Principles of sanitary inspection / by William H. Ford.

  • Ford, William H. (William Henry), 1839-1897.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles of sanitary inspection / by William H. Ford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    knowledge of the various subjects relating to hygiene and public health, and the officers employed in it should be fitted for the work by special and sufficient education. As many of these subjects relate to dis- eases, their causes, mode of propagation, and the means of their suppression, a medical knowledge be- comes an essential qualification of at least a portion of the force employed as sanitary inspectors by a board of health. Under the English health laws the officer of health, whose duties are largely those of an inspect- ing officer, must be qualified by law to practice medi- cine or surgery, though such qualification is not made necessary in the case of inspectors of nuisances. Intelligent sanitary inspection rests upon a knowl- edge of the following subjects : 1. The principles of chemistry, particularly with regard to the methods of analysis (including micro- scopical investigation). Such knowledge is indispen- sable in forming accurate judgment as to impurities of air and water, injurious impregnations of the soil, harmful admixtures in food, and also in the proper use of disinfectants. An acquaintance with chemical physics, including the chief phenomena of light, heat, and electricity, is also advantageous. 2. Natural philosophy, which should embrace a thorough knowledge of the principles of pneumatics, ' hydrostatics, and hydraulics, with special reference to ventilation, water-supply, drainage, construction of dwellings, and sanitary engineering in general. The laws of natural philosophy will be of great aid in tracing nuisances, in determining questions of venti- lation and of overcrowding, and in studying atmos- pheric changes; and, in conjunction with chemistry,