264 SOURCES OF BAD HEALTH. 



commander, though both were equal in talent, it te 

 quite certain that the fate of the crews would be 

 widely different, and that sickness would prevail 

 much more in the one than in the other, 



CHAPTER IX. 



Causes of had Health Not always the Result of moral or irri- 

 moral Conduct Nor of Accident But of the Infringement 

 of the Laws of Organization Proofs from past History 

 ^Diminished Mortality from Increase of Knowledge, and better 

 Fulfilment of the Conditions of Health The Expeditions of 

 Anson and Cook contrasted Gratifying Results of the Sana- 

 tory Arrangements of Ross, Parry, and Franklin Pulmonary 

 Diseases in the Channel Fleet, from Ignorance of Physiology 

 Rates of Mortality in different Ages and Countries Causes 

 of late Improvements Condition of wealthier and poorer 

 Classes compared Good done by the Apprehension of Chol- 

 era Influence of Habit Neglect of organic Laws in Re- 

 cruiting Service Examples Conclusion. 



THE reader will now be prepared to take a correct 

 view of a question on which it especially interests 

 us to have true and precise notions. I allude to the 

 real origin of bad health. On this point very vague 

 and contradictory opinions are prevalent and, as 

 our conduct in life must necessarily be closely de- 

 pendent on our views in regard to this subject, I 

 cannot do better, before concluding, than devote a 

 chapter to its consideration* 



Setting aside, for the present, hereditary tenden- 

 cies to disease (which must have begun at first with 

 some progenitor, from ordinary causes, and which, 

 therefore, are not really unconnected with the in- 

 quiry), bad health may be regarded in three different 

 lights : FIRST, As having BO necessary connexion 

 with our conduct, but as being the result of circunv 



