Sanitary survey of the State.

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

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    MEMORIAL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY. The Memorial of the Massachusetts Medical Society respect¬ fully represents:— That, in their opinion, the matter of public health, and the physical condition of the people, are proper subjects for the watchfulness and care of the Legislature ; and the facts and circumstances that diminish strength and produce sickness, and shorten life, and those which increase human power, prevent illness, and increase longevity, are worthy of the attention and examination of the government. The attention of some of the European governments has been directed to this subject, and sanitary surveys have been made by public authority. By this means, singular and almost in¬ credible differences of life and health have been shown to exist. 7 among the people in various places, and in various conditions of society. Many of the causes of disease and mortality have been revealed, and many of them are proved to be removable. Your memorialists now respectfully request, that the Legis¬ lature of Massachusetts cause a similar sanitary survey to be made of this State. The objects of this inquiry are, first, to ascertain the locali¬ ties of various diseases, where they prevail the most, and where they are the most fatal, and also where life is the longest, and where it is soonest ended. If it should be ascertained, that the local sanitary influ¬ ences are not the same in all places, and that different diseases prevail in different parts of the State, the knowledge of this fact will be of great practical value to the people, and especially to such as are liable to any particular disorder. The human constitution is various in different persons. One man is subject to disorders of the bowels, another of the lungs, and another of the muscles. And these may be affected, fa-
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