caused, or aggravated, or propagated chiefly amongst the labouring classes by impure air produced by the rotting of animal and vegetable substances, by damp and filth, and close and over-crowded dwellings, prevail amongst the population in every part of the kingdom, whether dwelling in separate houses, in rural villages, in small towns, in the larger towns-as they have been found to prevail in the lowest districts of the metropolis. That such disease, wherever its attacks are frequent, is always found in connexion with the circumstances above specified, and that where those circumstances are removed by drainage, proper cleansing, better ventilation, and other means of diminishing the impurity of the air, the frequency and intensity of such disease is abated; and where the removal of the causes of mischief appears to be complete, such disease almost entirely disappears. That high prosperity, in respect of employment and wages, and various and abundant food, have afforded to the labouring classes no exemptions from attacks of epidemic disease, which have been as frequent and as fatal in periods of commercial and manufacturing prosperity as in any others. That the formation of all habits of cleanliness is obstructed by defective supplies of water. That the annual loss of life from filth and bad ventilation is greater than the loss from death or wounds in any wars in which the country has been engaged in modern times. That of the 43,000 cases of widowhood, and 112,000 cases of destitute orphanage relieved from the poor's rates in England and Wales alone, it appears that the greatest proportion of deaths of the heads of families occurred from the above specified and other removable causes; that their ages were under forty-five years, that is to say, fifteen years below the natural probabilities of life, as shown by the experience of the whole population of Sweden. That the public loss from the premature deaths of the heads of families is greater than can be represented by any enumeration of the pecuniary burdens consequent upon their sickness and death. That this loss cannot be less than eight or ten years. That the ravages of epidemics and other diseases do not diminish, but tend to increase the pressure of population. That in the districts where the

mortality is the greatest the births are not only sufficient to replace the numbers removed by death, but to add to the population. That the younger population, bred up under these circumstances, is inferior in strength and general health to a population preserved from the presence of such agencies. That the population so exposed is less susceptible of moral influences, and the effects of education are more transient than with a healthy population. That these adverse circumstances tend to produce an adult population short-lived, improvident, reckless, and intemperate, and with habitual avidity for sensual gratifications. That these habits lead to the abandonment of all the conveniencies and decencies of life, and especially lead to the overcrowding of their homes, which is destructive to the morality, as well as the health of large classes of both sexes. That defective town-cleansing fosters habits of the most abject degradation, and tends to the demoralization of large numbers of human beings, who subsist by means of what they find amidst the noxious filth accumulated in neglected streets and by-places. That the existing laws for the protection of the public health, such as the courts leet, have fallen into disuse, and hence arises the prevalence of the evils they were intended to prevent. Secondly: As to the means by which the health of the labouring classes may be improved :-The primary and most important measures, and at the same time the most practicable, and within the recognised province of public administration, are drainage, the removal of all refuse of habitations, streets, and roads, and the improvement of the supplies of water. That the chief obstacles to the immediate removal of refuse of towns and habitations have been the expense and annoyance of the hand labour and cartage requisite for the purpose. That this expense may be reduced to one-twentieth or to one-thirtieth, or rendered inconsiderable, by the use of water and selfacting means of removal by improved and cheaper sewers and drains. That refuse may thus be most cheaply and safely conveyed to any distance out of towns, and also in the best forms for productive use, and that the loss and injury by the pollution of natural streams may be avoided.

That for all these purposes, as well as for domestic use, better supplies of water are absolutely necessary. That appropriate scientific arrangements for public drainage would afford important facilities for private land drainage, which is important for the health as well as sustenance of the labouring classes. That the expense of public drainage, of supplies of water laid on in houses, and of means of improved cleansing, would be a pecuniary gain, by diminishing the existing charges attendant on sickness and premature mortality. That for the prevention of the disease occasioned by defective ventilation, and other causes of impurity in places of work and other places where large numbers are assembled, and for the general promotion of the means necessary to prevent disease, it would be good economy to appoint a district medical officer, to commence improvements, and reclaim the execution of the law. That by the combinations of all these arrangements, it is probable that the full insurable period of life indicated by the Swedish tables, that is, an increase of fifteen years at least, may be extended to the whole of the labouring classes. That the attainment of these and the other advantages of reducing existing charges and expenditure are within the power of the legislature, and are dependent mainly on the securities taken for the application of practical science, skill, and economy in the direction of local public works. And that the removal of noxious circumstances, and the promotion of civic, household, and personal cleanliness, are necessary to the improvement of the moral condition of the population; for that sound morality and refinement in manners and health are not long found together with filthy habits amongst any class of the community.

