The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-27
An Alarming Picture or IntcraaI
Health.

Health.
Attic request Of number Of our most respect
able citizens-included Ia the organization
known az the Citizens Association of New
York; committee. consisting of distinguished
and experienced physicians, lately undertook
tie labor Of examining practically into the con-
dtion Of the city as regards internal health,
and, having completed their investigations, have
submitted their report From this 1t appears
that the internal sanitary state Of the city is
Git subject for alarm and apprehension. A state
ment like the following which we find in the
report. cannot fail to startle all who take an
interest in the prosperity and the good health,
as we'll as the good name, Of the metropolis
Smallpox and other infectious and loathsome dis
eases arc allowed TO prevail aud be dused continually
In all parts OF the CITY the worst Of fevers aud
other fatal maades arc being continually generated
the crow ed habitltons OF the poor while from this
rada.iny ceure OF disease. the poons death that
abuud'nt here difused widely throughout
entire country
Were it not that statement like the above
receives the endorsement Of many of our most
respectable and worthy physicians it would be
almost incredible, But as it stands we must
take it for truth, aud, if possible, proceed at
once to ascertain the cause and apply remedy
for the gigantic evil it dscloses. How is it
that such state of things was ever allowed to
creep in upon the city, and at last to assume
such vast proportions What have the city
authorities been about Where are the officers
whose duty it is to look after the internal
health of the city, by seeing that sewerage and
drainage are in proper order; that stagnant
pools are cleaned out; that filth in the streets
is removed; that close, confined. suAterranean
tenements are cleansed and ventilated, and
that that great element of health and cleani-
ness, the Croton water, is properly distributed
over the city, in its vile dens and filthy
cabins, in its low, damp, marshy. unhealthy
quarters, as we'll as in its prinoely mansions
and its grand avenues aud promenades
If we should put these questions about
the time Of the Corporation election we might
be promptly answered but if they should be
put at any other period those whose duty it is
to answer them would be found too busy plot
ting and contemplating with political rogues
and Corporation jobbers-toO earnestly at work
scheming for the holding of place aud the re-
tention of public plumber, the giving out of
contracts and the pillage connected herewith
to deign word in explanation Of this gross
and criminal neglect Of duty in so vital mat
ter as the health of the city. The trail Of the
serpent is seen in all the political schemes and
party job work in the Corporation and, now
that its slime indicates the path and presence
Of disease, physical rottenness and death, we
hope the people and the Legislature will arouse
to the work Of reform.
Per contra to the statement made above by
so many eminen. medical men, we have the re-
port of an address delivered by DR.. Cyrus Ram
say, Registrar of Records in the City Inspectors
Department, before a recent meeting Of the New
York County Medical Society. DR.. Ramsay
proves by statistics, taat bear upon their face
every indication Of truthfuluess, that New York
city is. in proportion to its population, as
healthy as almost any other city in the country
The ratio Of deaths for the month Of January
and portion OF February last shows decided
percentage in favor Of New York as compared
with either the cities Of Boston, Philadep hia
or Baltimore. 1t is true, nevertheless, that the
health Of the city can be improved greatly by
more rigid attention to the cleanliness Of the
btrcegs, anu Tue putincattOn OF tnOse regions OF
sqralor which serve as the hotbeds OF oon-
tagion, One prominent cause for much Of
the unheatthiness that prevails in oertsio
portions Of the city, particularly the upper
part, ia the insufficient conduits used for the
outflow Of the refuse OF the gas houses, The
stencil arising from this abominable nuisance
dlls the atmosphere wherever it ia permitted
to exist. When the gas companies are com
planned to on the subject they attribute the
blame to the insufficient sewerage, for which
the city Is responsible; and when the city
sewerage department Is appealed to the charge
is retorted upon the gas companies. This be-
ing the present state Of the case, the Grand Jury
should take cognzaucc OF the matter, and, by
abating this nuisance, put al end to one source
Of unhcalthiness in the city.
MORE SrgISaEST EXAMINATIONS DEMANDED N
CASES OF OFFICIAL DEBSQuENcY.--A military
commission, held in Norfolk, Va, having under
consideration certain charges against an ex-
assistant quartermaster, finds the accused both
guilty and not guilty, and so splits the diff