exists. The great variety of diseases, and the infinite and evervarying forms in which they appear in living individuals, render it very difficult to ascertain, always, what their exact natures are, or what appropriate remedies should be applied for their removal. And in looking over the history of medical practice, as exhibited in the books, it is curious to observe how many successive theories have been set up by one man or set of men, and have been overturned and demolished by another, or abandoned by the authors themselves. The cause of this great variety and change of opinion is to be found, either in an honest desire for the truth, and a belief that it has been discovered, or in a desire to introduce some new theory, that may attract notoriety and promise wealth to its advocates. This has given rise to the numerous medical systems and denominations which have existed and continue to exist. The great error has been in forming theories upon observations or statements, without duly inquiring whether they have been sufficiently numerous, and have been carefully and truthfully made, upon a uniform and comprehensive plan, or whether they are otherwise imperfect. Any theory, however plausible, resting upon a basis in which imperfection exists, is liable to be overthrown.

One great desideratum seems to be a register of cases, for private professional practice, constructed on a plan so simple in its requirements, so convenient in its form, at so low a cost, and so comprehensive in its design, that it shall commend itself to universal favor, and be universally used. If such a desirable end could be attained, means would be provided, which have not hitherto existed, to illustrate the causes, nature, effects, and treatment of disease. The abstracts of a large number of authentic registers, if properly presented to the public, would, it is believed, overthrow and destroy much of the medical theory and practice of the age, and introduce a more natural, rational, and successful system.

"The private register of the medical practitioner," says Mr. Farr, "would, at the end of a few years, be of incalculable benefit to him; he might refer back to it for important information, transmit it to his sons or successors in practice, analyze the results of his experience, and, in conjunction with his

brethren all over the country, would ultimately accumulate a large mass of materials, which could not fail to advance medical science. Too much need not be attempted at first; all cases should be noticed; but those facts should be chiefly recorded which are of an unquestionable nature, and that admit of precise statement and comparison, in respect to number, time, weight, and measure."

How shall this register be constructed? We have examined a large number of different plans, but none of them exactly meet our views. After consulting with several different physicians, whose opinions and approval are entitled to all respect, we propose one for adoption, a double page of which is presented and explained in the appendix. It may be afforded at a low price; and its form is such that it may be conveniently carried about by the practitioner, thus allowing him to have at hand the means of entering his observations in the place and at the time they are made.

Such a register would enable the physician to give the certificate of the cause of death, required under the registry laws, and also to give the amount of sickness suffered in any family he visits, as proposed to be obtained in our XXVth recommendation.

XLVII. WE RECOMMEND that clergymen of all religious denominations make public health the subject of one or more discourses annually, before their congregations.

The American Quarterly Register, Vol. XII, for February, 1840, contains a plan for an Ecclesiastical Register, in which several forms for keeping records are suggested; and among others, one for the record of deaths which take place among the members of the church and congregation. The introduction into Massachusetts of a system of public registration renders some of the particulars there proposed to be recorded, unnecessary; yet it would be useful to any clergyman to know some facts concerning the history of every person in his congregation, and especially those who become or cease to be members of his church; and he should keep records for this purpose. The name, sex, date of and age at admission; date of dismission, of removal, or of death; cause of and age at

death, are important to be recorded. It would enable him to give a history of human life, localized so as to include acquaintances and fellow-worshippers. The influence of sickness and death upon the congregation; the number who have died during the year; the increase and decrease of epidemic and other fatal diseases; the state of the public health of the town, of the State, and of the world; the laws by which physical life and health are improved; the wonderful plan of human organization; the incomings and outgoings of human existence; man's mortality, and its connection with immortality; the nature, design, and importance of sanitary measures, and their intimate relation to moral and spiritual life; and the various collateral subjects connected with these matters, are themes of absorbing interest, and cannot fail of suggesting the most useful and important lessons,-physical, social, moral, and religious;—and as such, they very appropriately come within the sphere of a clergyman's duty.

XLVIII. WE RECOMMEND that each family keep such records as will show the physical and sanitary condition of its members.

Between the sanitary condition of families and of the State an intimate relation exists. What affects the former must of course affect the latter. And reform, if begun at all, must first commence in these primary communities. It is here that those great principles of sanitary improvement, which promise such favorable results, must first be adopted and developed. A system of simple but exact observations, concerning the physical condition and progress of the different members of the family, would greatly aid all concerned in the adoption of such a plan of management as would promote their highest welfare and improvement.

In 1841, a "System of Family Registration" was published, which contained, among other matters, blanks, for entering, in a simple and concise manner, some of the personal and physical facts concerning the members of the family. Among the blanks was one designed to exhibit some of the main facts concerning each child; another, the sickness suffered; another, the progressive development in weight and height; and another, the average physical and social condition, the increase, and

the longevity of the members of the families bearing one's own name, from whom descended, and with whom immediately connected. Six classes of facts were suggested, which might come under notice in the records, to be observed or omitted, as circumstances or convenience might dictate. "1. Physical Facts; 2. Intellectual Facts; 3. Moral and Religious Facts; 4. Professional Facts; 5. Miscellaneous Facts; and 6. General Results." The design of these suggestions was, to obtain the physical and sanitary facts relating to genealogy.2

The following are the headings of some of these blank forms. One of them covers two opposite pages, for making, on the left, a record concerning the father, and, on the right, concerning the mother; and, under them, the following particulars concerning the children:

"Chart showing the progressive development in weight and height":

"Chart showing the sickness suffered in the family" :

We select the following inquiries relating to the first class of facts:

"I. Physical facts.-1. The height and weight of children at birth, and at the end of each three months, during the first year of life; also, the height, weight, and strength of the several members of the family, to be taken and recorded on each birth-day or new-year's day. 2. At what age and date began to walk alone and to talk; at what age attained the greatest height, weight and strength; and at what age began to decline. 3. Causes which promote or retard the growth of the body. 4. The color of the hair, the eyes, the complexion of the skin, the tone of the voice, or any other peculiar formation or expression, and whether they have been uniform through life. 5. The phrenological characteristics and developments of the different individuals, and of the same individuals at different ages. 6. In what respects the children, either in person or temperament, resemble the father, mother, or any other more distant ancestor or relative; and the peculiar temperament or propensity of individuals. 7.

The following facts are selected, as illustrations, from the entries concerning five families in Massachusetts,—A, B, C, D, and E, in the table entitled "The Physical and Social Condition, the Increase and Longevity :".

This table shows, in the last column, that in the total of the five families named, containing 170 persons, 90 were males,

Effect of marriages between blood relations, and of other marriage connections; and of peculiar propensities of fathers or mothers on offspring. 8. Effect of peculiar diet, food, clothing, exercise, exposure, amusements, and occupation; of sedentary, active, and other habits of life; of climate, seasons, place of residence, and other external circumstances or influences, on physical developments, health, disease, and life. 9. Accidents which affect the body, the mind, and the general health; what they are, and the date and place of their occurrence. 10. When vaccinated, or had measles, hooping cough, or other epidemic diseases; the name, characteristics, and various forms of all diseases, the date of their commencement and termination, and their effect on the constitution; the length of time disabled by sickness, name of physician, and remedies used. 11. When eyesight or hearing began to fail, and the cause of failure 12. The cause, place, and particulars of death."

As a further illustration of this subject, we have compiled from M. Quetelet's valuable work, "Sur L'Homme," the following table, representing the weight and height of males and females, in Belgium, at different periods of life

The report on "The Physical and Moral Condition of the Children and Young Persons employed in Mines and Manufactories," contrasts the height and size of children employed