132 
PBOCEEDINGS OE THE SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION. 
in quantity, but mainly in quality. At one time beef was sold 
at 7 % and 5 cents a pound: the price has increased to 10 
and 20 cents ; and the people are not now in as good cir- 
cumstances as they were immediately after emancipation. 
Many take only one meal which but too often consists of 
some salt-fish and raw vegetable ; others, at certain seasons, 
live mainly on fruits. In many of the houses, the air is 
confined and contaminated, and the yards are reeking with 
vegetable and animal matter in a state of decomposition. 
And I am sorry to say that such is the condition of the 
lodgings occupied by that class among which phthisis exer- 
cises its ravages. Supposing, as is but too commonly the 
case, that the inmates of such places lead a sedentary life 
and have an insufficient diet, is it surprising that consump- 
tion is on the increase ? If leprosy is a form of scrofulosis, 
as I contend it is, is it surprising that the loathsome malady 
has a tendency to spread ? and, as it is highly transmissi- 
ble by generation, have we any reasonable hope that it will 
not be worse in thirty years than it is now ? Dr. Bennett 
remarks as regards tuberculosis : “ it is only by removing 
all the causes that are depressing life contrary to the healthy 
development of the function of organism, and by placing 
the sufferer in the most favourable hygienic conditions for 
the development of his organization, that we can hope to 
correct or cure such disease.” 
Single individuals, or even families may, under favoura- 
ble circumstances, escape from these depressing causes by 
removing to more healthy places, but communities cannot ; 
it is therefore by the suppression of such causes that we can 
hope to correct and prevent the diseases which they engen- 
der : and we can suppress them only by legal provisions 
and their strict enforcement. The General Board of Health 
