The additional number to the Letters of Humanitas : together with John Hillen's, William Jenkin's & Doctor M'Kenzie's letters - and other documents, relative to Polly Elliott's case : to which is added, Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth's letter - and a reply to the same / by James Smith, physician.

  • Smith, James, 1771-1841.
Date:
February 9, 1801
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The additional number to the Letters of Humanitas : together with John Hillen's, William Jenkin's & Doctor M'Kenzie's letters - and other documents, relative to Polly Elliott's case : to which is added, Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth's letter - and a reply to the same / by James Smith, physician. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    a like painful experience with myfelf. This committee will, I hope, perceive how defective our health laws have been, and recommend a revifion of them to the city coun- cil. A fair trial on their part, as well as ours, can do no harm. The truth cannot be injured by foliciting her more intimate acquaintance; nor can the true interefts of the city be injured by every provifion for fuch calamities as may again happen. Perhaps, indeed, the ultimatum of human wifdom may be unable to preferve us in perfect fafety, but I am well convinced we have much more in our power than is generally fuppofed. Humanity calls loudly upon our united exertions ; let us, then, intreat our councils again to difcufs this fubject. Let them en- quire and be informed of what has been, for the better re- gulation of that which JJjouId be do?ie, and let us fhew them what has not been, that they may better provide for that which mujl be done* For fome time par! intervening engagements have pre- vented the obfervations intended to be dropt from my pen, and many may fuppofe that the weight of authority (I al- lude to Jofeph Townfend's fupporter?, fome of whom are in office) has obliged me to fhrink from the taik I had undertaken ; but I would inform my fellow citizens that I have not been ne^lioent, in collecting fuch informa- tion as I hope will benefit them on a future day. That . my friends, and others, who have felt themfelves interell- ed on this occafion, may no longer fuppofe that I had dealtin fiction,when defcribing the fufierings of the diflreiT- ed, I have ftated to them, as above, one of the many hu- ■ maaea&s which have characlerifed our late board of health, find which fhallbe laid before the public in due time, when it is my intention, that the letters of Humanhas mall be republifhed in a pamphlet, with fome further obferva:ions on the fubjec~t, and wi h every necefiary proof of all tm aflertions. J. SMITH. Baltimore, 15th Jan. 1801. t