Note 48 — PART I. OF THE GENERAL CAUSES OF DISEASES. (continued 2)
Reading edition
As it is impossible to be thoroughly clean without a sufficient quantity of water, we would earnestly recommend it to the magistrates of great towns to be particularly attentive to this article. Most great towns in Britain are so situated as to be easily supplied with water; and those persons who will not make a proper use of it, after it is brought to their hand, certainly deserve to be severely punished. The streets of great towns, where water can be had, ought to be washed every day. This is the only effectual method for keeping them thoroughly clean; and, upon trial, we are persuaded it will be found the cheapest.
Some of the most dreadful diseases incident to human nature might, in my opinion, be entirely eradicated by cleanliness.