tice of sending undeveloped children into to point with satisfaction to the fact manufactories for long hours of labor, that the average longevity of the human and thus destroying valuable lives. race, which was in 1800 but 28 years, is There is also the question of sending at present 34 years. Should we be children to school at too early an age. indifferent to a question of such magAll these matters should come under the nitude, and the only country not to recontrol of a department which should hold cognize the importance of the services itself responsible for the health of the which could be rendered to the public by people. I have probably detained the such legislation? No, we cannot ignore House longer than I should have done, or misunderstand our dearest interests in but I am not without hope that some- this direction. What is health? It is a thing may be done in this matter of pub- blessing of which we discuss learnedly; to lic health legislation. I feel that I which we pay no attention while we am committed to this subject. It is have it, and which we vainly regret when dear to me, and I look forward to we have it no longer. Let us take up this the time when the voice of the people question of sanitary science, and endeavor will demand that the Government shall to make ourselves wiser than those who take a step in the right direction. I know that all reforms are slow of growth; we have seen it in the history of the past. Wilberforce labored year after year before he succeeded in striking off the shackles from his fellow man. Howard traversed Europe, going from dungeon to dungeon and cell to cell, in order that he might bring to light the cruelty that was done to humanity under sanction of law; and although his bones now lie bleaching on the shores of a foreign land, his memory still lives in the minds and hearts of his fellow-countrymen. I hope the Government will take this matter, that is of so much importance, into their hands, and if they will accomplish the object I have advocated they will find that the country is prepared to sustain them in so great, so noble and so glorious an effort.

Hon. Dr. PAQUET (in French) - I have seconded with the greatest pleasure the motion of my hon. friend. You have all appreciated, no doubt, as I have, the admirable manner in which he has discharged his duty, and rendered mine comparatively easy, for which I thank him doubly. My hon. friend has perfectly succeeded, I hope, in convincing this hon. House of the necessity of sanitary legislation that it is necessary there should be an organization, of which Ottawa should be the head, and of which the local legislatures throughout the Dominion should be important members. Consult the history of all civilized countries throughout the world, and it will be perceived that they all appreciate the necessity of a similar organization, and it is due to their sanitary measures that we are able

--

have preceded us. Does there exist a more beautiful work of legislation: "Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you." That is the perfection of human effort, and can all the great works which have been accomplished by Legislatures be put in comparison with one so admirable as that of preserving for a longer period the most sublime work of the Creator? How many precious lives, whose premature loss we deplore, could have been saved if the proper hygienic measures had been adopted in time and applied in an intelligent manner? Efforts have already been made by my hon. friend and myself in another chamber, but the fear of want of jurisdiction has prevented that movement from meeting with success. When we are convinced of the necessity of such legislation can we any longer hesitate? Is not the office of minister of public health as necessary as the portfolio of the President of the Privy Council? Could we not combine with the latter the title of Minister of Public Health, of which he is himself such a striking illustration? Some may raise the question of expense. Well, for my part, I say it would be almost nothing, and there would be no necessity to bleed the public treasury. Have we not already a Department of Agriculture and Statistics; a staff organized which, with a very slight increase, would be able to fill perfectly the blank of which we complain? As for the rest, the expenses would be nothing in comparison with the results. Amongst the benefits which we would secure by such legislation would be improved quarantine, which is much needed; the ren

100

Health

[SENATE.]

ment will see the propriety of having
medical men in this body. There is a
vacancy, just now, for Ottawa, and I
should be very much pleased if it were
filled by the appointment of a medical
man, and I should like to see all vacan-
cies as they occur filled in the same way,
until this body should cease to be called
the Senate, and become known as the
Doctors' Commons. There would not be
the slightest question but that much
might be done in the way of sanitary
legislation. In my native city of Halifax,

