IS79-J 
Sanitary Science in the United States. 
49 
III. SANITARY SCIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES: 
ITS PRESENT AND ITS FUTURE. 
By Albert R. Leeds, Ph.D. 
* T is generally conceded, I believe, by scientific labourers 
in this country that we have been more fertile in 
invention than discovery. We owe to older nations a 
constantly increasing debt of obligation for those initial 
germs of thought which have fruCtified into new sciences, 
while we may, at the same time, ask a generous acknow- 
ledgment of the merits of many inventions which have 
opened up new fields of employment to thousands. Sciences 
which promise much for the improvement of the daily con- 
dition of mankind, and have in them a side largely practical, 
are sure of welcome in our midst. Such a science is pre- 
eminently the one under consideration. It gathers into one 
the teachings of all other sciences, so far as they hear upon pri- 
vate and public health, and makes these teachings practically 
operative in the promotion of human welfare in this country. 
It grew into prominence during the war of the Rebellion, 
when the work of the Sanitary Commission was made co- 
extensive with every army camp and army hospital. Its 
principles have been expounded in sanitary associations 
formed in many States and in smaller communities. These 
have led to the formation of State and city boards of health, 
clothed to a greater or less degree with executive functions. 
Every epidemic has fastened popular attention upon the 
subject, and before it was taught in book or leCture room, 
has been rehearsed in a thousand forms in the newspaper. 
In this present yellow fever plague more than twelve thou- 
sand people have perished, probably not less than sixty 
thousand have convalesced, and two hundred millions of 
dollars would not represent the aggregate pecuniary loss. 
During its awful course universal interest has been felt in 
the cause and prevention of this and similar diseases, a 
homily on private or public hygiene has formed a prominent 
feature of the daily paper, and this interest has culminated 
in the offer made by a lady, already widely known by her 
munificence in the cause of science, to defray the expenses 
of a commission of enquiry composed of sanitary experts. 
We believe that this is all as it should be, and that in sani- 
tary science this country is taking a foremost place, because 
VOL. ix. (n.s.) * E 
