Decay of National Physique. 53 



to have heard Dr. Lindsay saying something as to what he 

 thought of the state of the physique of their cousins in America. 

 From all accounts he had read about them he had learned that 

 their physique was certainly deteriorating, and that if it was 

 not for the continual flow of emigration from the United King- 

 dom the country would sink altogether. He thought it would 

 be well if some of the important facts brought before them that 

 evening were laid before the American people. 



Mr. Conway Scott was of opinion that the national physique 

 is not in the good condition that some persons seemed to 

 imagine. There is no doubt that the physique of the wealthy 

 people, who never know what it is to want food, is in ex- 

 cellent condition ; but do they form the majority of the people 

 of three kingdoms ? He unhesitatingly said that the physique 

 of the poorer classes is not what it ought to be nor what it 

 might be, and that it is a degraded physique. Dr. Lindsay 

 said we cannot recall the dead, and are therefore un- 

 able to test this matter. He thought there is no necessity for 

 calling up the dead. We can make personal observations, 

 and if we did that it would be quite apparent to anyone that 

 the physique of the poorer classes is deteriorating. Let us 

 look at our lunatic asylums, and at the half-lunatics who are 

 not in asylums at all. Let us look at the workhouses, 

 where there live the most wretched specimens of humanity, 

 and at the semi-paupers that visited our dispensaries, and he 

 thought they would agree with the opinion he had formed on 

 the subject. 



The Chairman said that, with regard to the water of Belfast, 

 there was no doubt it would be unhesitatingly condemned by 

 the majority of chemists. It was his decided opinion that the 

 water of Belfast was not of as pure a quality as a town of that 

 size had a right to demand. He concluded by expressing the 

 thanks of the Society to Dr. Lindsay for his very admirable 

 paper. 