dering more healthy of infected centres, the suppression of epidemics, the perfect knowledge of their progress, knowledge of the medical constitution of the different parts of the Dominion, its medical geography, the registration of vital statistics, etc. For the present moment, I would wish that the entire Senate were composed of doctors, and our object would be gained; but I can count as safely upon the high intelligence of its members, belonging, as they do, to all professions and classes of society, who will not desert us in this important I remember well when typhus fever was matter, and will aid us to achieve suc- prevalent; and why was it so? The The houses occucess. Let us remember, hon. gentlemen, city lots had a frontage of thirty feet and that we have in our midst contagious a depth of sixty feet. zymotic diseases almost constantly, and pied the full frontage of the lots and exthat the means which we propose to tended back about forty feet from the adopt is the only way to eradicate them. street, leaving a yard twenty by thirty I do not propose to rest my case upon feet, in which could be found a well of quotations and figures, in view of the drinking water, other buildings necessary fact that they would be the same as those for the house and a pig-stye. What was with which my hon: friend has so per- the effect? The water that the people It drank was contaminated with the sewerfectly demonstrated his argument. would be a repetition of which I am age and other ejecta of the house and the incapable, and which you would not soakage from the pig-stye, and typhus I will content myself fever prevailed. I think almost everydesire to hear. with adding that we should not remain one in Halifax of my acquaintance, when behind other legislative bodies through- I was a young man, had had typhus fever, out the entire world; that all the medi- and very many were carried away by cal authorities demand the adoption of that disease. But eventually the styes sanitary laws, and that, in September were done away with, and pure water last, to mention but one fact, the great was brought into the city from the lakes, Medical Convention held here, in Ottawa and now the disease has almost disapitself, insisted at great length, and en-peared. Malignant diphtheria is a distered upon the minutes of its proceed-ease which appals every medical man. ings, a petition that the Federal Parlia- He feels when it enters a house (I regret What is the cause of it? Invament would take such steps as were to say) that what he can do is often of no within its power to establish for the avail. Dominion a central bureau of public riably I find where it appears that there health and vital statistics. I unite with is something wrong with the drain them in expressing my most ardent there is a leak most commonly in the desire that this should be done, and this kitchen sink drain, and a dark mud can is why I have so gladly seconded the be found composed of decomposed vege tation and animal matters from which motion of my hon. friend. the disease originates. Under proper supervision that would be prevented. Take a thing which you all know something about, and which certainly, if there the condiwas a sanitary commission or board of health, would be prevented I came up in one tion of Pullman cars. from Halifax to Quebec the other day, and paid $5 for the accommodation. What did I find when I entered the car? I appealed to the conThe mercury in the car would have been 80 or 90°.

Hon. Dr. ALMON - My professional
brother from Prescott has, in his able
way, addressed you on this important
subject, and covered all the ground. He
I have
has left very little for me to say.
no doubt that the hon. gentleman who
succeeded him, and who seconded the
motion, but whose speech, being in
French, I am ashamed to say I did not
understand, has also given much infor-
mation on the question, and the Govern-

So

ductor of the car to lower the tempera- | How can you sleep there? I am not a ture, but he said, "It is not too hot; I delicate man, but I must confess, after find it cool." If the Prophet Daniel had my journey from Halifax, I was laid not told us that Shadrech, Meschech and up for two day from the effects of this Abednego were of the neuter gender, and torture on the Pullman. Imagine the therefore unable to propagate their quality of the air you breathe when you species, I would have said they were the have in the same car with you persons progenitors of Pullman conductors in just recovered from small-pox or scarlet Canada. 1 appealed to him to open one fever; how diseases must be spread in of the ventilators. He said that he could that way, and how many deaths must renot do that; there would be a draught sult from these Pullman cars! If a buon the bald head of an old gentleman reau of health was established, I would who sat under it. I asked how the ther-suggest that a director of the Pullman mometer stocd. He replied there was Car Co., or the Grand Trunk Railway no thermometer. Then I asked him for Co., should be put into the space I have a drink of cold water. He took a tum- mentioned six feet long by three feet bler that the passengers cleaned their high and told he must stay there for teeth in, and brought me a drink out of twelve hours. Would not that be prothe cistern that was within three feet of per punishment? I think it was Sydney the furnace with which this child Shad- Smith who said that railway accidents rech heated the car. I tried to drink it, would not cease until a bishop or a membut found it impossible. I said, "Why ber of Parliament was killed in one. don't you put ice in it?" He said, "Ice I believe, unless you put a director of can't be got," although the mercury either of these companies - I am not was below zero, and the snow covered particular which- into the torture I the ground. I asked him to get me a was subjected to, and am likely to undrink from the cistern at the front dress- dergo again ere many weeks, you will not ing-room. He said, "I can't get it; prevent these practices until a bureau of ladies there." This was the experience health is established. by day. At night you are put into a berth about three times the size of a Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL — I decent coffin. It is six feet long and do not think we shall all agree in the about three feet high, the upper berth wish expressed by the hon. gentleman being let down. You call for the intelli- from La Valliere, that the House was gent darkey who assists the conductor composed exclusively of medical men, and ask, "Can't that be put up?" He but I am sure we all rejoice that there replies, "No; we are not allowed to do are medical men amongst us, and never that." This is to get another $5 out of have we had more cause to feel graetful The poorest beggar in the hospital for the fact than this afternoon, since in Halifax is allowed a certain number we have had a very instructive and useof cubic feet of space; but in the Pull-ful essay, if I may so speak, from the man car you are not allowed as many hon. member from Prescott on this imcubic inches. The curtains are closed about you and thus you are tortured through the night. If those who are connected with the Pullman cars are not made to answer for it in this world, by some commission such as my hon. friend speaks of, they will answer for it in the next. Even in the black hole of Calcutta, such torture was not inflicted upon the prisoners. In the Pullman the upper berth is let down on you in order that you may inhale your own carbonic acid gas. In the night the darkey, with his kerosene lamp, the effluvia of which is strongly suggestive of tomcats, walks up and down the car in front of you. Hon. Dr. Almon.

