Lecture on sanitary reform / by Alexander Thomson.

  • Alexander Thomson
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture on sanitary reform / by Alexander Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    but they ought not to seek to escape or shun, and still less to yield, to the difficulties of their position—on the contrary, they ought to face them resolutely and overcome them. They will soon discover that the greater part, and the worst of them, are not necessary, but of man’s own making. That, therefore, they are preventable, and that the temporary hardships they have to bear in contending against them will be amply repaid in after life, by seeing all their little ones growing up in health and vigour around them, instead of following one after another to an early tomb. A most remarkable proof of the fatal effects of neglecting ordinary sanitary measures in the rearing of children, was fur¬ nished in the metropolis about 100 years ago. The pauper children of London were then received into workhouses, brought up amid impure air, and general unwholesome treatment, and what was the result ?—24 out of 25 died within the year, and only one survived !—or of 2800 received, 2690 died within the year, and only 110 survived—wholesale murder, from simple ignorance and carelessness. The fearful facts became known, an Act of Parliament compelled the parish officers to send the children to the country, and the annual mortality was at once reduced from 2690 to 450— still, doubtless, a very large num¬ ber, but a great improvement on the previous state. Fresh air, their mother’s milk, and plenty of pure water applied externally are the natural requirements of children—and on them only will they thrive. I may give you another instance of the fatal effects of neglecting ordinary sanitary measures :— In the Crimean war, we learn from the Blue Books, 20,800 British soldiers and sailors died. Of these, 5000 were killed or mortally wounded in action; the other 15,800 died from preventable causes—in other words, want of ordinary foresight —red tape and routine killed three times as many as the bullets of the enemy. Great and just was the indignation of the country when this state of things gradually became known—but it seems to have been quite beyond the power of official authorities to apply a remedy. That was accomplished by a delicate, high-born lady. Florence Nightingale, an honour toiler country and lie
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