2^0 



From these facts, therefore, — from the known inferiority 

 of the buildings in Leeds and Sheffield, in comparison with 

 the larger streets, better houses, possessing larger rooms, 

 all of which are due to superior Geological site, — I conclude 

 that the deaths of 850 persons by consumption are mainly to 

 be attributed to the want of ventilation, or a free access of 

 pure air to the lungs of the people inhabiting these districts. 



3. The influence of lights and a more elevated and cheerful 

 situation, cannot be overlooked. Sir James Wylie states that 

 the cases of disease on the dark side of an extensive barrack 

 at St. Petersburg, have been uniformly for many years in the 

 proportion of three to one to those on the side exposed to 

 strong light. N. B. Ward, Esq., says that light, during 

 childhood, directly influences the physical development. Dr. 

 Edwards's experiments are conclusive, that if tadpoles, how- 

 ever well nourished, are entirely deprived of light, their 

 metamorphosis into air-breathing animals is arrested, and 

 they remain in the form of large tadpoles. 



Dr. Craigie says, (Practice of Physic, p. 442,) " The 

 causes of pneumonic inflammation are in general those which 

 induce inflammation in general. All observation concurs in 

 showing that, though it may occur at any period of the year, 

 it is chiefly a disease of the cold seasons, and especially the 

 cold seasons in temperate countries. It prevails chiefly after 

 the winter solstice, between the close of December and the 

 end of April, or even of June." Dr. Copland says that the 

 incautious exposure to cold or wet, and to the night air, 

 after breathing for some time the foul or depressing air of 

 a confined or crowded apartment, or ill-ventilated quarter, 

 bed-room, or barrack-room, is, perhaps, the most productive 

 cause of pneumonia, particularly in large towns ; and explains 

 the greater prevalence and mortality of the disease in these 

 circumstances, than in open healthy localities. I therefore 

 conclude that the naturally damp soils and subsoils of Leeds 



