A comparative history of the increase and decrease of mankind in England, and several countries abroad ... To which is added, a syllabus of the general states of health, air, seasons, and food for the last three hundred years; and also a meteorological discourse / By Thomas Short, M.D.

  • Short, Thomas, 1690?-1772.
Date:
1767
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A comparative history of the increase and decrease of mankind in England, and several countries abroad ... To which is added, a syllabus of the general states of health, air, seasons, and food for the last three hundred years; and also a meteorological discourse / By Thomas Short, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    V [ 57 3 . to II; 26 to 31 ; 27 to 34; 17 to 19; 22 to 31 ; 28 to 41, &c. only, what 1 often s our Wade a little, there may be a Body of Diftenters, whofe Baptifms we have not. It is evident from the preceding Tables, that Habitations fituated on a mean Elevation, on hard Free-Stone Rocks or Mountains, lying near quick-purling Streams, the Ground about it dry, no Woods or Forefts very near, no ftagnant Waters, Fens, or Morafles, a free, open Ventila¬ tion, efpecially in hot Countries, not thruft up between deep lofty Moun¬ tains, nor thruft down too low among conftant ouzing Springs, without proper Defcents to carry off the draining Water from the Hills, the Increafe of fuch Places is as 20 Births to 11 Burials; 40 to 23 or 24; 34 to 19. The next Situation, on dry, pebbly, gravelly Soil, meanly fituated both as to great Drought and Floods, having Woods in View, but not too near; remote from Lakes, or ftagnant Waters or Marfhes, but having brifk- running Brooks, or fmall Rivers; not far from navigable Rivers in the Center of a Country, the Increafe, in fuch Situations, at a Medium, is a Third, or above. A thick Clay, on an elevated Ground where no Water ftands, is no bad Situation; or Sand and Clay or good Loam, or very hard Lime-Stone under a fruitful Turf, are pretty good Situations; but dry, pouring Sand, Chalk, foft Lime-Stone, &c, are not the healthieft Situations. Fenny, marfhy, low, wet, and long-flooded Situations; fpungy, ouzing, foft, fpringy Ground, always wet, near to uninclofed, dry, great Woods or Forefts, are all unhealthy Habitations, which often bury more than are born; all which are fully proved from this Table. But the healthieft Situation is infuflicient of itfelf, without eftablifhing and maintaining a good Policy; fuch as pulling down old Houfes, Huts, and Kennels, and building new ones with higher Rooms and larger Lights; giving Liberty of Accefs to free, clean, open, frefh Air; removing all Nu- fances; keeping clean Streets, Folds, and Yards; being provided with pure, wholefome Water; taking Care of their Shambles, Draught-Houfes, and Markets. A third Thing neceflary to promote the Health of a Place, is an inde¬ fatigable, faithful, impartial Magiftracy, who exemplarily, preceptively, ' H and