38 IMPOVERISHMENT AND HEREDITARY DISEASE. 



average life of forty-five, that every fourth man, of the number above 

 stated, drops out of account as completely as if he had not 

 existed. This represents a loss of two hundred and twelve thou- 

 sand, five hundred a number nearly equal to the population of 

 this city in each successive group of eight hundred and fifty thou- 

 sand men. But the same cause which removes this number of work- 

 men leaves behind, at least, that number of persons who were 

 dependent upon them, and who are thus impoverished. 



There can be no question that two-thirds, if not the whole, of 

 that number are not only impoverished but pauperised, and in 

 the end find their way on to the parish roll. The origin of our 

 pauperism is one of the vexed questions of the hour. At a con- 

 ference held lately at Aberdeen, intemperance and improvidence 

 were, by common agreement, believed to be its chief causes. The 

 advocates of such views would, I am disposed to think, entrench 

 themselves in a more logical position, besides having a founda- 

 tion of incontrovertible facts to rest upon, were they to accept 

 the explanation I have now offered. Intemperance and improvi- 

 dence are not causes, but the effects of causes which require to be 

 themselves accounted for. 



But the mischief does not stop here. It is certain, that each 

 of the two hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred, will, on a 

 moderate estimate, leave at least one descendant, who will pro- 

 bably, in course of time, develop the hereditary disease of 

 which the parent died. We very safely assume that each 

 of the number stated has died of pulmonary consumption. 

 Here then, we have brought before us most probably, the chief 

 cause which accounts for the increase of consumption in this 

 country. The question is often asked, where does all this disease 

 come from ? And there is, doubtless, an implied reproach on medi- 

 cal science and on the healing art, when it is said, that they are 

 comparatively powerless in dealing with it. I would only here 

 take occasion to say in regard to that, that in the case of no 

 other disease has there been so much lately added to our know- 

 ledge that is substantial alike as to its nature and treatment. 

 But fed, as it perennially is, by constant streams from those 

 quarters which may be regarded as its natural breeding places, is 

 it not mockery to speak of dealing with it by means of treatment I 



