fact of the
times" @
We do not see single assertion in this ex.
tract that can be made subject of disputs-
ton. Every statement seems to be true, and
all The deductions are logical. The proper.
lion of deaths ia cities from consumption is
large, and no wonder, when we think OF
how the amount of oxygen per capita is di-
min;shed as the numbers of the population
are increased. Therefore one of the greatest
blessings that have been vouchsafed to So
ciety is The increased facility for going into
the suhurbs which has been secured by the
railway. That has relieved, 30 to speak,
the lungs Of the city BIZ diminishing
the crowds and scattering the masses
over wide surfaces. The quality OF
this relief is double. 1t relieves those who
remsu in the city and gives paradise to
those who are so happy as to get out to the
eountry-there to breathe the fresh air;
there to raise and educate children; there to
leave them inhaling health and buoyant joy
unmperilled by the dangers of crowded
streets and entangIed masses Of men, We
hic!es, and ponderous freights. we cannot
too highly appreciate this great blessing nor
be too profoundly grateful to that superin-
tending Providence which led man in the
way to so benefcent discovery.
This is relief as itWere by running away
but we cannot run away from the abomina.
lions which fashion fastens upon US by ruling
out suu.li ght, by unhealthy modes of heat.
Ing, by modes Of comfort more promotive of
ease than health, and by systems of drainage
that are calculated to ill the homes of people
with poisonous gases and mephitic yapors,
which are constantly impairlng the health
and diminishing the real happiness of man.
Every learned and scientific man who calls,
attention to these important matters is doing
his felloW-msn great service. Detective
drainage mistaken household practices that!
are cutting off people nntimely and increas.i
ing the mortality of cities-would be'avoldedl
If the people were fully impressed with the
injury they, suffer from such causes. ,,6 :, /
In household economy it il for every
housekeeper to govern his own little king
dom, and he does not fully discharge his
duty in protecting the lives and promoting
the health OF bis su bjects-his lamily-ifhe
neglects to observe closely all parts of his
premises, and to take care that nothing that
may possibly impair health or comfort is left
to do 40. There must be cleanliness, and
sunlight, and. fresh air, and neither too
much dampness nor excessive dryness. No
suspicious, unpleasant vapors should be
allowed to settle in corners or steal
through passages to poison the atmosphere
and epgender disease. In these matters
every housekeeper should be physician.
Improper heating that may burn the air or
difuse deleterious, gases through the rooms
should not be allowed. The parent who
permits things that must inevitably impair
human health becomes the unwilling MUIR
derer Of his own family.
while these solemn responsibilities rest
upon the hohsekeeper, TO the administrators
Of public affairs belong obligations OF 4 public
nature that are even more serious. The head
d, the family must protect his own little do-