THE AIR OF TOWNS. 



By Dr. J. B. Cohen. 



[These Lectures were submitted by Dr. J. B. Cohen, of Yorkshire College, Leeds, 

 England, in the Hodgkins Fund prize competition of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion.] 



Lecttjee 1. — Close Booms. 



Perhaps I ought first to explain my reason for selecting for these four 

 lectures the subject of "Town air," a subject which, if it can not be 

 characterized by the word dry, certainly does not sound attractive. 

 My reasons are threefold — its importance to health, a personal interest 

 in the subject, and a desire to arouse the same interest in others. 



I wish that I could paint for you my ideal city of Leeds — a smokeless 

 atmosphere through which the sun, when he did shine, would shine with 

 his full brilliancy, wide streets interrupted by open spaces with green 

 turf, trees, and iiower beds, and a little ornamental relief to the dead 

 monotony of our brick walls. 



I am sure you will all agree with me that under such conditions our 

 moral and physical well-being as a community would be vastly improved. 

 " There are two great wants," writes Miss Octavia Hill, " in the life of 

 the poor of our large towns, which ought to be realized more than they 

 are — the want of space and the want of beauty." 



• You may at once stamp these views as Utopian. Speaking for myself, 

 I have every expectation of seeing them realized. I think that if people 

 can only be convinced of a possibility it is not a long step to its becom- 

 ing a reality. I think I shall have no difficulty in convincing you of 

 the possibility. Although everyone is quite aware that town air is a 

 different article from fresh country air, it excites very little notice 

 unless, as sometimes happens, we are brought face to face with it dur- 

 ing foggy weather when the dirt and impurities accumulate under a 

 thick layer of mist. The reason, I think, is to be found in the fact that 

 air is invisible. 



"Seeing is believing" is a common saying, and I suppose the reverse 

 is true. 



How long has it taken civilized communities to recognize the evil 

 effects of bad water? Clear, sparkling water may contain the germs 



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