The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-18
Dreadful Condition of the Small
vos.asr pox Hospital.
Opposition Of the German Popula-
ton to Vaccination.
WHERE THE EPIDEMIC is.
How the Street Cars Generate
Infection.

Infection.
That the loatnsoms ana much dreaded disease,
the smallpox, Is making rapid Roadway In tins city
IL no longer matter OF doubt or speculation,
and the health authorities fully recognize the fact by
'N THE BOLD AND ACTIVE MEASURES
Instituted to suppress the further growth Of the
pestuence, II possible. From week to week, for
some months past, the virus mas gone on increas-
Ing, until 1t has reach ed TO alarming figures, as
shown In the report issued yesterday by
the Board OF Health. When first the small
pox made its appearance this winter the
city was In most unfortunate condition to
meet an epidemic Of that terrible nature. Then the
authorities were compelled to look on and see the
destroyer do its deadly work without being able to
any great extent to check Its progress In conse
quence OF this inability OF the Board OF Health to
meet q Mood OF pestllence like that which broke
npon New York, the disease secured firm mold In
tho thicky populated districts before the authorities
wore put into proper position battle with 1t for
the lives and safety OF the people. The principal
dinculty in tie way Of preserving the population
against this calamity was
x. 60. THE WANT OF MONEY.
The Board OF Health had none, and the city COT.
fers, to which they were compelled to turn for
pistance, were In o similar condition. The Comp
troller sympathlzed deeply with the embarrassed
Board, but further assistance he unable TO give
thom. After some time, however, sufficient means
were Obtained TO enable the Board to do something
towards the preservation Of the public health, and
the light with the pestilence began number OF
medical men were engaged to 60 about the
city and visit every house for the purpose
OF vaccinating the inmates free OF charge,
ana by this means make them impregnable
TO smallpox. This, after long experience, the
n fOuph tn ho tho o01
cacious means OF securing the people against the
attacks OF the pestilence In some districts this
plan worked WELL but In others, either through the
etubbornness OF the people or their aversion to
medical treatment, the disease went on Increasing
According to the Official records in the Bureau OF
the City sanitary Inspector the German population
are the most difficult TO deal with They persistently
refuse to be vaccinated every effort OF the
sanitary corps to put them in state to meet the
pestience that is now
s.., .a.t DEvOURING THE CITY. ra
Although the disease has extended over the en-
tire surface OF New York, and Is not specially 10
Gated TO any extent any district yet the returns
OF smallpox cases the books OF tue Health DE.
partment show that large prepond erance OF the
af1ictcd are Germans. OF
At the regular meeting OF the Board OF Health
yesterday the City Sanitary Inspector presented
lengthy and comprehensive report on the subject
In which Is shown the state OF smallpox In all the
principal cities Of the world, and the
results arrived at In New York BY the
work OF the Health Department. The treatment
or the disease Is also discussed, as well as the
manner OF preventing and poisoning the virus.
These are subjects exceedingly useful to the public
ct large ana to great portion OF the medical
faculty, among whom very wiae difference Of opIn.
Ion exists as 10 the various methods OF treatment
prevention and cure In use. In fact, 1t has been
ascertained without a doubt that methods OF vac
cination diner as much almost as the characters
OF the men who hold diplomas. Under such o
state OF things IL Is OF the 1rst Importance
that the people should be thoroughly instructed ON
the subject at moments like the present. when
TIKI AIR Is TEEMIEG WITH DEATH. a-t
The Smallpox Hospital Is an Institution that year
after year makes It's appearance before the public
In an unenvlable light. 1t Is now ascertalned from
the report or the City Sanitary Inspector that
large number OF patients sent there last year
VINO did not belong TO the city or county OF
NOW YORK or who had not been transmitted
from Quarantine To md out whether these
patients have been paupers who were admitted to
the hospital and cared for BY the CITY, or paid for
tue accommodation extended to them, the Board OF
health Is about to institute inquiry. This
nospltai u under the control OF the CommisJio
OF CHARITIES and Correction, who are never respon.
tnc direction OF the Board OF Health The whole
subject OF the Smallpox Hospital Ia now under con.
sderauon, and report upon the vexed question
VIII soon De laid before the public from which they
Will DO able to Judge Of the style in which h,
l".ne ao THE ABoMIsABLE DEN
n managed. On the suggestion OF Commissioners
Mannierre In the meeting OF the Board of Health
yesterday she advisibiity OF stationing number OF
inspectors at the principal ferries and railroad de-
iaod irSrx fro NJ VDxb
into consd GRAFTON. This. the Commissioner pointed
out was absolutely necessary as Jersey is teemIng
with smallpox. and there can De no doubt II is
brought 10 this city every day by the railroads ana
feriyboats. This has been shown concluslvely by
the report OF the City Sanitary Inspector and the
Board intends to adopt some decisive steps
70 put stop to IL. In the present state OF
.L, DISEASE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, r.
and moro especially In the cities Immediately sur.
rounding New York, 1t Is absolutely necessary 70
take measures that win In some degree mitigate the
threatened evil. Brooklyn is in an alarming condi.
ton; jersey Is even worse, and Philadelphia has
been known to be In most deplorable condition.
The means By which the disease is transmitted are
30 varied that no positive rules can be laid down
for the direction Of the public. But one
fruitful source OF this and other diseases
Is the street cars. DR.. Stephen Smith said yester
oay they are full Of vermn Of the most loathesome
ana disgusting kinds, and general channel Of
pesuience In the city. The Third Avenue and the
"Crosstown' o. Thirty fourth Street lines ne men.
uoned az being particularly nltby and dangerous TO
health.
THE SANITARY INSPECTIONS REPORT.
The following y the report submitted by the Clty
satisary inspector for the Information or the
BOARD
During the past three years the smallpox has shown