The herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1835-1837, 1836-02-19
PUBLIC HEALTH.

One Of the most sing ular phenomena which has re
Gently ATTRACTED the attention of scientific men, is the
present peculiar winler-par Of which have passed.
and the rest we are passing-a winter, during which
the depth aud quantity of snow-the intensity Of the
.cold-and the sudden changes almost without a
precedent and beyond the recolectons OF the oldest in
habitanis No resemblance TO the features Of the pre-
sent winter be found I'LL go back to the earliest
colonial history when will find the SHOWS equally
deep-he cold equally inensive-but the sudden trans
ons scarcely existing at all. in the latter respect
therefore, present winter differs from any that we
have heard read of
scientific inquiry into the causes Of the severity of
the weather, may give rise to many anciful theories in
interchangeable history of comets-natural changes
of the earth and panes-together with variety Of
speculation Of il good and useful, and other of
il baseless the cloud that hangs the top of
Hoboken hill. One thing is evident. Whatever NAV
be the with meteorological the re
murkable features of the present wnterits effects du-
ring the breaking up in spring, and upon various other
natures in the of the next may be ex-
pected as sure the rises east of BROOKLYN aad
sets west of Jersey City.
In reading the other day one of the ingenious
medical articles of Dr. Brandreth who speculales like
philosopher the qualities of the atmosphere of tins
country we led investigate the peculiar effects
of the present remarkable winter upon vegetable and
animal life, during the expected change of season and
ND to the commencement of another winter.
And FIRST ofvege,able life. Ii is kaown among med-
cal men and chemists that quantities of sapetre
are held suspension in the atmosphere and that from
some peculiar inherent property, is absorbed in the
formation of in the upper regions and ultimately
falls with il to the earth below. The that
falls the more of the original substance of sapetre falls
also. 1t is well known among farmers that heavy
snow during winter always leaves slime on the
ground which, during the ensuing summer is highly ia
vorable to luxuriant vegetation Heavy crops of corn,
wheat and all vegetable productions follow long and
dreary winter This is matter of common observation
in the country, though probably little known in the
crowded streets Of city.
The abundance and variety Of vegetation following
snowy winter produced by the mpregnalion of salt
petre and kindred chemical salts, which, by a law of
nature mixes and blends with the snow. and falls wi
il to the earth. Every body who has the spring
break up in the country, knows that there is brown
dark, Shiny substance always left by heavy snow
bank after it mes away, and that the spot MANFRED
is Of all others the richest in its subsequent crop of
grass coru
II will be seen from these that the feavy
SHOWS and severe winter give the promise of of
the greatest crops year. that the country probably
II next nav be inquired what effects the present win
ter may produce animal e-in other words on the
public health.
In looking over the Annual Report of Deaths in
New Ysrk for 1885, published by order of the Common
Council" we find that the past year exhibits state of
public health-of absence from epidemic and all ma
lgnant disorders-the most remarkable that the city
has experienced for years past For many years New
York has been untouched by epidemic Diseases except
the yellow fever in 1921 and the cholera in 1892 Dur
ing both these years, if remember right the preced
ing winter was peculiarly s:verebut nothing to what
we have experienced during the present one.
Yet, although epidemic disease more easily produces
panic, is well known TO men of science that the per-
manent and almost household diseases far greater
scourges upon the human race. The aggregate deaths
of few particular diseases in this city, during the last
twenty years, stand as foows-c0nsumption 1889
commissions 479-typhus fever 3,269-chelera 4,484-
showing OF once that consumption is the great scourge
Of New York. and exceeds other diseases ia the ratio OF
Hto6.
II 10 generally considered among medical men that
the breaking up of the present heavy winter will pro-
duce crowds of diseases particularly pleursy, fever
and all such as arise from sudden atmospheric changes
and heavy thaws. If the present winter turn out TO be
highly favorable vegetable life, it is equally certain
that animal life-particularly human life-nust en-
counter severe struggle during the transitions Of the
season. The rich and wealthy, by skill and means can
take care of their health with ease-but the poor are
r