The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-21
The Deaths In tine Tombs.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.

TONES NEW YORK; April TO- 1863.
srR-ln your paper of to-day, find queries d.
reced to reference to the deaths at the pr.
son, which, in justice to myself shall answer as briefly
as temperately, and rs truly as lean.
quitted the city prison late Sunday evening having
fulfilled my duties towards all whom knew to be in any
way aling At little after daylight Monday morn
ing was summoned by Mr. Finley, the night watch to
the prison. where he said there three dead and
two Sick having been attacked during the night. Invent
with him Immediately On arriving found two men ly
ing in the main hail. the sove on straw mattresses
aporlectic One Of them recovered. OF Mlermasters'
recovery had no hope from the moment him. The
three dead men had before my arrival been placed in
collins in the yard to await inquiry.
The two hick men Immediately conveyed to the
hospital room laid mattresses iron peadsteads
wen covered OF hot Eater applied to their extrem
ties ice to the head and mustard freely 70 the surface
The German recovered in very few hours and is now
well Milermaster lived for twenty four hours ipsens
BILE and swallowing with great dfculty having been in
debted for that long existence to the active
enforced not leave the prison during the entire dsv
think that this plain and unvarnished statement Of
facts replies to all the questions which, in view Of It,
hope you will regret to have hastily to me
through your columns and with evident bias towards
considering me guilty Of ignorance, negligence, and nhu-
no blame far rs sec bs justly attributed to them
for the inherent architectural geographical de-
the public will surely not hold me responsible For its
cleanliness, far as it depends me- am willing to
be bound cannot help the every day occurrence Of
convulsons among inebriates, though save many OF
them being always on the spot. But in the six years
that have occupied the Office Of City Prison Physician
degree of immunity from endemic influences mas ex.
listed there truly wonderful and for which must beg to
be allowed to claim some merit And will venture fur
Tier 10 assert that preceding incumbent has given to
the prison the same time and ate ntion that have
believe official conduct is assailed for the rst
time either by the press the public the profession
and challenge in all that relates 1t the most search
ing scrutiny.
In regard to the pquest-in which did not interfere
leaving the Coroner his unba ssei action the.
choice OF his own physicians, witnesses &C.. and Who J.
think die his duty very boncrably-I have only to say
that gave my opinion as it was without considering
now ar i conceded with bodys viz that the men
died OF commissions induced by congestion (apopexy)
resulting from long continued n.emperance hastened
perhaps in three Of them by the depressing influences
Of confinement for few hours in cool and damp cell,
in an atmosphere made noxous by the foulness the
exhaistions IRON their persons However is the
fir time prisoners have been taken sick in that CELL
TO my knowledge. All the found by Dr. Uhl to-
be affected with diseases of various organs al OF which
tended to suddenly fatal termna ton and were i'll cal.
cused to Withstand any depressing influences whatever
With these remarks remain sir, your obedient ser
want, JOHN c. COVIL NJ. D.,
Physician to CITY Prison.