Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 13, MAT-MIC

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M E B I
Medical Many of It? principles have been long acknowledged,
* °^ce' and conlidered as neceflary confequences of medical and
political truths •, and fome few of them have acquired
the authority of laws. But it was referved for the phi¬
lanthropic Frank, to collect the whole into one vaft
and beneficent fyllcm, and to feparate it from juridical
medicine ; in the old fyftems of which, it was neglect¬
ed, or mentioned only in a few Ihort paragraphs. His
enlarged mind perceived at once, and fully vindi¬
cated its importance. The very name of Medical Po¬
lice, is now fufficient to attract the attention of legifia-
tors and of magiftrates, and to make them defirous of
becoming acquainted with its principles, and anxious to
fee them carried into execution. In fa£t, its influence
is already vifible in the countries where it is cultivated.
If the principles of medical police were feparated from
the profeflional part of medicine, and communicated in
a form generally intelligible, in what country have we
reafon to exped: more beneficial effefts from its influ¬
ence than this ? Where is the fpirit of patriotifm and
benevolence fo prevalent ? What nation is more gene¬
rous in its public inftitutions. Where does the indivi¬
dual facrifice a part of his wealth fo willingly for the
benefit of the community ? It feems only neceflary to
prove that an undertaking will be of advantage to the
Hate, to have it carried into inftant execution. But,
■ can medical knowledge be more ufefully employed than
in pointing out the means of preferving or improving
health ; of fupplying healthy nourilhment to the poor,
specially in times of fcarcity ; of oppofing the intro-
duftion of contagious difeafes, and of checking their
progrefs ; of fecuring to the indigent the advantages in¬
tended by their benefa&ors ; of rearing the orphan to
be the fupport of the nation which has adopted him j
and of diminilhing the horrors of confinement to the
poor maniac and the criminal ? Thefe good effects
are not to be promoted fo much by rigid laws, as by
recommendation and example. Nor can it be reafon-
ably objected to a fyftem of medical police, that it is a
pleafing dream, which flatters the imagination, but the
execution of which is in reality impracticable. As
well might we entirely throw afide the rules of hu¬
manity, becaufe no one is able to obferve them all;
or live without laws, becaufe no exiiting code is unex¬
ceptionable.
Medical police may be defined,—The application of
the principles deduced from the different branches of
medical knowledge, for the promotion, prefervation and
reftoration of general health.
I he effeCts to be expeCted from it are the general
welfare of the ftate, and increafe of healthy population ;
and are to be attained by means of public inltitutions,
exprefs laws, and popular inftruCtion. InftruCting the
people, and convincing them of the propriety of certain
precautions and attentions, in regard to their own and
the general ftate of health, are neceffary to fecure the
good effeCts of our public inftitutions and regulations ;
to obtain refpeCt and obedience in many things, to
which no exprefs law can be adapted ; and, to induce
them to forego what may be prejudical to the fafety of
the community, and of themfelves.
Public medical inftitutions and laws, muff be adapted
to the country for which they are intended. Many lo¬
cal circumftances, national character, habits of life, pre¬
valent cuftoms and profeflions, fituation, climate, &c.
CINE.
, Appendix.
make comidcraDie varieties necenary# And many in- Medical
ftitutions, many a law which would be highly beneficial Police
to the public health, in fome circumftances, would be ^
ufelefs, impracticable, and even hurtful, in others.
Thefe caufes and their effeCts, rnufi, therefore, be par¬
ticularly attended to.
The principal authors who have writen on this fub-
jeCt, are Alberti, Heifter, Plaz, Frank, Huffty, Metz¬
ger, and Hebenftreit; to whom we may add Howard
and Rumford
The fubjeCts which it comprehends, cannot be claf-
fed very regularly or fyftematically. Its views.will be
different, according to occafional and temporary caufes;
and its interference may fometimes be advantageouilv
extended beyond what may feem the ftriCt limits of a
branch of the medical profeflion.
Medical Police relates to
The Situation of Places of Abode. ConftruClion
of houfes.
Air. Means of counteraffing its impurity—Its various
impregnations.
Water. Its neceffity and purity.
Food. Its various kinds—Comparative quantities of
nourifnmeat afforded by them—Cheaper
kinds, which may be fafely fubftituted in
times of fcarcity—Bread—Animal food—
Butcher meat—Fifh—Vegetables—Veffels
Cookery ; Flealthy ; (Economical.
Drink. Beer—Ale—Porter—Cyder—Spirituous li¬
quors—Wine—Warm drinks—Adultera¬
tions of thefe liquors—Hurtful additions—■
Veffels.
Fire and Light.
Clothing.
Cleanliness.
Professions. Manufa&urers — Mechanics—Soldier*
■—Sailors^Men of letters.
Healthy Propagation.
Pregnant and Puerperal Women.
New-Born Infants. Regifters of birth.
Physical Education.
Prevention of Accidents. From poifon—Hurtful
Effluvia—Maniacs—Rabid animals.
Restoration of the Apparently dead. Humane
Societies—Care of the dying—Danger of
too early—too late burial—Places of inter¬
ment—manner of conducing it—Bills of
mortality.
Contagious and Epidemic diseases. Plague—Pu¬
trid fever—Dyfentery—Smallpox—Inocu¬
lation—Extirpation of them—Leprofy—
Itch and pox—Precautions to be taken,
to prevent their introduction, to diminifh
their violence, to deftroy their caufe, and to
counteract their effeCts.
Management of Public Institutions in -which
many people are collected under the care of
the public.
Hofpitals for the Indigent:
1. Lying-in Hofpitals.
2. Foundling ditto.
3. Orphan ditto.
4. Hofpitals for Education.
5. Aged