Recent Progress in Sanitary Science. 2(37 



rect solution of which the action of communities depends, in 

 reference to infection, irrigation, water-supply, etc. 



While sanitary science makes such great and varied de- 

 mands upon our present and prospective stores of knowl- 

 edge, its aim is nevertheless a very modest one. It finds 

 man, whether from ignorance, from cupidity, or from the 

 many maladjustments of our existent social systems, de- 

 prived of essentials to the enjoyment of long life, or even a 

 prey to the inroads and devastations of disease ; and it seeks 

 to restore to him, under these circumstances, the same pure 

 air, pure water, and fitting food and clothing, as are enjoyed 

 by the beast which stalks through the primeval forest, or the 

 cattle grazing healthfully in the fields. No one has ever 

 shown that a better ratio could be substituted for the oxygen 

 and ozone, the nitrogen and ammonia, the carbonic acid and 

 moisture present in the atmosphere, than what actually holds 

 between them. No one has shown that drinking-water would 

 be the better, if it took up a little more iron and lime, pot- 

 ash and phosphoric acid, than it actually contains, or if in 

 nature's alembic, it were restored to us in the condition of the 

 distilled water of our laboratories. Neither is it clear that 

 sugar would be better food by the addition of nitrogen, or 

 albumen if it were without it. In short, so far as the sci- 

 ences at present at least extend, they are unanimous in de- 

 claring the natural order existent in the atmosphere, Avater, 

 and food, the best adapted to the wants of man. This being 

 true, every element of disturbance is to be looked upon with 

 suspicion, a suspicion daily increasing with the increase of 

 our knowledge concerning the true nature of disease, its 

 causes, and its remedies. 



Upon the basis of such ideas, we have attempted a classi- 

 fication of the departments into which sanitary science nat- 

 urally divides itself, and the arrangement of the subject- 

 matter properly falling into each. 

 November, 1S7G. 21 Ann. Lyc Nat. Hist., Vol. xi. 



