The Free Rural Population, from a Medical 
Point of View. 
By C. E, Macnamara, Diplomate in State Medicine. 
JUST means of estimating the civilisation, 
intelligence and progress of a nation or 
community, is the appreciation in which it 
holds the Public health. History points out to us how 
that as nations became refined, the common health 
came to be regarded as the common wealth. Even at 
this age we can estimate with admiration bordering on 
wonder the provisions of ancient Rome for the common 
health. The gigantic water-works with the aqueduct 
mocking at the obstacles of hills and valleys and bring- 
ing pure water to the old city, the baths public and 
private, the ptinciples of construction of the amphi- 
theatre, and the open spaces for recreation, all shew 
how, in those bygone days, the intelligence and enlight- 
enment of the City Fathers gave expression almost as a 
watchword to the saying " civium vires civitatis vis/' 
Time in its gentle effluxion has amidst many other 
things taught us that what was good for the citizen 
should be extended to the whole state, and that the cry 
should embrace all ; and thus with the motto " salus 
generis humani" the great workers of to-day in the field 
of Sanitation press onward. The obje6t of this essay 
