Cemeteries : as receptacles for the dead, and principally as places for health, recreation, meditation, and pleasure, and as substitutes for parks ; Wills or testaments : with the proper distribution of these to females, who are frequently left too little, and are less cared for than sons ; Potatoes : as an article of food, and in a political point of view, their cultivation, growth, and improvement, and the causes of disease, and means of preventing it / by John Moodie.

  • Moodie, John.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cemeteries : as receptacles for the dead, and principally as places for health, recreation, meditation, and pleasure, and as substitutes for parks ; Wills or testaments : with the proper distribution of these to females, who are frequently left too little, and are less cared for than sons ; Potatoes : as an article of food, and in a political point of view, their cultivation, growth, and improvement, and the causes of disease, and means of preventing it / by John Moodie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ai'ising from shares in sucli. Others, again, from wishing places to bury their families. Others, from their having workmen, and ex- pecting more work being done by them in a given space of time, and for the same Avages,.by having their workmen cheerful and in good health. Others, from a benevolent and charitable spirit, in order to promote the welfare of their fellow-citizens, as well as their health and happiness. Others from its being connected with the well-being and prosperity of the kingdom, and from motives of public health ; and about which last all are crying out, and striAnng to effect and to promote,—whether with more than empty words, their actions or the public health Avill shew. Of the first class, the speculators, there are many, but such are not to be depended on alone ; but if residing in the towns them- selves, and combining speculation with the necessity of having places of interment for their families, they will be found to be not a few. The second class, those who from necessity alone require it, will be found to be more numerous than the former; and they also may be stimulated by the chances of profit. I should consider them a large proportion. The third class, the masters, are not so numerous ; but, if willing, may be depended on to give great assist- ance both by purse and example. The fourth class, the benevolent, are generally, we are sorry to say, not in great proportions, either in this or any thing else ; but such numbers as there are, which is not many in each single town, they, by their example and benevo- lent efforts to this as well as to any other good work, keep up, ex- cite, and assist the good intentions and efforts of others. The last class, those who cry out about Health Bills and Medical Police Regulations, give no more than their voices, which no doubt is of some use; but they are not numerous in the way of assistance with their purses when each town is taken separately. We would highly recommend this subject to the attention of all, as supplying a very important deficiency,—that of public parks,—for the welfare and health of the inhabitants of towns. To all ranks and ages, from the infant carried by the nurse to the old man Avho may be tottering into his grave, they are constant sources of health, and are lungs, ventilators, and suppliers of fresh air to towns. Ceme- teries should not have too many bodies, that is, to have the rooms allotted to graves too small; and each family ought to have at least two rooms or breadths instead of only having one, which is com- moner than the former in old burying-places, but which is very in- convenient, and apt to afflict the feelings of the relations and those around, if two persons belonging to the same family were to be buried in the same grave within a short time of each other, by the cofiin of the first being broken, and the body exposed, more or less, as well as the unhealthiness which is apt to arise from the putrid remains being exposed to the air and to those, around. Cemeteries ought to be placed, if the grounds in the neighbour-Best siiuaiion Hood will allow of It, in an elevated and commanding situation, for Come- with a good prospect and cheeiful view in some direction, as a good view adds to the pleasure, and enlivens and strengthens the senses and by so doing, tlie health of the body, as well as of tlic mind' when combined Avith recreation. It may also be a means of making many take exercise who would not if they had no pleasure for the