ABSTRACT
Andrew Buchanan statistically explores the geography of disease, combines generaltruths with powerful anecdotes to assess the adequacy of existing institutions. He suggests that the time has come to confront social problems which haveworsened, and which have not been adequately addressed by the responsibleauthorities. Physical causes of disease had no such unacceptable implications. Buchanan’s comments got him into serious trouble, so much so that his futureprospects for medical appointments were curtailed. He resigned the journal’s editorship and his post as district surgeonin the Wynds. Glasgow was, like Manchester, a shock city of the industrialrevolution, but the direful condition of its population reflected not only thefluctuations of expanding industry but the land-clearing policies of a newcadre of market-oriented Highland aristocrats. Remoralization, delivered through instruction and admonition by elders and deacons, played amuch larger part than meeting physical needs of food, heat, housing and medicalcare.
