Sanitary survey of the State.

  • Massachusetts. General Court. House of Representatives
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sanitary survey of the State. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    western counties, Worcester, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire, 27.9 per cent, of all the deaths were under 5 years, and 25 per cent, over 60 years; and in the six eastern counties bordering on the sea coast, Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Nantucket, and Dukes, the deaths under 5 years were 32 per cent., and over 60 years, 27.3 per cent. These facts, though deduced from imperfect data, indicate a very great difference of life, disease, and mortality in the various parts of our Commonwealth, and in the various classes of our people. It is feared, that there may be other and wider differ¬ ences detected, on complete investigation. Whether it be so or not, it is very important for the government to learn, and for the people to know. And whether, and how far, these differences are owing to removable and preventable causes, deserves the careful attention of the Legislature. Your memorialists, therefore, respectfully request, that your honorable bodies would cause that a sanitary survey be made of the whole State, either by a special commission, as is done in some of the European nations, or by such other officers—men competent for the purpose—as you, in your wisdom, may deem most proper. Your memorialists are aware that the subject of health may not seem to some to belong to the especial province of the Leg¬ islature, and that each one’s interest and love of life may seem sufficient to induce him to avail himself of all the means which nature and science have given him for his self-protection. And it may be said, that the government can do nothing to prevent disease, or lengthen life; it cannot add a cubit to any man’s stature, nor increase his physical power, nor prolong his days on earth; and it is therefore useless to legislate on these matters of vitality and death. But it seems to be the business of government to watch over, encourage, and protect, all the interests of the people. Most governments have cared for many of these things, but not those of the highest importance. They have attended to, and inves¬ tigated, all inferior matters, and legislated for, and fostered, com¬ mon pecuniary interests. We have had, in this and other States, various and important surveys by which the resources and the