The New York herald., 1870-09-26
ALARMING SICKNESS UP TEE HUDsOS,


Staanant Pouds Breeding an Epideu,ic--Hirh
and Low, Rich and Poor Anected-iudigns-
ticn With the Authorities.
P0UGHGEEPSIE. Sept. 25 1870
There Is deep feeling prevailing here relative 10
the health Of the city. At present there are I've or
six hundred clses OF maaria fever, ana every phys-
clan In the city has his hands full The most severe
located along the line OF the Falkil creek
north side Of the city. In the vicinity OF Peton's
pond, In Mill street,
WHOLE FAMILIES
lie PROSTATE. There is not house iu sight OF the
pond that does not contain two or three
victims, and in some instances hve or SIX
The pond itself presents q sickening slghi. There
is but very little water ID IL and the
Shiny mud, green, stagnant pcos ana dead fish M
pregnate che entire atmosphere with foul odor.
Men, women and children lounge about stoops and
doorways with paihd faces hollow eyes ana gaunr
forms, unable 20 work and without appetite con
suming daily heavy doses Of qulnine ald wonder
ing when It VIII all end. They are loud In their de-
nunciations Of the authorities and mutter ven.
geance II something il not done 10 aiisy thon
sufeiings. At SwIts pond the scene and situation
~ even worse than a Pelton's There, 100 the pond
is almost entirely clear OF water and there, TOO,
Ibe, while decayed pond lilies, dead nsh, and now
and then dead carcass, add to the horrible stencil
which nns the air In ths vicinity there are an
ALARMING NUMBER
OF cases OF fever and ague malaria fever In one
tenement house, where ten families are hnd0led
together, every member OF them is affected and IN
all the other houses about there are three more
cases. One physician IN hour last night visited
thirty patients. The poor people near this pond
discouraged, weary aud detected. They toiIer
rather than walk about or sit around IN groups
changing sympathes and words or condOlence.
Further up the stream at Skinner,s pond is another
disease feeder The pond is not quite IN as bad
condition the Others, but It Is bad enough ana an
around itfever and sgue RACES. Next TO skinners
frin MOI ~ OF
another nuisance. There too, decayed pond iiilics
rotten leaves and green stagnant are visible
and there, too are numerous cases OF ch Ills and fever
The noisome stencil aud eXhalatons from these
death pits pervade the entire atmosphere OF the CITY,
and In every ward IN the place fever and ague pre-
walls. AGO To all this the fact thar right Main
street, in the heart OF the city, Is O s0aphoiline
establishment ana you have the entire cause of the
sickness which now allIcts Poughkeepsie
INDIGNATI0N MEETING.
Fully 500 persons assembled on The bridge NJ
Peton's pond, Friday night. and there neld
chosen president. ana Leonard Il. Sackett
and Andrew King secretaries. Speeches were
Deyo and Beade, Leonard b. sack tt, Water Com.
missioners Frost and storm, Tinothy Capper and
Rev. Mr.. Loomis Manv Of the remarks were very
denunciatory; but no threats ot violence were In
dulged In, though II had Deen runored that the
dams were to be torn away. II was dnally deter
mined to give the proper authorities till the 18th Of
October for determined action. Physicians say that
the continued Jrouth aids greatly In atficting the
city with sickness but they also assert that the
rhRcOuS VI tic pvitus IL fnatll CAUSE.
few misery property holders wish TO suppress the
fact that the place is at present unhealthy In
the extreme but he majority believe In ventilat.
ing the whole matter immediately, 10 the end that
prompt measures shall az once be taken for relief.
The ailment affects all classes, high and low, rich
ana poor. In many cases they nave been attacked
while walking along the streets. and have been
obliged 10 taken 10 their homes In carriages. one
instance of such character Is that OF Alderman
Clifford.
OTHER PLACEs
Up at Rhinebeck there are $50 or 200 cases lcyer
and ague. one or the victims being Mr.. William
Kelly East Of this city, along the line OF the creek
In the country there are also scores OF caoes The
people, however, now fully OF the import
ance OF instant action and IL is confidently hoped
change will soon be effected and POaghkeepse once
more be placed upon healthy basis.