The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-20

present PRESIDENT John II. 6rscom NJ D., Vice Presi-
dent Fred s. Winston, Second Vice President; Elisha
harrs, D., Corresponding Secretary; G. r. Agnev NJ
D., Recording Secretary; Charles ". Elliott, Treasurer
THE nxmKD nrMBrRs OF COUNCIL
10 Seyps One Year-Peser Cooper, Egbcrt L. viele, O
O. Savage, John Watson, n. D.. Alfred c. Post, H. D. /;
John Torrey, N. D.
To SsrS T,eo Year-wilson G. Hunt, Prosper N.
wefmore, Benz R. Winthrop, Joseph NJ. Smith, NJ d. /;
Edwin R. Peasee, H. D.; Stephen smith, NJ. D.
The initiation fee 10 dollar, which must be paid
annually before February, according the established
rule OF order Nothing political or professional Of
partisan character shall be permitted In the discussions
Of the affairs Of the society The meeting held last even
ing in tho Hall Of the University, Medical College, o.
eight O'Clock, called 10 order by the President
Fred hather, in the chair, and after few brief
marks nom the Chair, Dr. john Fl. GRsooM delivered an
adofets as follows
In considering the general subject hygiene the atm
phege has generally claimed almost undecided attention
which one Of the as Of health this 10 sunlight,
and particularly sunlight in the dwelling OF the action
Of ehI IN promoting chemical composition and decompos
lion, we have abundant testimony. As a example we
may refer 10 the familiar Of mixing hydrogen
ana chlorine asses The affinity Of tbete substances
Always equal and powerful yet however thoroughly they
may mingle the dark their mixture is only mechanical
Dut On tne instant OF the penetration of ray Of sunlight
ney rush into chemical embrace with violently ex.
Piosse force The effect Of light IN dec0mposing and
blackenpg the nitrate, the iodde and the cniorde OF
SILVER a. well known. These substances must
be carefully protected from the light, or they are
vaues but when required for use their value depends
decomposition by the action Of light upon them
Respecting the influence Of light upon vegetable life we
ma sufficiently marked, not only on the COLOR but in
the form and deveopemento Of plants The common table
celery when shut in from the light, becomes only
white but crisp and tender whereas by exposure TO the
light turns green and ts flavor strong and ut
the same time becomes 1brous and tenacious An
account given by the celebrated Dr. Robinson Of Edn
burg OFT effect Of the absence Of light vegetable
growth In the drain Of coal mine under ound he &C.
edentaly lao his hand on very luxursnt plant, with
large ndented foliage, and perfectly white. He had not
what II was. BE had the plant, with sod, brought
into the open air in the light In little time the
leaves whered and soon leaves began to Shoot Of
green color and OF different shape. On rubbing Of
the leaves between his hands he found to be the
mon isnsy The arborist well knows with what senden-
win inc De e to s
the SUM- So marked Ia the effect Of light the color of
the leaves we frequently ind the hue Of side different
stance this and another 10 the leaf Of the 10 called s
yer tree, the under side Of which bears strong con-
trast the upper the variable hues Of the chame.
leon those Of the chapgeable silk Quite as marked
the influence OF light animal development on the
vegetable As an example will cite the experiment Of
tadpoes entirely excluded from light and although they
were well nouIshed and kept constantly in water they
increased IN SIZE but Their into the frog
the open air. That animals born and destined live in
total daykness are peculiarly organised admitted
fact ct least 80 far as such an anomaly is susceptible of
proof The fish born in the Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky
have no eyes, and II had present of inveeti
eating the organization Of this animal We would find other
marked pecuiiartee. II DeiBg thus demonstrated that
sunlight Exercises most decided chemical influence and
control over the organization Of plants brute animals
the conviction that in the living operations of the human
frame IL plays an important part The human body we
know, is ncessanty undergoing change. I: chemi-
cal compound OF the most complex character whose
numerous constituents never at rest but are CONT
nualiy dislnegratpg and recombinipg receiving new
materials and every momen. disengseing the old and
Gillette Especially 10 this the In infancy. The very
act Of death chemical act by which new compounds
are which did not before between the sepa
shown that the action Of sunlight is necessary to perfect
Sc be nss 20 81 IND tina.
