Introductory lecture delivered at the commencement of the winter session 1864-65, in the Medical School, Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh / by Stevenson Macadam.

Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introductory lecture delivered at the commencement of the winter session 1864-65, in the Medical School, Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh / by Stevenson Macadam. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    u So that out of 71G5 beds in the military hospitals, only 2(34 had a proper allowance of air ; and there was a total deficiency in hospital space of 42^ per cent. The new medical regulations demand, that for the future 1200 cubic feet of air shall be allowed each ]jatient in the hospitals in temperate regions, and 1500 cubic feet in the hospitals in hot regions. It is more difficult to trace the benefits of fresh air on the sick, but there can be no doubt tluit tiie statistics of the improved hos- pitals, as contrasted with the comparatively confined Avards, will show a more rapid improvement in the health of the convalescents, and a diminution in the proportion of deaths. The importance of fresh water need not be insisted upon, but the fact ought to be widely known, that the mere appearance of a water, and even its taste and odour, are not safe indications of ])urity. Many waters which are clear, sparkling, odourless, and tasteless, are highly contaminated with organic impurities. One of the most satisfactory results of medical supervision in sanitary matters was observed in the case of the London postmen, who number about 2935 on town service. Before official medical supervision was carried out, as in the three years 1851, 1852, and 1853, the average mortality was 15 in 1000; whilst, after medical attendance had been provided, and even the medicines free, as during the three years 1856, 1857, and 1858, the average mortality decreased to 11 in 1000; and in the next three years, viz., 1859, 1860, and 1861, the death-rate fell to 6*3 in 1000. The improve- ment in the he'alth of the postmen is ascribed mainly to greater attention being paid to the ventilation of the rooms, to the introduc- tion of filtered water, and to the more ready attention to small ailments ; though, to some extent, the results are affected by a more careful selection of men applying for vacancies. In concluding these remarks upon sanitary matters, I need hardly remind you, that the constant wear and tear of the animal frame not only renders the air foul, but tends to fill up the pores of the skin ; and that attention should specially be directed to cleauliuess of person through frequent use of baths. No statistics have been specially obtained to show the benefits of public baths in the general community; but ample testimony of the good accruing from the frequent use of the bath is afforded by individual experience; and it is only right and proper that ])art of the great sanitary improve- ments in the health of the inhabitants of Liverpool and other of our larger towns, should be ascribed to the institution of public baths. Many people have a strange repugnance to ablutions in general, and this appears to be exhibited by all nations. Livingstone speaks of a native who followed his party in spite of all remonstrances, until the Makololo threatened to take him to a river and wash him, and then lie decamped, doubtless fearing that his garment of castor-oil and dirt would be lost, and he would then be cold and uncomfortaWe. 'J'lic great question of the disposal of the sewage of towns, is one
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