New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-06

persisted in if il were not supposed to have some
effect.
So much is said with perfect prOpriety) in the
newspapers of the public duty of cleaning the
thoroughfares of this metropolis, that may be in
danger Of forgetting our private and personal re-
sponsibilty However highly the health Of the City
might be promoted during the ensuing Summer By
decent condition Of the streets, we should reach
somewhat nearer the point of possible salubrity if
every householder would render bis own domiclle
fortress against the attacks Of the pestience. We
are well aware that those who stand in greatest
need Of such suggestions those who do not read
newspapers, or at least such newspapers as THE
TRIBUNE; but on the other hand people who live
in very good houses may sometimes be guilty of
errors in domestic economy apparently trivial until
their fatality has been demonstrated. The " Ma
tionsl in Washington, was ga tirstclass hotel,
aud considered respectable enough to receive the
President elect of the United States To the eye
of the most fastdous guest we suppose that pre-
sented no indication of the malarious mischief
which it harbOred; and yet the atmosphere OF
Kitchen and psrlor, of dining room and bed-cham-
ber was tainted. We hope, therefore, that every
man in New-YoIk will look carefully to his own
premises: will see that there are about them no
unwholesome vaults or choked sewers: that no de-
cayed vegetables remain in his cellar; that lis res
dence is in every respect as Clearly as ventilation
and securing and withdrawing can make it.
Still another duty which he owes to himself and
bis family is to be unusually careful in the selection
of food for bis table To feed children with distil
lery slcps because sundry traders please to call
them milk, is merely to commit murder IN slow
way and from benevolent motives. The markets
for the next four or FIVE months will be full of crude
or decay ed fruits and vegetables, tainted meat, stale
feb. and other dietetic nominations Those who
do not wish to poison their families and themselves
must be willing TO spend little time and if neces-
sary. little money in making good selections.
single act of careessness in this respect may bring
bereavement and long sorrow. To the class
which we are addressing we hope We need say
nothing of the necessity OF frequent personal alb
lutions and of abstinence from ardent spirits.
But it is proper that We should utter
word of warning against the use of
those drugs and nostrums which, should
an epidemic ensue, will be impudently and peril
acitusly thrust upon the public attention. 1t is
an sggrayation Of the horrors of pestilence, when
(as is usually the case)a hundred Specifics
Elixirs. " Panaceas" and - Preyentiyes" are
brought forward by the mercenary and the specu-
lative. Our readers should understand that, If
these things do good in Of disease they do it
merely by accident, aud that they are far more
likely to kill than to cure. Cholera medicines are
usually compounded Of brandy aud opium, the use
of which is never safe except when they are pre-
scribed by intelligent medical men. What the yell
hw fever remedies are made Of we do not know,
and we do not care to know. A disease which
has puzzled the most skiful physicians will not
probably yield to the concOctions Of ignorant EN-
prizes.
Our lest advice to all who are obliged to remain
in TIE City is, Keep COOL and do not work your
selves to death" 1t will be better to earn little
less money even in these times of high prices, than
to tax to prostration the physical powers. We
cannot help thinking that there are many days in
july and August when the City labOrer may easily
work himself into disease, particularly if he also
INDUCES in copious lbatons Of iced water, and re-
freshes himself in the evening by sitting in cur
rent Of air We are not, of course, advising any
BODY TO be indoent we are only begging, every
body TO be- prudent Ii is so much the habit OF the
American, whether he be merchant or me
chanc. to drive iuriously ahead, without the least
care Of consequences, that there is small danger Of
intoxicating habits Of lsziness. The evils of this
impetuosity may be seen every day in the obituary
columns Of the newspapers. Indeed, We have
heard that our doctors think seriously of estab-
fishing "a new disease to be called the mercantile
psralNss." or some such name.
We have thrown out these hints TO those who
have been blessed by Providence with ability to
understand them and the power TO act upon them.
But there is another cass, buried in squalidty and
noisomeness, crowded into the damp cellars and
close chambers Of the tenant houses, utterly lgnO-
rant Of the first principles of the art OF preserving
health, of habits coarse, and uncleany aud vicious
OF this, thousands annually perish, and this year,
who knows how many will go down to the gravel
What can save these men, women and children
from premature dissolution!
The New Orleans newspapers are respondent
g William W,lkar'a