The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-13
TENEMENT HOUSES IN NEW Y0RF.

Raxv We Live In the UIeas Mes
vital stauistics-How NAM ~. tr
Their own h""ses' IN" .ow Many in
hired Tenements-A Com onr,sou ar Our
statistics with Those ar O,n.r C,,ses.
sc &c.
m preparing this globe for ho haha,,on or the human
race the Creator has thong nj nroner IN anciece Il with
niiy miles OF atm phere extending from its sur
fa.e up"ares ao'" Iy adapted to the support of ami
maj ne oneNas"J informs that this atmospheric
an 50 sountn"1 supplied, is composed Of two simple or
eiem' mary suftances, bodies eithor Of which, when
sSeatea akAe would be fatal existence but when
conoD I'd in certain proportions are admirably adapted
10 w. preservation OF health. These two elementary
sw stances called oxygen and nitrogen, and
bined in the atmosphere the proportions OF about
OF the former to seventynin OF the latter IN
every hundred psrts. On every rsrt of the easshs
these proportions found about the
On The tops Of the highest mountains, far aaove
man ever ventured, AMI in tho valleys and on the
Esnes Of the cartbs surface the atmosphere is
over the same. In sadition - these two elcu.en-
Ary tc les there Is smell portion Of croonis
acid gas IN the atmosphere, and very smaG
qantty OF aqueous vapor. Particles of ctntag ions
snsser may float in She atmosphere in certain localities,
but they never Can chemically combine with 1t is
erdered tya wiss Providence that chemical anton
Oh the atmosphere of Substances dseterous tofnealh
take place Neither viii permis a dec,mposi-
son separation of the bodies composing to
phee should this take place apime life wold
Oxygen is never fousi solitary nsture Though 1t
forms part OF bodies and aecn3titueg part OF all
the animal and veg cable world Of every living thing, OF
the air breathe, the food cat, and The
drink, yet can only be obtained in uncombineS
state by art and j. this way ony IN small quantities.
The moment a human being ccnes into the world his
lungs are filed with air, from thct unnl
IN fact and
10 the original elements of which il formed the air
leaves hts lungs entirely An ordinary sizea For
VIII take nto his lungs about 40 cubic inches q at
rnosphere each inapiraten and the number Of
Inspirations average about twenty minute, he will
require about 500 cubic inches Of air every his
ME- about l52 600 cubic inches every twenty four
hours In his expra lions he throws from his lungs
about the same quantity in volume, though ia tn,
same degree Of purity. This number Of cubic inches
weighs about fifty pounds; end, therefore, require
about this number OF pounds Of pure air every day of
hvts in order that We may enjoy health The air
pire, throw the lungs contains less oxygen
carbonic acid gas and aqueous vapor than that
inspire. The air expire Is not the air
have Immediately before inspired There IS constantly
m the air cells OF the lungs Of ordinary sized person
about 2ee cubic inches Of air The lungs VIII hold
nientIy about $50 cubic inches; and, stated
that throw about forty cubic inches in exp
ration there would be left in the air cells Of the lungs
about cubic inches which is $50 every
inspiration and decreased 200 every expiration But
Che forty cubic inches take into the lungs every time
initiate them remain there for time and IL is that
which have inspired some time previous that throw
in expratons. By this process OF nature there
Is family remaining in the air cells of the lungs go
cubic inches Of pure air. which is constantly being
Dewed 1t in the air cells Of the lungs where this pure
air in contact with the blood, which fluid mbbes
portion of the oxygen Of the air. and gives OF portion
Of its surplus carbon which unes with the oxygen Of
the air expire and is thus thrown or By this
derul process Of the blood oxysenized
artcraized prepared again for Transmission every
part of bodies, to each Of which it mpars Of
s oxygen and returns again to the lnngs having dark
color loaded with OF carbon and impurities
which with the oxygen Of the air in the lungs to be
expired, or thrown out Of the system.
yhe above description of the function OF respiration is
not based upon hypothesis conjecture speculation,
the facts stated have been demonstrated by the
hand of science. These facts are OF great import
ance in the calculation of principles and theories
having bearing upon sanitary regulations, or
che laws that should govern communities in
che preservation of the lives and health Of the people
As daily press has become the chief Of nstruc-
the masses duty society in reference 10 the
important subject Of vital statistics and sanitary reus
lions only be fulfilled by placing every important
bearing hese subjects before its readers Scientific
works adapted the wants Of the multitude who
yead the daily press.
much by way Of introduction to the subject before
which the statistics relating to tenement houses
and description Of the mseres Of life in them and which,
when properly undersood viii be regarded directly in
conflict with boastcd humanity philanthropy 1t
may not be liable to the charge Of wholesale murder, in
which society the perpetrators and ought to be rgncd
before the tribunal of eternal justice When compare
Nlse in log prair
In the rude tenement Of the negro slave Of the South
with that Of Of the tenement houses in the Fourth
ward Of city containing l32 families and 600 human
beings very forcbly reminded OF the saying that
Go made the country, but the sodd gold Of the capital
1T built cee" In and around the former tho pure
mir of heaven crcuates, the Almighty created for
TO breathe but in the latter is breathed and
again, until the carbonc acid gas and other mpur
Dies contains will hardly permit the low candle OF its
miserable occupants 10 burn in with half
briIancy.
The following tabio viii show the number Of houses and
fsmses and the number Of people living in houses
tanning over ten families cach;--
A.