62 National Health. 



habitation for some millions of years to come. The history of 

 humanity was a bloody record of crime, misery, and suffering. 

 Was this dismal record to continue for another million of years, 

 or was a new era to commence — mankind every century rising 

 in his health physically, intellectually, and spiritually, until 

 they had a race of human beings full of health and intellect and 

 spirit, as God intended them to be, and possessing a beauty that 

 was Grecian, a grandeur that was Roman, and a spirit that was 

 truly Christian ? 



Dr. Whitaker — In the first place I may give expression to 

 the pleasure I have had in listening to Mr. Scott. I am afraid, 

 however, that instead of one lecture he might have given two 

 or three. I would have thought that the subject of physical 

 health would have been quite sufficient. I am afraid Mr, 

 Scott rather trespassed on the ground of the clergy. The 

 education of the present time appears to interfere materially 

 with the physical strength of those coming forward. The 

 younger people are pressed on unduly, and it seems to be a 

 matter of how much they can know in a perfunctory sense 

 without understanding ; how they can answer questions and 

 get through examinations. I confess that I do not agree with 

 Mr. Scott in some of the matters brought forward, though 

 every one he has mentioned requires very great and very 

 serious consideration. At the same time I am not one of those 

 who believe that legislation (even if ladies were members of 

 Parliament) will make people good, happy, prosperous, and 

 virtuous. All prosperity — all national health — must proceed 

 from the people themselves. There is no doubt whatever that 

 woman has a great deal to say to the health of any child, 

 particularly in looking after household affairs. I have been 

 thoroughly astonished occasionally in going through the slums 

 of our city when I have seen one house perhaps in a dozen, or 

 perhaps even two dozen, almost an oasis of cleanliness in the 

 desert. Latterly the authorities are beginning to awaken to a 

 sense of the duties being forced upon them ; they are trying 

 to make people healthier than they were, and although a city 