Pfty he then illustrated the effect Of darkness az
Arctic Expeditions On" patea 5spm spr. Kane's
clan once bad patient whose caae pafed his skill. His
patient occupied small, close, DARK CHAMBER in o
street in which the SUMS rays penetrated; he
removed his patient to an apartment where the
suns rays penetrated, and cured her BE then
referred 70 our densely crowded poon alton in the
filthy portions Of city, The Inhabitants OF tenement
houses and cellars Twenty Thousand of population
be said live IN cellars and two hundred ana eighty
thousand 10 that peculiar Institution Of New York-ths
tenement house-and Il is no exaggsraon say that
out Of their bapnaoOs he then referred to me v.nsia
ton of scbcolhouses and also that of banking
houses and bosnefs offices; and traced the millionaire
from bis dungeon Office TO his dungeon home where art
hca light necessarily substituted for the cheering rays
the sum- The fono fashionable mother would see
celery her table bro health the cheek
Of her capf bier In fact mad dog have greater
dread Of water than fashionable belle OF the genial
After this address, report Of committee appointed
by this association 70 procure the passage the
improvement Of the public health Of New York city was
read by Mr.. WetmoTe. This report very lengthy,
and full of interesting facts and statements Time nor
space wtl hot allow s insertion here Among the state
from 1890 to 1885, smallpox 426 cases 10 this City in SIX
months, and not one Boston in two years. and where
the sanitary officer who can rase the finger OF prevention
N tbs ctyY The whole report bore down very heavily
on the Hon. Mr. Spencer, who promised bis influence TO
the passage Of the desired bill and refused his
support by the following letter.
Geptlemep-lt probably due to candor that should
make the following explanation Of my position have
given this subject my hest consideration bat cannot
consistently with my position In the party, give my sup
1t moved after the reading Of the report tina. it
should be printed Immediately and circulated
Mr.. WE7MoRE then sa;d-Wbile recognise the respon
sbiy of every word In this report say that lam
the author Of but small portion Of IT, It 70 due to Dr.
Grscom to cay that upon his Investigations and know
at large have entered into this subject with q zeal
and interest most praisewortby. If there ever was
y y any ss Of has
duct in this matter. When was permitted, by the
kind appointment Of the gentlemen present, 70
on that booy. There was collection Of intelligent men
Representing two opposing political bodies the party Of
Which have a.as been member beng the mosy The
my face with shame when announce that every member
Of that party which belong TO voted against that bill
people In this city suffering want Of proper
sanitary laws and will venture TO say that 100000 Of
that number are sick tonight But hope that we will
have an organization po~ that will this matter in
which party spirit cannot enter The press has not done
lie spty 10 this matter.
Rev. THEODORE CuYIER was then called on to deliver
few remarks BE had heard part OF the report on SAM
tafy legislation" and really i tried mans oltac,ory
10 hear it. BE felt like Saint Paul. when he said
" am citizen Of great city" He remarked, there
AYp thYaA In hotn N atn
York has more Of each than any those DID, worn out
cities Of antiquity, whose present condition Ia habtual
with us to point the finger Of at The single fact In
the report that New York may be made the
city 10 the world he considered the most admirable point
and still ranks among cites % the fhbest. God has
done everything for us and for the benefit public health
but what have ne done for ourselves?
After few remarks from the PRESIDENT the meeting
then adjourned
Brooklyn City News.
Two BOYS SHor ny THEIR UN1E-A man named Ed.
ward Eiwn, residing In the Of No. 1I6 Pearl street.
was arrested by the Second precinct police on wedues