you.

portant subject. Admitting the value, as I do, and, as I am sure, every hon. gentleman who has heard it will do, of the hon. gentleman's suggestion on this important subject, and the desirability of dealing with it; and admitting also the results which might probably I might say certainly

be obtained from dealing with it; yet the practical difficulty comes up in the circumstances to which the hon. gentleman alluded that the Constitution has placed the control and duty of dealing with public health in the hands of the local legislatures, and not in the hands of Parliament. The hon. gentleman thinks that probably there

PROPERTY OF
CORDY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BELLEVILLE, ONT.

102

Health

have been put forward by the hon. gentleman and his colleagues of the medical profession in this House should and will have their just influence in the community. I say I will take care that they are properly brought under the notice of the Government, and every consideration given to the suggestions the hon. gentleman has made. I am sure the importance of them must be recognized at once by the Government, and by every government and legislature, and the question with everyone would simply be as to which power has the authority I am sure I to deal with it, and there would also be the question of expense.

[SENATE.] of over-nothing but confusion and disorder could be some means might coming the difficulty as regards the result from any legislation here. But constitutional question, and quotes the considering the existence of the other opinion expressed in the other branch of views to which I have alluded, and the Legislature by Sir Charles Tupper which are entitled to respect in this with respect to it; but, as I heard the point, and recognizing fully the importquotation, it seems to me that Sir Charles ance, the value and the desirability of Tupper did not think or say on that oc- dealing with it, I will take care that casion that this Parliament had control sufficient representation is made to the of the general subject of health. On the Government of the views to which such contrary, he expressed his regret, if I eloquent expression has been given in this heard the quotation aright, that it did House; for whether it comes under our not come within the purview of Par-power to deal with the subject or not, liament. I am afraid that that is the the opinions which case. I am assured that the subject is placed within the control of the local legislatures, and that my hon. friend's appeal should rather have been to them than to us. Nevertheless, I am conscious that perhaps some different views may be held, not only by my hon. friend, whose views are entitled to great respect, but also by legal men, who may have studied the Constitution with a knowledge which, I am sure, he does not assume to himself, and opinions may be held by them more akin to his than the views I hold myself. I have heard it urged that the measures to be adopted to this important end are measures which can only be useful if carried out through-speak the sentiment of everybody who out the whole Dominion, and on that ac- has heard the hon. gentleman who precount may come within the purview of sented the subject for consideration when this Parliament to adopt them, and that I say that the House is much indebted no local legislature could deal with the to him for the interesting remarks he subject so usefully as the Dominion Par- has made on this important question. liament could. But if the hon. gen- The Government readily assent to the on proposed address. tleman will think for a moment the various measures which he has sugbe put in gested as necessary to practice by a board of health, he will see that unless the law is clear as to the right to confer the required power, no useful legislation could be had from any quarter-the power of investigating the origin of disease which would need to be placed in the hands of the bureau. advocates the examination of drains, the examination of residences, and of persons, the examination of questions connected with the whole subject, in all its various These minutiae which he has described. could only be followed out and pursued by a body endowed with local authority, and that local authority must be sought from the proper source; and, if I am right in my opinion that it rests with the local legislatures, it is manifest that

He

The motion was agreed to.
Hon. Dr. BROUSE moved :-

"That a message be sent to the House of Commons requesting them to transmit for the information of this House:

"1st. A copy of the report of the Sanitary Committee appointed by the House of Commons in 1876. 2nd. A copy of the report of a similar committee appointed upon vital statis

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL-I presume the hon. gentleman wishes simother way. any ply to make this step more formal than it could be made in Hon. Dr. BROUSE - Yes. Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL

tics and public health in 1877."

have no objection to the motion.
The motion was agreed to.
The Senate adjourned at 5 p.m.

. I