PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE LUNGS. 355 



also stand on the Acropolis of all towns, and preach their sermons 

 there. The rooms are but air-cells, and the chimney shafts bron- 

 chial twigs, but the streets are the branches, and the main streets 

 the trachea, of the outward social lung. Breathing comes down 

 from the larger into the lesser, and all the windpipes depend upon 

 the greatest tube. Hence the tyranny of this organic doctrine, 

 which detests individual smallness when public size is concerned. 

 It is plain that building itself has its diseases — its phthisis pulmo- 

 nalis, and the rest — which ought to be cured by direct prescriptions 

 from the state. In the vastness of nature, when our windpipes 

 lead thither, impurity dies by extreme dilution; our sordes perishes 

 in the great sea and the fleckless ether. Nay, take dirt far enough 

 away from its generators, and it becomes the pabulum of some other 

 set of natures, as the noxious breath of animals is transmuted into 

 life, glossy green, for the plants. We have, therefore, to make the 

 lungs continuous with the grand atmosphere. The management of 

 streets and cities,* and the cultivation of the earth's surface 7 so far 



* The providing of places of exercise, where pure air and pleasant sights can 

 be found in or around large towns, has naturally claimed attention. London, 

 Manchester, Liverpool, &c, &c, have their " people's parks," formed either by- 

 private or public munificence. This is well ; but a park, at best, is somewhat 

 formal and valetudinarian. It does not invite walking so much as strolling, 

 which is a very different tension of mind and muscle. The country adjacent to 

 the town is more inspiring generally than the park. We cannot but think that 

 the subject of footpaths belongs to the care of the sanitary men, and if properly 

 considered would open new energies of health to the people. Your footpath has 

 a refreshment distinct from either the park or the highway. But alas ! the foot- 

 paths of the kingdom, and even those around the metropolis, are gradually vanish- 

 ing under the encroachments of the proprietors. We propose to the reformers 

 to have a statutory registration and map constructed at once of all those still ex- 

 tant ; and to make them an inalienable possession of the people, which each 

 parish shall at all times be bound to claim with fines on the mere showing of 

 their registration. And we would also have them maintained, within a given 

 number of miles of the towns, in a passable state during all seasons, winter as 

 well as summer. This would be easily done by means of asphalt laid upon a 

 good foundation ; whereby also trespassing would be discouraged. We claim 

 no new right, for the paths belong to the people; nor could the first expense of 

 winning them from the seasons be considerable. On the other hand, this is one 

 of the most ready means of drawing the population out into circumstances of 

 vigorous exercise, and enjoyment of nature. The whole neighborhood of towns 

 is a public park ready made, if only the paths were duly administered. We 



