New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4932, 12 January 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1877.

■Few, questions present more interest to the general community than that of, public health, and ;in‘.,yiewof recent occur:, reneea in this city, it has a special interest for us at this particular juncture. It is a matter involving the'prosperity and,general well-being'of the people, and in which nations and ,colonies are immediately conAnd , yet, strange to say, it is a subject) on whicn many persons think but little, 1 and many more not at all, until some dire calamity in the shipe of a fatal epidemic overtakes us, and 1 then attention is drawn to our own when we are called upon tojmy the penalty of our persistent infringements, of nature’s laws. Unfortunately, it happens most frequently that the innocent sufter with the guilty. And not only so, but it occurs - sometimes that those who are most.'circumspect in the'dbser vance of nature’s and . who adopt eyery sanitary, precaution,, have to bear the brunt of other's megjeely and suffer most heaurily for tho ; carelessness of their neighbors. , Ifence arises the necessity for stringent sanitary laws, especially in the great centres of population. This is .now

so generally admitted, that it is scarcely necessary to do more than mention the fact. But notwithstanding the almost universal recognition of the leading principles of sanitary science, it is a lamentable fact that great ignorance prevails in matters of detail, in so far as they concern the everyday life of vast numbers of' people. The result is, that contagious and infectious diseases are generated in unclean and thickly-populated localities, and men often wake up to a true sense of their position when it is' too lata. What we contend for is, that sanitary regulations of the most comprehensive character should be in force, and 1 that these should .be carried out in their entirety, without respect of persons. During the present century much light has been thrown on this important subject, and much valuable information gained, by the laborious investigations of: men of - science. And a great reduction in the average death-rate has been the consequence wherever these matters have been attended to. On all subjects appertaining to the material well-being of the people, the utterances of this journal have given forth no uncertain sound, jand we approach the question now with no desire-to create alarm, but from a sense of duty. We do not suppose the scientific world has yet arrived at a full understanding of the question, doubtless posterity will be as far in advance of us in their knowledge of nature’s laws as we are before our progenitors. The laws of health naturally resolve themselves into two parts, or in other words, may be viewed in two aspects, viz., those requirements which have an individual application, and those which belong to the public generally and ' which come, within ,the duties' of Boards of Health’and other public bodies. With regard to the first little need be Said beyond laying down general laws. These are—wholesome food, healthy exercise, ■abstinence from excessive use of 'intoxicating drinks and demoralising practices which enervate the system, cleanliIness, and an abundant supply of pure ! air. These things being presupposed, and making allowance'for accidents, there is nothing to prevent the majority of men froni living to a good old age. The quantity of air required for ope human being is about 57 hh’ds. in 24 hours, or 20 cubic feet at every inspiration. ' This, of course, varies with the age and muscular development qf ,the individual. Thus, we, see that where people are packed into workshops, close bedrooms, large assemblies, and crowded schoolrooms, without proper ventilation, .the most , serious consequences must ensue. We might enlarge upon these matters .which relate to individual health, but we proceed to the consideration of those more general matters, which call for immediate attention at our hands. The laws - of health as regards communities not only involve what has been said in reference to the individual, but also embrace works and improvements on, so large a scale as to be absolutely beyond ’ the range of individual effort. These duties come properly within the province of civic authorities; A regular supply of pure water, efficient drainage, and the speedy removal of inuisances, are the matters of a -mere .public character which appertain to public bodies. It has been said that our colonial towns bear: a much greater resemblance to military camps than old and well-regulated cities, seeing that the system of drainage is so defective. We all know how injurious camp life is to the health of . an army. The famous Walcheren expedition is an instance among many that might be cited. If this 'remark be true, the sooner we abolish the analogy the better. A cbuj-’ plete systeih;of sewage is one of the first Wherever human beings are congregate# in large masses,,and attention is not paid to cleanliness, or the sanitary , arrangements are incomplete,- noxious gases , are given off by the accumulations of decaying .animal and vegetable, substances in the vicinity of the dwellings. Dr. Smith tells us that masses .of filth of this kin# generate malaria of various kinds, which permeate the lower strata of the'atmosphere. These gases are inhaled ’ by the people, and produce those dire and malig--nant epidemics which decimate the populations of cities ; - and, according to some, constitute the moat powerful morbific ■ agencies known. It is truly astonishing to' see how recklessly people will continue to disregard the teachings of experience, hpth in'to wn and country. • One need not . travel far in this colony to be convinced: ‘of this. - Men have built their houses on the margins of swamp?, towns have been built in similar sytuatipns, yet no attempts, have been made to drain these regions of! death. The hill sides and 'gentle undulations with which New Zealand abounds,, where the pure atmosphere, cleared by nature’s great purifier,’ the wind,' could be inhaled and enjoyed, 'have been avoided. The defective state of sewage arrangements in this-city has for some time occupied public attention.. In a locality designed by nature to be preeminently healthy and salubrious, we are ever and anon visited by some fell disease. A few months ago scarlet fever was in our midst, now diphtheria has inade its appearance. It behoves us then to be up and doing, and at once have recourse to those preventive measures which science has placed at bur command.* Our civic authorities have the power in their, hands to prevent nuisances and compel their removal. The finterests: of ? the public demand. that, ignorant and unprincipled persons should not be permitted to consult their private -'convenience at the expense of the health of, the people. We are fully aware that the City Council has‘not had tithe'to commence, much less to complete, its scheme of sanitary reform. And while?. we are on this: subject, a word or two touching the best ‘means of .carrying out. their comprehensive plan of city sewage will not be out of place. Wo lay no claim to engineering skill, but’ it occurs to us that the material : used in the construction of drains is a, matter of paramount importance. Drains should be constructed'of some non-abaorbeht material, such as stone, iron, or earthenware.. One purpose of drains is to got rid of the sewage as quickly as possible, and thereby prevent unwholesome smells and noxious, gases. For this reason wood should- never' be used. Unfortunately; most of the socalled drains in use here are constructed of this material. The obvious effect of this is, that the wood being porous, quickly absorbs large quantities of the sewage, and becomes surcharged with the seeds of fatal miasmata, which escape, into the air at every opening'. Dr. Smith informs us that wooden drains give off a gas known as sulphuretted ( hydrogen, which is beyond all comparison the most fatal : of all noxious gases. : Wood also; j being: rough,- offers the greatest resistance | to the rapid flow of the liquid. Doubtless reasons of economy and temporary coni- i vehience have suggested the use of wooden 1 i drains. But mere'questions‘of.expense ,i sink into insignificance when the health, I cbmforty .and even the lives of the people? .< are at stake. We have said “ economy,” ) f but it wiU; need but little calculation to 1 show that wooden drains, • though per- j haps the cheapest in the,beginning, are • 1

the dearest in the end. For, from the perishable nature of the article, it requires frequent repairs, and to be entirely renewed at not distant intervals.