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23
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health —1877—8.
???urtured and inspired by the thoughts then created and uttered. Mental culture will
most advanced where the body is beat nourished and cared for, John Bright, in speakof
his school dove, before the Science and Arts Class, at Sheffield, told them that be
the most agreeable recollections of the last school he attended; for besides being
santly situated, his studies were not enforced with undue harshness, and that a great
of his time was spent in out-door exercise of various kinds. He added," I did not get
???h of what is called education, what I got I would say was far better, because whatever
???of health 1 now enjoy, I got it in those days."
Because fresh air, pure water, efficient drainage, and other sanitary arrangements,
so necessary, yet they by no means, even when thoroughly carried out, exclude all
ces of disease. Disease has many roots, and which strike down and intertwine with
various habits and social customs. And "what boots it at one gate to make defence,
at another to let in the foe."
It is evident from experience, that neither high wages nor low wages, that noither
food nor cheap food, that neither large profits nor small profits, exercise that
???ence upon the prosperity and happiness of the poverty and misery of a nation, which
???re apt to attribute to them. Prosperity and happiness rely upon the health, the dili???,
the prudence, and the self-restraint of the people. The glory of a nation does not
???nd upon its wealth, for that may, and does lead to luxury and corruption; nor upon
-ommerce, for that may be carried on in a tricky dishonest way; nor in the works of
???t may display, for they may have been obtained by aggressive war and robbery; nor
???ts architecture, for that may be but a slavish copy of what has been practised before;
essentially by its love and sympathy; "by the quantity of heroisms it has acted, and
he noble pieties and wisdom that are in it."
To maintain in its integrity the vast power which England now wields, and to retain
high position which she now holds, will depend upon the nation's health Not even
"slreak of silver sea "which belts us round, nor the frowning towers and batteries,
???ered along our coasts, and lining our rivers' mouths, nor the sullen iron monsters
???n with destruction, no, nor any deadly agent yet discovered will avail without men
nd thorn,—men of courage, strength and brain. Other nations can manufacture
hinoa of death as well as we; but they cannot manufacture the brave, heroic, indom???le
saxon-man. Hence the importance of having bequeathed to us, and that we bequeath
"The needful sinew stark as once.
"The Baresark marrow to our bones."
physical condition, joined with justice and humanity as our moral attribute, we need
fear what any enemy may propose to do unto us. Hut without which, our bravery
???Id bo but a fool's boast, and our deeds but a firebrand's tossing.''
The health and well-being of our people is surely of as much importance as the health
breed of our cattle. Pleasant it is to hear from hill and valley, the quiet and gentle
of kino; but far pleasanter would it be, to hear from every homestead and village,
??? every town and city throughout our dominions, the sound of joy and gladness of all
???e who dwell therein.
???18th, 1878. HENRY BATESON, M D., Lond