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On Sanitary Reform . 
prophet might have declaimed on such a subject. Nor is 
it out of harmony with the mode of expression still made 
use of, and still most readily understood, by the great mass 
of mankind, regarding His operations in the world. 
V. ON SANITARY REFORM. 
By Rev. S. Barber. 
E may regard the question of Public Sanitation as 
Tyr affeCted by the efforts of the people for their own 
benefit, or by the influence of local authority, and 
the perfecting of the machinery of the central government. 
There can be no doubt as to the utility of instructing the 
people in the laws of health, while the ascertaining of the 
best method of government depends partly upon experiment. 
But if we were disposed to apply an exhaustive and rigorous 
analysis to determine th q fons et origo malorum of unhealthy 
conditions, we might, perhaps, arrive at the simple conclu- 
sion that these may be summed up in the single word 
“ selfishness.” But this would be proving too much, like 
the ingenious etymologist who reduced all the radicals of a 
language to a single letter. The forms of selfishness, indeed, 
are marvellously varied, both in character and degree. The 
collier or brick-setter who negleCts his own household, and 
outrages the laws of health in his humble dwelling, is cer- 
tainly blameworthy, but the apathy and selfishness of a 
chairman of trustees, or a medical officer of health, is a 
matter of much more serious import to society, and more 
culpable in itself. 
Let us take for granted that all the intelligent inhabitants 
of any ordinary town, not excepting the ( so-called ) “ working 
classes,” or at least a majority of these, are in favour of real 
sanitary improvements. The desire of self-preservation, 
taken in the aggregate, necessitates the existence of this 
feeling in society. It is now quite needless for the members 
of health committees to pour forth impassioned orations 
upon the general question of sanitation. It is the manage- 
ment, the details of a scheme, the workmanship, and the 
financing which chiefly concern the ratepayer. 
