A treatise on the public health, climate, hygeine [sic], and prevailing diseases, of Bengal and the North-West Provinces / By Kenneth Mackinnon.
- MacKinnon, Kenneth
- Date:
- 1848
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A treatise on the public health, climate, hygeine [sic], and prevailing diseases, of Bengal and the North-West Provinces / By Kenneth Mackinnon. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![PUBLIC HEALTH. I purpose in the following pages to give a general view of the public health of the Native ami European population of the Bengal Presidencies ; to describe the climate, and its effects ; to offer suggestions for the preservation of healtli; ami to state the results of my own observation of the cauvses, symptoms, and treatment of the prevailing diseases. Aly first subject is public health ; and its importance will appear obvious enough, if we consider the millions of people iuliabiiing tliis great valley of the Ganges, and the amount of disease which prevails. It admits of proof, that there is a loss to the state, and certainly to productive industry, in every hour of every individual’s sickness ; and the effect of disease up- on human happiness is interesting, but painful, to consider. Hut the mere speculation u])on the extent and sources of pub- lic sickness, would be of little importance if we had it not in our power to suggest remedies,—and remedies, too, that in many cases are easy of ado|>tion. Disease depends partly upon general climate, the range of the thermometer, its sudden al- teration, the prevailing winds, the fall of rain, the level of the lands, the quality of soil, &c. ; but it depends also in part upon mere local causes, and on the social condition, habits, and mo- rals, of the population. All circumstances shew how Providence encourages mankind to progress in social and moral improve- ment, for of each step in advancement and civilization he him- self reaps the reward in liis increased happiness and comfort. A General objects of the work. Public health. Its interest.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2870874x_0039.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
