The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-23
dBER OF DEATHS AT EACH QUINQUENSIAL PNRIOp
Ann nEC mn n uuM life


Published at a moment when terrible epidemic
is decimating the population Of sister city, and
when disease is gradually creeping upon us from
many quarters, this table is particularly valuable,
as il will direct attention to the influencing OF
death, which arise daily in this great city, both from
our social position and our neglect Of SANITARY pre-
cautions For exampe-we find that two hundred
and three perons died within thirty days from
sumption; Of whom one hundred and ten were
females and ninety-three males Now every physi-
cian every Psychologist is aware that the smallest
seed of pthiss or tuberculosis is nurtured to fatal
luxuriance in the vitiated atmosphere Of crowded
lodging house, or swcltering work ROOM The rents
here have run up to such pitch that tenements are
built with view to shelter as many human beings
as possible, without regard to their health, comfort
or mortality; and the industrious female who tolls
to support widowed mother or an orphaned sister.
has not only to pay for inhaling the poisoned air Of
such house during the night, but also sit in like
atmosphere during the day, in order to make up the
landlords money every month.
The encrvated male artisan with delicate lungs Is
regularly poisoned from like causes, and thus wc
see that OF all the deaths from consumption, one
hundred and six Of the deceased were between thu
ages Of twenty and forty years. the periods at which
lie is most valuable to the reproductive wealth Of
city, and the happiness Of its people. How many Of
their could have been saved by more airy apafs
n,ents, ample public parks. and cheerful worroom,
it is not for us to conjecture. Eightyfve persons
were taken of by the various feyers the typhus fe.
yer alone killing twenty.
1t Is clearly demonstrated that in fevers Of the
typhus, typhoid, and rcmittent type, the crisis ID
often rendered mortal, or fatal result is fastened y
the operation Of the causes VIC have alluded b.
Two hundred and ninety-ei yht persons died Of d.
sente1y and darrhGa, Of whom one hundred and
fity.two were females. Although the prevalence II
these affections is not wonderful, ct season whu
the markets glutted With unripe fruits and when
an unusual quantity Of vegetable food Is taken, stu
there are no diseases more difficult of cure when the
patients ore located in damp cellars, nlventihta
rooms inhaling the carbon arising from negleotet
cess pools, filthy streets, or unwashed sewers. Con
geston Of the brain and lungs took away Ext
persons, and different violent inf ammatons one hun
dred and ninety. Twenty-sx Of tho former, an,
eighty Of the latter, were females. Fourteen womc
died Of disease Of the heart, Of whom seven were be
tween twenty and thirty years of age Three hun
drcd and eight children, under ten years OF age died
OF cholera iafantum, and ninety of dropsy in the
head, none oi whom had reached fifteen. Twenty
one were lost by smAll pox, and twenty.eight by
Group. Tbirty-two persons we're drowned, and four
teen drunkards expired in delirium tremens. Maras
mus, which may be dcnominnted as an infant per
soniGcation Of i'm pure air, bad nursing, improper
food, anl filth, killed one hundred and fftytwo In
fants.
il soace permitted, we would extend our analysis
Of Doctor Downings return, for whom we beg the
assistance Of the medical priciti mers of the city In
the fnrtherance Of his enleavor for health improves
mens an ongst US. Perhaps there is no class OF men
which possesses more allie u accurate staticians
in its ranks than the me- al body docs, yet II IL
lamentabe to see hoy often they entertain a repug.
nance to tho most humane science OF mortality
record by which. II cnergetcely attended to by
them, they would convince orr lazy corporations OF
the value Of hunaD lie, The simple means by which
il can be preserved lEi extended and ofthe absolute
good Of sanatlry regulation and fixed social rule,
nose quickly tn he tet en1eav r. Of The press, o.
other noLpro'o, siorol citizens. We hope the doaor4
will mako mOvo soon.