To say that the people of civilized countries are daily subjected to dangers that the savage knows not of is but to state what almost amounts to a truism. It is equally evident that those who travel and those who live in cities are subjected to more perils, and oftener, than dwellers in the country. It is true that the savage incurs dangers that but seldom or never threaten civilized people, and he has no means of combating them except by his own prudence, will or strength. The chief dangers of civilization, however, are not always, or in the greater number of cases, to be avoided by prudence, skill or strength of any one man. They may be compared to a large army, and must be met as such by an army.
Of the numerous dangers to life and limb which are the accompaniments of civilization and improvements, the greatest