AN ADDRESS 



ON THE 



Sanitary Condition of the Laboring Population of New-York 



BEFORE THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



BY JOHN H. GRISCOM, M. D. 



No duty can engage the attention of the magistracy of a city or 

 State, more dignified in itself, more beneficial to the present gene- 

 ration, or more likely to prove useful to their descendants, than that 

 of procuring and maintaining a sound state of the public health. 



Of the three objects contemplated in the Declaration of Independ- 

 ence as necessary to be secured by government, the first named is 

 " Life." Higher purposes cannot be conceived for which govern- 

 ments should be instituted. 



As upon the condition of health of an individual are based his 

 physical and mental strength, his ability for self maintenance, his 

 personal happiness, and that of others dependent on him, and also 

 his usefulness to his family, to the community and the country; and as 

 the community depends for its prosperity upon the performances of 

 its members, individually and collectively, in the measure of influence 

 committed to them respectively, so does the health of the people 

 affect the capacity and interests of the State. 



As upon the individual, when sick, falls an increased pecuniary 

 burden, with (in general) a suspension of income, so upon the State 

 or city, must rest, not only the expense of removing an unsound 

 condition of public health, but also from the attendant loss of char- 

 acter, a diminution of its resources. 



