Official report on the medical topography and climate of Calcutta : with brief notices of its prevalent diseases, endemic and epidemic / by James Ranald Martin.

Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Official report on the medical topography and climate of Calcutta : with brief notices of its prevalent diseases, endemic and epidemic / by James Ranald Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    “ I have travelled,” says Fodere, “ I have lived in different countries ; I have reflected on the condition of man in different circumstances of life ; I have seen that it is in the power of Governments to do him infinitely more good than all the books of medicine put together.” That the Marquess of Wellesley, had he been allowed to govern this empire a little longer, would have carried into effect most, if not all, the improvements above noted, there can be no doubt; and I cannot better conclude this part of the subject than by the following noble declaration from that highest of all authorities on Indian policy, whether general or local, in confirmation of the opinion I have always held, that Government is mainly liable for such matters. “ It is a primary duty of the Government to provide for the health? safety and convenience of the inhabitants of this great town, by establish- ing a comprehensive system for the improvement of the roads, streets, public drains, and water courses, and by fixing permanent rules for the construction and distribution of the houses and public edifices, and for the regulation of nuisances of every description. The appearance and beauty of the town are inseparably connected with the health, safety, and conveniency of the inhabitants, and every improvement which shall introduce a greater degree of order, symmetry, and magnificence in the streets, roads, ghauts, and wharfs, public edifices and private habitations, will tend to ameliorate the climate, and to secure and promote every object of a just and salutary system of police.”—Lord Wellesley s Minutes. E