The New York herald., 1869-01-18

The fact that the death rates can and do steadily
decrease In such wards as the Fourth, Sixth and
Sixteenth, under the influence of sanitary care, is
full OF encouragement and promise; while the causes
that now hinder such improvement in the First and
Twenty wards in sIckly summer have al
ready been so carefully investigated that the needed
shows very conclusively that local evils, pertaining
TO the drainage and sewerage and to ascertalned
sources OF atmospheric contamination and towards
which this Board Is giving Its utmost efforts for san
ttary improvement are chargeable with the excess
OF mortality that occurred last summer the wards
winch showed least improvement In the death rate.
The average death rate In the entire city In the
year ending on the 1st or October Is estimated ut
The rate Of mortality In Brooklyn Is not less than
two In 1000 less than in New York The Registrars
report shows how these death rates compare with
those OF previous years, as wen as with those OF
FALSE CERTIFICATES OF DEATH.
Reliable Information having been received that
false certificates OF death had been rendered to the
board by physicians In attendance at certain houses
for the reception and boarding OF infants q resou-
tion was adopted on tine 36th day Of January d.
recting the SANITARY superintendent to report all
the Information In his possession relative to the
houses for the reception and boarding OF infants; 10
state where they are situated and by whom kept,
and 10 report the names OF those physicians who,
when children have died in those houses, have rem
dered false certificates TO the Registrar OF Vital sta
tistlcs subsequently, upon the evidence presented
penalties for making incorrect returns and neglect
ing TO make proper returns OF the deaths OF Infants
TO the board
ENFORCEMENT OF THE TENEMENT HOUSE ACT.
Since the last report the attorney has been directed
10 commence 756 actions for penalties In the name
of this Board, against the owners lessees agents
OF tenement houses for violations OF the PROVISIONS
OF chapter sOs, Laws OF 1867, known as the Tene-
ment House act OF this number $3.50 suits have
been ordered against owners, lessees or agents in
the city OF New York and alt In the city of Brook
lyn. An Improvement IN the health and comfort OF
the tenement house population ana a decrease In
the rate OF mortality must continue TO be the result
OF the constant inspection by the officers OF this
Board Of this class OF dwellings and Of the thorough
enforcement o the wise provisions Of the Tenement
House act
THE MARKETS.
During the past year there has been no improve
ment Ia the sanitary condition OF the public markets
They are Old, dilapdated unventlated, defective in
to the city OF New York. The recommendation in
former reports that this part OF the public property
be sold for business purposes Is renewed and II
public markets are necessary that they he located
IN parts OF the city more accessible TO the public.
TIE STREETS.
There has been no change In the condition OF the
streets regards their cleanliness. No improve
menI Is anticipated during the existence Of the
faithfully performed the duties imposed by Its
several provisionss without however, securing to the
public the results desired and expected. That the
more thorough and frequent cleaning OF the streets
would be OF incalculabe benefit to the public health
there lnede Is no no question From small appropriation
BOARD has during the present year cleaned some OF
the most nhy streets and cutters IN the lower part
tgnE WATER SUPPLIES or NEW YORK AND BROOK
LYN.
lbe supplying OF good and perfectly wholesome
wmer IN ample quantities 10 great cities the very
frsi requisite TO public health. and perhaps no other
citles IN the world enjoy the blessing OF better water
supp les than New YORK and BROOKLYN. Az was
shoWn by an elaborate statement ON this subject by
DIR. n arrs aud Professor Chandler In the report Of
this oard last year, the purity OF the waters which
are - lpplied by the Croton and Kidgewood aquo-
dnCtsls equalled in but few cities In the world.
THE GAS sAScE.
The o ffensive and poisonous ernanations from the
gas uiactores claimed the attention OF the Board
and its lantary inspectors very after the or
ganlzatitn OF the work in the spring Of 1866 From
that tiIne until the present II has continued to be
source oi complaint from citizens and OF FIRE.
quent Inspections and reports by our medical,
oncers. The proceedings that were had by this
Board in April and May. 1896, resulted after fuil
examination into the facts, In an earnest request
, the Qas corporations TO employ the most approved
lehod which chemistry has suggested for the puri-
N, alton Of the gas and the naturalization or destruc
fo OF the one nsiye gases that are removed by the
pro cess OF manufacture. The New York company
ado, tied the method OF purifying the gas ~ II 10ws
IRON, the retort by what In known the sesqu
of irp process; and the Manhattan Company tested
variou methods OF burning the offensive gases after
fhey ha We been separated blythe lime process. The
third 0a corporation, the Metropolitan Company at
tbe foot az West Fortysecond street. made no effort
a. imnroy, their publication but continued TO en-
nlov The COZ nmon dry lime method and IL has been
the carae numerous complaints by residents In
the Twenticlh b, Twenty-nrst and Twenty.secon
wards. -. 90. .oua.
Tbe refurns on deaths made by corone,s TO the
Bureau ol vital st.ltisti% should 10 The noa sccu.