The benefits of this science are boundless ;-there is no action, no movement of man, in a
state of society, which has not some claim upon its use. It is of all times, and of all places
-it is the first and most sacred of magistracies—having ever for its object, the happiness of
mankind, and the repose and security of citizens.-Mahon.

BOSTON:

ALLEN AND TICKNOR.

1833.

CIAN

18SEP 1936

LIBRARY

PRINTED BY C. A. GREEN.

PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

IT is generally thought that the science taught in the following essay is rendered necessary only by a very high state of civilization, or is seldom, if ever, applicable to nations till they have reached that period of decrepitude, which constitutes their decline. But this is to entertain a very imperfect notion of the offices and advantages of Hygiène.

The youth and mid-life of nations, not less than those of individuals, need the application of salutary restraints, and many precautions.

In some respects, indeed, the early settlers of a country need the direction of the principles of this science, more than any others—the selection of healthy sites for cities, on salubrious positions and neighbourhoods for the establishment of a family, the prophylactics to the host of maladies which infect newly settled territories, and other matters like these, of great and permanent importance, can only be determined wisely, by availing of the results of investigations of the human constitution, and the laws according to which it is influenced by the various influences, celestial, aerial, and terrestrial,-with which it is in relation.