REID — ON MOETALITY. 251 



As to food, labor, rest and restriction from excesses, they are 

 so mixed up with the conditions of trade that at present it is not 

 possible to regulate them by any form of parliamentary legislation. 

 And again they are by no means so prejudicial to the general health 

 rate if perfect cleanliness could be made obligatory. 



Zymotic. — Preventable disease, such as Fevers, Dyphtheria, 

 &c, &c, chiefly swells our death rate, and it could be eradicated 

 by cleanliness or perfect ventilation and drainage. While as well 

 those debilitating influences would be avoided that tend so largely 

 to increase the mortality of infant life and those endemic diseases, 

 consumption, malaria and other maladies which are peculiar to 

 certain countries and localities. 



To go into the details of these requirements would occupy too 

 much of your time at present, and I will merely refer to the methods 

 sketched by Dr. B. W. Richardson, of London, a most advanced 

 sanitarian, for his model "City of Hygeia," where the most prac- 

 tical indications would be carried out. Its foundation, however, is 

 yet to be commenced. 



In conclusion let me say that we have not yet accomplished in 

 any of our cities that which is quite possible, viz., drainage and 

 ventilation, and that our practical sanitary works and general health 

 rate cannot compare with the very ancient and more populous 

 cities of Nineveh, Babylon, or ancient Rome. 



It is probable, however, to expect that the vicissitudes of trade 

 will prevent numbers from leaving the pursuit of agriculture and 

 crowding the cities, which vocation alone is practically capable of 

 giving the highest health rate when ordinary common sense and 

 intelligence directs its operation. 



