Decay of National Physique. 47 



lations by the regulation of drainage, the removal of nuisances, 

 the suppression of noxious exhalations, the cleansing of the 

 streets, the planting of che thoroughfares with trees, the provision 

 of parks and breathing spaces, &c. These precautions are simply 

 matters of life and death to town populations, and public bodies 

 have an immense responsibility in such matters — a responsibility 

 to which they are, for the most part laudably alive. It is 

 gratifying to find our own Town Council showing commendable 

 energy and foresight in providing outlets for our great and 

 growing population. 



The impurity of water is an evil which, he thought is 

 being vigorously and most successfully grappled with. The 

 ideal at which our public bodies aim is pure water and plenty 

 of it ; and to modern appliances of engineering and sanitary 

 science the question is simply one of money. Our local 

 water supply has hitherto left something to be desired, but 

 when the present extensive engineering works are completed 

 we may hope that every reasonable want will be amply 

 satisfied. 



With reference to improper dietary, much remains to be 

 done to warn town populations regarding the evil tendencies 

 of some of their dietetic habits. The prevailing ignorance 

 regarding food is a public danger, but it is being slowly 

 counteracted. He alluded to the dearness and scarcity of dairy 

 produce in large towns, but there is reason for looking for an 

 improvement in these directions. The British farmer will, 

 no doubt, learn in time to bow to the inexorable logic of facts, 

 and, abandoning the hopeless contest which he at present 

 wages in the production of wheat with the virgin soils of 

 Michigan and Manitoba, will devote himself largely to dairy 

 produce, of which he has at his doors the finest market in the 

 world. The possibility of such a suggestion is proved by the 

 enormous importation ot eggs, which might be supplied by 

 the home farmers. The second dietetic danger results from 

 the excessive indulgence in various forms of stimulants. That 

 is so well known, and is the rationale of such vigorous 

 public efforts, that further insistance on it there was unnecessary. 



