36 
relating to the distillations of coal and coal tar, he was under 
obligation to Mr. 8. P. Leather, Assoc. M. Inst. C.H., of Burnley. 
[This Lecture, of which an abridgment is here given, was 
inserted in the Journal of Gas Lighting, dc., and from that has 
been re-printed in pamphlet form. | 
SANITARY MATTERS: PAST AND PRESENT. 
By T. N. DALL. March 10th, 1885. 
That the question of the protection of the health of the masses 
of the people crowded into our large towns and thickly populated 
districts, by the thorough removal and disposal of refuse wastes 
and sewerage, is a question of the first magnitude, none can 
deny. More especially is this so in this country where large 
towns lie so closely together, and the intervening space is so 
largely peopled, thus rendering the spread of infectious diseases 
sO easy a matter. 
If upon no other than economical grounds, it is true economy 
to spend some little of our earnings in the prosecution of sanitary 
research. Health is the capital of the labouring man. It is 
better to give health than alms, for an unsanitary state brings 
sickness, disease, and mortality, which are followed by pauper- 
ism, demoralisation and crime. Dr. Johnson says, ‘‘ To preserve 
health is a moral and religious duty. For health is the basis of 
all social virtues. We can be useful no longer than we are well.”’ 
Dr. Dean, the Medical Officer of Health for this town, has the 
following in his report to the Council of last Wednesday, which 
illustrates the general carelessness in neglecting to take such 
measures as will tend to prevent the spread of infectious dis- 
eases :—‘‘ In the latter end of January a young man took typhoid 
fever in Milner street. His sister, a young woman, nursed him 
and attended to the household duties as manager of the house. 
When he (Dr. Dean) visited the house, the young woman was 
cutting bread and butter for the family meal. He prophesied 
that she would give the fever to the rest of the family, unless 
she ceased to act both as nurse and cook. The young man died 
and four others of the family were now reported to be suffering 
from the fever. The young woman was dealing germs with her 
bread and butter, and did not know it. Where the first principles 
of fever nursing were so utterly ignored, the sanitary authority 
can do nothing but wonder why such ignorance continued to exist. 
There seemed to be no precautions taken to prevent the disease 
spreading to the rest of the family, and it had spread.” 
