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

dering more healthy of infected centres, | ment will see the propriety of having the suppression of epidemics, the perfect medical men in this body. There is a knowledge of their progress, knowledge vacancy, just now, for Ottawa, and I of the medical constitution of the differ- should be very much pleased if it were ent parts of the Dominion, its medical filled by the appointment of a medical geography, the registration of vital sta- man, and I should like to see all vacantistics, etc. For the present moment, I cies as they occur filled in the same way, would wish that the entire Senate were until this body should cease to be called composed of doctors, and our object the Senate, and become known as the would be gained; but I can count as Doctors' Commons. There would not be safely upon the high intelligence of its the slightest question but that much members, belonging, as they do, to all might be done in the way of sanitary professions and classes of society, who legislation. In my native city of Halifax, 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 cess. 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. The houses occuzymotic 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 fectly demonstrated his argument. It drank was contaminated with the sewerwould 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 desire to hear. I will content myself fever prevailed. I think almost everywith 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 ment would take such steps as were to say) that what he can do is often of no within its power to establish for the Dominion a central bureau of public health and vital statistics. I unite with them in expressing my most ardent desire that this should be done, and this is why I have so gladly seconded the motion of my hon. friend.

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 has left very little for me to say. I have 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 information on the question, and the Govern

avail. What is the cause of it? Inva-
riably I find where it appears that there
is something wrong with the drain —
there is a leak most commonly in the
kitchen sink drain, and a dark mud can
be found composed of decomposed vege
tation and animal matters from which
the disease originates. Under proper
supervision that would be prevented.
Take a thing which you all know some-
thing about, and which certainly, if there
was a sanitary commission or board of
health, would be prevented the condi-
tion of Pullman cars. I came up in one
from Halifax to Quebec the other day,
and paid $5 for the accommodation.
What did I find when I entered the car?
The mercury in the car would have been
80-
or 90. I appealed to the con-

my journey from Halifax, I was laid up for two day from the effects of this torture on the Pullman. Imagine the quality of the air you breathe when you have in the same car with you persons just recovered from small-pox or scarlet fever; how diseases must be spread in that way, and how many deaths must result from these Pullman cars! If a bureau of health was established, I would suggest that a director of the Pullman Car Co., or the Grand Trunk Railway Co., should be put into the space I have

So

high. and told he must stay there for
twelve hours. Would not that be pro-
per punishment? I think it was Sydney
Smith who said that railway accidents
would not cease until a bishop or a mem-
ber of Parliament was killed in one.
I believe, unless you put a director of
either of these companies - I am not
particular which into the torture I
was subjected to, and am likely to un-
dergo again ere many weeks, you will not
prevent these practices until a bureau of
health is established.

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 not told us that Shadrech, Meschech and Abednego were of the neuter gender, and therefore unable to propagate their species, I would have said they were the progenitors of Pullman conductors in Canada. 1 appealed to him to open one of the ventilators. He said that he could not do that; there would be a draught on the bald head of an old gentleman who sat under it. I asked how the thermometer stocd. He replied there was no thermometer. Then I asked him for a drink of cold water. He took a tum-mentioned six feet long by three feet bler that the passengers cleaned their teeth in, and brought me a drink out of the cistern that was within three feet of the furnace with which this child Shadrech heated the car. I tried to drink it, but found it impossible. I said, "Why don't you put ice in it?" He said, "Ice can't be got," although the mercury was below zero, and the snow covered the ground. I asked him to get me a drink from the cistern at the front dressing-room. He said, "I can't get it; ladies there." This was the experience 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 Con-
stitution 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
CORBY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BELLEVILLE, CHI.

might be some means of over-nothing but confusion and disorder could 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 have been put case. I am assured that the subject is forward by the hon. gentleman and placed within the control of the local le- his colleagues of the medical profession gislatures, and that my hon. friend's ap- in this House should and will have peal should rather have been to them their just influence in the community. than to us. Nevertheless, I am con-1 say I will take care that they are proscious that perhaps some different views perly brought under the notice of the may be held, not only by my hon. friend, Government, and every consideration whose views are entitled to great re- given to the suggestions the hon. genspect, but also by legal men, who may tleman has made. I am sure the imhave studied the Constitution with a portance of them must be recognized at knowledge which, I am sure, he does not once by the Government, and by every assume to himself, and opinions may be government and legislature, and the held by them more akin to his than the question with everyone would simply views I hold myself. I have heard it be as to which power has the authority urged that the measures to be adopted to to deal with it, and there would also be this important end are measures which the question of expense. I am sure I 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 tleman will think for a moment on proposed address. the various measures which he has suggested as necessary to be put in 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. He 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 minutiae which he has described. These 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

The motion was agreed to.

Hon. Dr. BROUSE moved :

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

"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 statistics and public health in 1877."

I

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL presume the hon. gentleman wishes simply to make this step more formal than it could be made in any other way.

Hon. Dr. BROUSE - Yes.
Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL
have no objection to the motion.
The motion was agreed to.
The Senate adjourned at 5 p.m.