The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-24
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Alarming u :rease of the Death Rate-The
First, Eleventh, Twentieth and Twenty.
Second Wards Ordered to be Disinfected.

Alarming u :rease of the Death Rate-The
First, Eleventh, Twentieth and Twenty.
Second Wards Ordered to be Disinfected.
The Board met yesterday at three O'Clock, Commits
sioner Geo. B. Lincoln in the chair.
Commissioner SMITH, from the Sanitary Commit
tee, introduced resolution for the appointment OF
committee OF three to have charge Of the business Of
disinfectng to report to the Board the kind Of dis
infectant most available and to exercise a general
supervision over the cleaning ordered, which was
adopted and on further motion the Chair appointed
the Sanitary Committee, with Commissioner Ma
nierre such committee.
communication from the United States Consul
at Matanzas was read, in which it was stated
that from the LIST to the 10Th of July
there had been reported in the city
proper ffty-seven cases of cholera, OF which
tftyone were fatal and In the surrounding district
eighty cases Of cholera, with an almost similar per-
centage Of deaths. Only one case had occurred
among the shipping. There was no yellow fever.
were about leaving for this port.
Dr. Harris Registrar Of Vital Statistics, addressed
the Board on the dangerous condition Of the streets
and the necessity Of prompt remedial action. He
said since Saturday noon, In five days, there have
been 240 deaths from diarrhga, the main cause OF
which was the filthy condition Of the streets and
cutters In certain localities the quantity Of organic
matter decaying and decayed covering their surface
thence There were about 200 miles Of street
that would require to be thus treated, equal
cheapest disnfecting agent that could be used would
probably cost at least ten cents gallon ito be after
wards mixed with water), and it would require
$50 gallons to give one dose to such places as ac
tualy stood in great need OF it-streets that were
only cleaned once a week-the distribution to be
made through watering pots carts. The worst
poison he said was in the cutters and especially in
the First Eleventh, Twentieth and Twentysecond
wards. In the two latter wards the death rate is
simply darrhGa produced by these natural causes
but It places the entire city in jeopardy. He had
Europe who stated that ne was more afraid of the
importation Of cholera from America than from the
poison yet fingered, as we had learned regarding
Matanzas. This he only mentioned as showing the
necessity Of precaution The heavy rate OF mortality
the good name and fame Of the Board. The cost Of
distributing the disinfectants by the Board would
Whiting 70 pro ss
siton to the Board VIZ. that be VIII order his men
perintendent, such disnfectants as the Board Would
supply such as copperas and carbolic acid.
This system Of distribution would be very advan.
thorough cleansing might be secured. DR.. Harris
also referred to the kind Of disnectant most desira
ofron or copperas and caroolic acid Sesquchloride
of iron might be substituted for the copperas with
similar results but the latter IL easily procur
able.
Commissioner LINCOLN said he had been about the
streets good deal Of late, and he satisfied that
their duty There were however MANY streets in
the city which In terrible state OF flth espe-
caly on the east side, and the west side some of
them were 80 made up OF ruts and holes as to be
almost covered with water. The Board could not do
anything In this regard but apply disinfectants.
Professor CHAMBER addressed the Board on the
subject OF disnfectng agents. favoring the use Of
copperas and carbolic acid.
Commissioner MANIERRE moved that the SAINT.
tary superintendent be instructed to apply this dis
infectant In the manner proposed to the Twentieth
and Twenty second wards.
DR.. HARRIS said these were the wards where the
great murderous nuisances controlled by moneyed
corporations existed. The First and Eleventh wards
were In a fri2htful condition.
on motion the First and Eleventh wards were
added to Mr.. Manierre's motion, and It was SO
ordered. The meeting thereupon adjourned. .