SANITARY SUGGESTIONS. 93 



hereditary diseases ? Could he physically improve 

 his own species as surely as he improves some of the 

 species of inferior animals ? And by the ameliora- 

 tion of his social condition, and by sanitary observ- 

 ances, could he add another and another decade to 

 the average life of mankind ? 



153. Desideratum. A treatise on the sinfulness 

 of neglecting sanitary observances, and of perpetu- 

 ating by marriage hereditary diseases. 



154. Is it so, that the Creator does not directly 

 accord health to human beings, but bestows upon 

 them capabilities by which to promote and preserve 

 it ; leaving it mainly to man himself the alternative, 

 whether he shall or shall not enjoy health ? 



155. Desideratum. With a view to the extension 

 of the average duration of human life, let no one be 

 allowed to build a dwelling-house until the site, the 

 sewerage, the ventilation, and the plan of the house 

 be approved of by a Sanitary Board.* 



* If so, a lower grade of dwelling-house than the following 

 ought not to be sanctioned by a Sanitary Board. The great 

 desideratum in the improvement of our cottages, is an increase 

 in the number of sleeping apartments. The smallness of those 

 apartments, however, in the subjoined plan, requires that they 

 shall be thoroughly ventilated. And this may be done by a 

 partial opening of the windows, but the changeableness and the 

 severity of our climate forbids it. The air which we exspire 



