The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-04
HIGHLY IMPORTANT REPORT.
SlNITlRY CONDITION OF NEW YORK CITY.
ALARMING MORTALITY.
THE CAUSES, PREVENTION AND CURE.
New York is the Most Unhealthy Of Cities, while
it Might be the Most Healthy.
>~~~~-~>~~~~~~~~SN~ON~
n MAS CHANGED PLACES WITH LONDON.
The United States the Most Healthy
Country in the World,
&C., &C., &c'
ALARMING MORTALITY.
THE CAUSES, PREVENTION AND CURE
n MAS CHANGED PLACES WITH LoND(

rse select committee appointed under the amended re-
solution Of the Senate the Sd Of APRIL 1868, in the TO-
lowing words, to wit
Whereas various applications have been made 70 the
a Is
Of The cy OF NEW aogk 81 s from
- cit land yr Brsndreth be appointed 70 make
any legislation requisite and necessary 10 increase
he efficiency O such department
Ark leave " suomit the following report and bill
ne committee entered upon the duty conhded to them
with full knowledge of the labor imposed and the con-
ssauences which would attach 10 any action they might
deem il advisable TO recommend to the Legislature.
Az the result to be attained must necessarily affect the
general welfare Of largo community, irrespective OF IN
divdual interests the committee determined to make
heir investigation free and broad possible was,
therefore, deemed expedent to issue subpnas or to
.dmuiser oaths to the persons called upon to make state
ments TO give testimony Printed notices were issued
10 all who were supposed to possess information which
could be useful the committee and the time and place
Sr holding their sttngs made known through the
vubhc prints TO the end that all parties feeling interest
in the subject under examination might voluntarily ap
pear and freely submit their views
To secure an accurately detailed account of their pro-
oeedings committee at their first session, appointed
secretary to act clerk seygeanta arms and pho
nsgrapher.
The public sessions Of the committee held in the
room at the City all appropriated 10 the library of the
Corporation.
or the large number of persons invited 10 give nform
tOn eiher orally in writing, twenty eight responded;
Of when twenty members Of the medical profession
comprising Of our most eminent and respected
payscians and surgeons in active practice and of large
experiepce It was the purpose of the committee in
the course of examination TO mpeach the conduct of
any funconary CT the city government their OBJECT was
70 deal with systems ana tne qpera'lons unaeI lnen IN
rected mperieet0ns removed Portions OF the test
opy however pointed directly TO the City Inspector
deuartInent that the committee felt 1t incumbent ON them
n Allow the fullest range to Mr. Norton the incumbent OF
that Office the explanations and statements submitted
BY him. The testimony on this branch OF the subject s
yery full and will convey the Legislature all that
be ead for and against the existing organization and
management of that department OF the city government
AT an early day after the commencement OF the invest
cation the Committee invited conference with the expe-
ricnced chief magistrate of the city, and frequent inter-
views we're had with that officer the various questions
before them The recorded testimony placed n the
hands OF Mayor Temasn for examination, and the Com
have the satisfaction OF believing that the views
expressed this report are IN accordance with those en-
To give proper form and method to the information
sought 70 he elected from competent witnesses the ques
tons were propounded under three general heads
AZ the alleged fact that the city of New York in
proportion its population has larger ratio Of mortality
q the alleged fact be established, to what genera!
the excess o. mortality 70 be ascrlbedY-and
ee great an evi)Y
There can be no question that under the first head the
Affirmative fully established. The testimony s clear
and conclusive verified by statistics ;nat have not
been successfully invaldated. Under the second
head the causes of excessive mortality are
mainly attributed the overcrowded condition Of ene
ent houses the want Of practical knowledge OF the pro-
per mode constructing such houses deficiency Of light
imperfect ventilation, impurities in domestic economy
unwhoesome food, insufficient sewerage, and want Of
cleanliness in the streets and at the wharves and piers
and finally to general disregard Of sanitary precau-
ons the imperfect execution Of existing ordn snces and
the total absence Of regularly organized efficient sani-
tary police. Under the third head many valuable sug
sestions will be found in the testimony and such
deemed udciOus and feasible embraced the
neDdations of this report
Notwithstanding the alarming facts stated in the esi
nnony which would almost sanction the idea that the
city universally in unhealthy condition, yet the
committee have ascertained from reliable evidence that
there are several remarkable exceptions to what might be
deemed the general rule.
There localities in the city in which the sanitary
condition OF Inhabitants not surpassed by the hea
thest portions OF any other city. In suppor! Of this
opinion the following table given the testimony OF the
City Inspector 10 whose general views on this branch oi
the subject the Committee desire specially 10 refer.
While they substantate the leading positions assumed in
this report they show conclusvey that under proper
managtnt New York may become in whole as well as in
o.r k.h hal D. ANTE in fha