IMPORTANT FACTS AND ADVICE ABOUT HEALTH.

WE insert the above report, sent to the government by gentlemen who were ordered to make diligent inquiry throughout the country on this important subject, and with a view to make whatever improvements might be found likely to be beneficial to the health of the people.

Their observations are very good, and well deserve the serious attention of all. They have had the best opportunities of seeing the whole country, and of coming to just conclusions, before they wrote their opinions and gave their advice. We think it worth while to repeat here a few of the chief points in the above Report, with a view to making it still more plain and obvious, and showing our readers how much depends upon our judgment and care in preserving the blessing of health to ourselves and our families. Almost every one has now long known, that health is in some degree in our power: for although God Almighty often pleases to send fevers and other diseases upon us, which we can neither foresee nor guard against, yet it is certain that very many complaints are caused by our own imprudence and neglect, or result from foul air, damp situations, and other causes, some of which are within our control. This ought naturally to make us anxious to remove such causes when we can, and we are right in thinking that it is the will of God that we should endeavour to prevent diseases, as well as to cure them by means of medicine. God has granted us the gift of reason, and we are bound to use it to the utmost for our own good, and for his glory in the preservation of others. But when we look abroad, not only in our towns, but in our villages too, we are grieved to see how often all the rules of good sense and experience are broken, and how people are ever exposing themselves to evils which they might easily prevent. We see a neglect of all cleanliness in their persons, clothes, and houses, not among religious people indeed, because they make it a duty to be cleanly; but among those who have no sense of duty, and who, if they knew what they suffer by their neglect, would change their habits for the sake of mere safety and comfort. There is too much neglect both in the public and in individual families, in all the points noticed in the Report. The public ought to do those things which the public only can do; and individuals ought to do what they can do. Every family ought to see that their own house, yard, and garden, are in a proper state; and the public, i. e. the parish or town

authorities, ought to see to the proper draining and cleansing of the districts under their care.

The Report informs us of the following remarkable and startling facts. That wherever they found damp and filth, or close and crowded houses, or quantities of decayed matter of any kind, they found that the usual fatal diseases were commonly prevalent, whether it was in villages or in towns. That those diseases are as common and as fatal in times of great plenty and of high wages, as at any other time; so that they are not so much occasioned by poverty as other causes. The next fact is particularly dreadful; they report that the loss of life every year, from filth and impure air, is greater than the worst wars have ever occasioned. This may seem to some of us very hard to believe. There is, however, no doubt of its truth, and no doubt that all might have done more than they have for the prevention of these things, which have caused so much death and suffering. The recommendation and advice of the commissioners are therefore of great value, and ought to meet with attention. They say that the first and most necessary measures to be adopted are exceedingly easy: a better drainage, the removal of all refuse, and a plentiful supply of water. But even these things will be insufficient, if there be not care and diligence on the part of every family to make use of them when provided. There may be good drains and sewers, but if the inhabitants of the houses will not give a little attention, they will soon become clogged and useless. And if every family will not be careful to remove their own refuse, no public measure can keep the streets and houses free from filth. Let there be ever so great an abundance of water, there must also be diligence in using it, and habits of cleanliness, or all will be in vain. The dirtiest families may often be seen in houses situated on the banks of rivers, or in the neighbourhood of plentiful springs. But let the people be instructed in the value and importance of these rules of health, and they may be sure of their reward in following them, a reward far greater than any labour it can cost, or even any expense it may occasion.

E.