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Some Ancient and Modern Ideas of Sanitary Economy. 

 By RoBT. Angus Smith, Ph.D., F.C.S. 



[Read Nvmnber 30<A, 1852.] 



As I believe this Society has not yet had introduced to it 

 the subject of Sanitary Economy generally, which certainly 

 is becoming of greater importance daily, I have ventured, 

 although the popular agitation is now somewhat allayed, to 

 bring forward this paper, not as a full discussion of any one 

 point, but rather in the Essay form, putting together some 

 few prominent points, and in a rude way connecting the faint 

 struggles of past and present times in the direction of wise dis- 

 tribution and arrangement, in accordance with acknowledged 

 sanitary laws. 



Sanitary economy has scarcely attained for itself a distinctive 

 place in our country or literature ; the whole idea is novel to 

 many persons, and it has not the names of great lawgivers, 

 traceable through many generations, from whose dicta it can 

 gain great authority, and from whose judgment it can find 

 many important precedents. We have only lately had a 

 suitable Nuisance Removal Act; we have not in all these 

 centuries been able to remove, legally and thoroughly, what 

 was offensive to the senses or detrimental to the health, even 

 were we sufficiently aware of the consequences. Science has 

 now certainly made us see what before was quite invisible, 

 and the Legislature, recognising the justice of her conclusions, 

 is acting according to her dictates. 



And yet, although to us a new era has begun, wherein the 

 community unites to remove evils, and to produce comforts 



