National Republican., 1878-11-14
SANITARY.

'S'' '@hiShh u "iuNiy
known to scientists and philanthropists, at
home and abroad, and whose opinions on
hygiene and its varied practical bearings
are regarded Us well nigh authoritative.
The writer's history in connection with the
sanitary operations Of the late war; his ac-
knowledged industry and precision as a
statistician, and present prominent position
rs President Of the American Health Asso-
citation, entitle his views to the utmost
credit and consideration. The paper opens
with the gratifying assertion that the public
care of health "is no longer exclusively the
concern Of medical men aud sanitary Of
1cers," but the masses, prompted by mo-
tives Of personal safety, are anxiously in
quring into the best modes of preserving
bodily vigor and resisting successfully the
approaches Of disease. This result has been
of comparatively recent origin. The peo-
pie are becoming educated ton more just
appreciation Of their obligations in this re-
gard the popular opposition encountered
few years ago has been merged into an ac-
acknowledgement Of the claims OF public n.y.
EiNhSt anu dh hNNifS NV-VptittiOh III tHc
means employed for the accomplishment of
its invaluable ends
The health of largo cities is referred to rs
superior to that of hamlets and rural dis
tricts, in consequence Of more efficient ac-
ton in sanitary police and the larger facili-
ties and safeguards constructed and operated
by municipal, city, and town organizations.
In this connection the city Of London is
cited, the average health of whose immense
population is higher than that OF the marshy
districts of Bedfordshire or even Yorkshire
And our own principal cities are also quoted
rs presenting lower death rate than the
rural and suburban sections.
In addition to ordinary insanitary condi-
tions Astounding in large cities special NUS
ances exist of an aggravated character which
fatally dcteriorate the public health. The
eSsayist alludes to some of these, as, for ex-
ample, the tenement houses of New York
breeding pestilence in the vicinity OF the
most salubrious portions OF the city. Sim
ilaT additions are described in Boston, near
its most elevated and healthful sections
tHt SO-Ghlltu hitoht NioliiNt, vi
delphia Fell's Point and the aromatic basin
which graces the commercial centre of the
"City of Monuments" The learned dis
quisitor might properly have included in
this catalogue of grave nuisances the gravest
of all, the delectable condition of our own
river front, which the late efficient Board OF
Health yea after year urged upon the con-
sideration of our national legislators.
The measure of success that has attended
the efforts of modern sanitarisns is illus
trated by the vast change which has oc-
Cured in the health of London. Last year,
with an average population of 3, ,533, ,4si, the
death rate was only 2l.0 in the 1000.
Justly" says DIR. HARRIS, may the Eng
lish santarians point to the organized
skill aud efficiency of the medical officers
Of health and the sanitary engineers of that
vast city, and say that If this is true of
London, which has a mean altitude less
than forty feet above high.tide mark, and
" a part Of which is upon diked grounds,
- eleven feet lower than tide level then can
the entire country be made healthful.
This certainly is the conclusion of sani-
tnry science; and ii it is not incorrect, the
cities of Memphis, aud Vicksburg, aud
. Charleston, and Savannah, as well as New
York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, will be
made more healthlul than the present av-
erage OF the rural districts
True physiological knowledge, an &C.
quaintance with the laws OF life, and the
phenomena and facts of the natural wort
are insisted upon as essential to the success
of public measures for the conservation oi
the public health. In this connection oui
author quotes from high authority in phys
ioligy and hygiene:
If we had a perfect knowledge Of the law:
Of life, and could practically apply this knowl
edge In perfect system Of hygienic rules
disease would be impossible; but at presen
disease exists In thousand forms, and til,
+ human race languishes, and at times almOs
perishes, under the grievous yoke.
An accurate identification of the diseases i
the first necessary step In the investigation 0
causes; the causes being investi
gated, the art Of hygiene then comes In Il
form rules which may prevent the causes o.
render the frame fitted to bear them.
In accordance with this view Of the tru
field of hygienic inquiry and effort tn
writer demands that boards Of health shoul,
; "require and maintain these essential re
searches into the physiological and phe
"nomenal conditions Of health and Of tn
diseases"
DR.. HARRIS closes his deeply interestin
paper by summing up the sanitary require
ments of public health. We quote his clos
: ing paragraph:
The problems Of the public health now re
T qure that by the municipal authority and al
D available agencies which the people can en-
poy the filth Of towns and cities, and tn
"flth diseases" aud infections also, shall b
!, controlled and their causes prevented by ol
o fetal supervision and interference; that ept
a demic aud pestilential diseases, and all othe
causes Of preventable sickness and mortality
shall be promptly Investigated by expei
Q hygienists under official sanctions that tn
4 causes Of mortality shall be accurately certihe
after faithful vcrifcatiOn, not only in cite
u but In all places and that tho records of deaf
i shall be made under State authority, and b
r supplemented with careful sanitary investigf
a., tions and records OF prevailing Diseases that I'll
: sanitary protection of schoOlsaud public assen
blages, OF tenement populations and all cOngr,
$ gate dwellings, and whatever general hygieni
, measures are required for the common weliar
; Of the people, shall be under the most comp,
u tent official supervision; that sanitary SUI