Volume 1

Health lectures for the people.

Date:
1883-1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health lectures for the people. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    767/896 (page 79)
    and very speedily the annual mortality in our Army at home came down from an average of 17^ in the 1000 to 8 J in the 1000, being about the half of the previous death rate when sanitary measures were not properly attended to. The various branches of the Service participated in this favourable result, as may be observed from the following table :— Decrease in Death-rate in Army. Infantry Regiments, from 17*9 to 7*6 in 1000 Foot Guards, „ 20-4 to 9-1 Royal Artillery, „ 13-9 to 8*0 „ Dragoon Regiments, ,, 13*6 to 8*0 ,, The subject of sanitary reform commends itself not only col- lectively to professional and municipal authorities, but individu- ally to all of us, from the direct bearing it has on the strength and vigour, the health and life of ourselves and those dependent upon us. No doubt the physician and surgeon is now called upon to avert disease and ailment, as well as to cure it. The establishment of medical officers of health in our larger towns, and the diplomas in health granted by our Universities and Royal Colleges, sufficiently prove the importance attached by authorities to preventive medicine. Likewise our Municipal authorities are now called upon, and in some instances readily and cheerfully respond, to be the regulators of the air of towns, by the removal of all filth which can generate noxious gases to pollute the air, by more efficient water supply, by more thorough drainage and sewerage, and the ventilation of such, and by the stoppage of noxious trades, and otherwise. We must not forget, however, and when we remember, we must not neglect to act upon the knowledge that in other aspects, sanitary reform is of a private or at most of a semi-public character, and must begin at home, in the ventilation of our rooms and houses, and the efficient cleansing of such; in cleanliness of person and clothing ; in proper food, both solid and liquid, and in thoughtful interest and supervision of all home sanitary affairs, and such not only for ourselves, but also for those who are dependent upon us and who are to follow us. In Health Statistics, I should almost say in Death Statistics,