Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-23

Ancient Jewish Health Lawn Antlcls
pated Much That IL Best In Modern
Medical Science.

pated Much That IL Best In Modern
Medical Science.
The proceedings Of the Royal InstL
>tute Of Public Health were continued
at Blackpool.
In the Municipal and Parliamentary
Section a paper prepared by Mr.. Ad-
Ter, Chief Rabbi, London, was read by
Mr.. T. Cam Hughes, town clerk Of
Lancaster, and one of the secretaries
to the congress, DR.. Adler said the
question had been asked, Was it re-
corded anywhere in the Pentateuch
that its precepts were intended to ex.
ercise sanitary influence? He quot
ed several passages to show that the
answer was in the affirmative, and
said reference was made not merely
To the plaques with which the Egyp.
tians had been visited but to certain
diseases that prevailed among the
Egyptians, and to those peculiar and
fearful epidemics which occasionally
ragged in that country. DR.. Benjamin
Richardson q few years ago in ad-
dressing some Jewish workingmen
viewed all the Commandments of the
Decalogue as hygienic provisions, all
having reference to the rule and gov.
ernance of the passions, without
which governance life was embittered,
degraded, and shortened. As to the
Sabbath, science had demonstrated
that if the body and mind of man
were to retain their health and vigor
to old age they must not be permitted
to toll for more than six days in the
week, the famous physician had de.
clared that he never knew a man to
work seven days in the week who did
not kill himself or his mind. Moses
insisted on personal cleanliness, and
entire chapters in the Book of Levitt
Gus and Numbers were devoted to tho
subject Of the cleansing of the person
and of clothing.
As to infectious diseases. the note.
worthy fact pressed itself upon them
that the laws of the pentateuch did
not follow the ancient therapeutical
or curative system, but substituted
for it the method, now regarded an
truly wise and philosophic, Of preven.
ton. The only infectious disease
known in those days seemed to have
been that of leprosy though the sub.
ject was still shrouded in much oh.
scurity. The precautions ordered for
that dread malady comprised com.
plete isolation of the sick from hin
family, friends, and the general com.
munity till the disease had disap-
peared, thorough publication of the
patient when recovering and re-enter.
Ing the camp, a second period of quar-.
antine, and a destruction of his
clothes and other effects. II was now
recognized by some of the highest
medical authorities in the land that.
II this plan were followed ont in the
present day, the special diseases of
our times, small box. scarlet fever
and especially typhus, the sad outcome
of filth and overcrowding. would
speedily disappear, or at least become
ultimately so rare that thew would be
relegated to the happy limbo of all
curious maladies. In some eases the
sanitary officer under Moses had To
demolish the house and cast It's frar.
ments out of the city--a weiphtv ad.
monition as to the way to deal with
the rotten tenements that still dis
grace so many towns in this country.
Then the land laws of the Bible. which
were calculated to keep the Israelites
as agriculturists, must at the same
time have been intended TO perpetuate
q sturdy and robust race. AS to the
dietary laws, beyond DISPUTE thew
were intended TO serve n hiob moral
Al,