New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-07
GUARDING AGAINST PLAGUE
FILTH NOT TO SUMMON CHOLERA.


regard 10 protecting the city from epidemic diseases
during the coming Summer. As first measure to that
end the Finance Committee were authorized to puT-
chase 5000 gallons OF excellent disinfectng uid-a
the supply OF that kind in the market The Sanitary
Committee through its chairman, DR.. Stephen Smith,
presented long report in relation TO the condition OF
the streets. The streets were represented as In
adequately cleaned in consideration Of the fact
that the inhabitants OF the city were likely
to be exposed to Asiahc cholera during the
Summer Certain localities and streets named
as proof Of the truth OF the assertion The Street
Cleaning Department criticised for its practice OF
mixing garbage with ashes and other refuse tho decay
Of which very harmful to the public health. APP
pended to the report resolution that the Sanitary
Superintendent should be ordered TO inspect the streets
daily, and report their condition.
As soon as the reading Of the report ended, Commits
soner Henry Smith said The statements IN that report
are not true affirm that the streets OF NewYork have
not been clean In 10 they are at the present
moment. During the past week, the Board Of Police
Commissioners have visited In their carriages, nearly
every street in this city, and they have found them
almost universally clean There certain sections In
some streets acknowledge which are in bad sanitary
condition.; but if you will investigate these you
will find that IT is due 10 dispute concerning the
paving OF the street between the inhabitants and the
Board Of Public Works. In regard to this complaint
about the Igarbage have say that the Board of Police
mud II impossible sell the garbage dispose OF 1t in
any way after It has been separated from the other
rubbish We tried last year to sell IT, but could not
get bid The garbage OF Boston brings in So 900 yearly
to the city treasury but we have been fortunate
enough TO get a purchaser. Our greatest embarrass
ment is that after separating the garbage from the rub
blsh cannot get rid Of It no one will allow u. to
dump lot again repeat that our streets are In
O very clean condition.
Commissioner s. smlthAnd assert that they should
be cleaned far better.
Commissioner II. smith-As proof OF what I have
SAID take the testimony Of the Boston authorities
here last week. All the gentlemen said that city
far cleaner than Boston and infinitely cleaner than
Philadelphia, which they had just visited. protest
against any attempt TO excite alarm when there 10
utterly no rather OF congratulaton that
we are so well prepared to meet disease.
Commissioner Chandler-I must confess that have
Travelled through hundreds of miles OF streets this past
week. and have not found single street in a condition
dangerous to health
The report OF the Sanitary Committee then laid
upon the table, and the following resolution was passed
ReSolred That the Sanitary superintendent be and is
hereby directed 10 report 10 the Sanitary Committee at
least once In each week the condition OF the streets IN
the city cleanliness, and that the Committee for
ward said report to this Board with such recommends
lions additional cleaning as in its opinion are ne
cessary keep the Streets avenues and pubic places
The following important report in relation to Asatic
cholera received from d. James, Sanitary superin
tendent:
SANITARY BUREAU, Juue 6, 1873.
Recent accounts furnish evidence that cholera has not
only reappcared In Europe, but Is also seriously threat
enng our own country. The breaking out Of n disease
"resembhug cholera" In New-Orleans, its subsequent
annearance in Memphis together with its we-kuOwn
habit of following the routes OF human travel. leave
little doubt that our means OF rapid communication may
at an early day bring the disease to this city. From It's
approach by water well protected by an adequate
system OF quarantine but we possess no such means OF
preventing arrival by land much less the scattering
OF s germs with the objections from passengers suffer
ing with "premoniOry darrhea along the INES OF the
roI raflr / digpagp
reaches this city II Will probably do so by some OF these
routes Of travel aud as there are apprehensons tat
specon 20 be made OF the different railroad depots.
ferryhouses and the cheap lodgings secOnd-cass
car with view the immediate adoption OF
such preventive measures may be applied 10 those
nonts OF influx which are more likely, by giving lOdg
ment TO the poison, 10 become the earlier
ceuters from which the disease may radate. l have
direced that special attention be given To dnfectng
and cleansing the priyies and watercosets connected
r1ns of me disease which may be deposited there by
persons infected districts either passing through
the city. during temporary abode As II ~ now
generally If universally admitted, that the germs OF
cholera poisson the discharges from persons
having what is known as the "premOnitory diarrhea"
diarr6ea generally painless I'm It's character and mild
as not to excite the alarm OF the patient even the sus
picon his friends II is OF the utmost Importance that
rIv attention be given 10 such cases. the discharges
isolated. The distnfectant which nave directed for
rscnt use is the mixture which has proved so rea-
bic on previous occasions viz, 10 pounds suphate OF
iron gallons Of water, and half pint OF common car
bolc acid la order 10 give uil 70 %t 81 INV
anst cholera il is desirable that set OF Instructions
1e nrepared not only for the public press but that
printed copies DO furnished to the agents OF steamships
from both foreign and domestic ports to railroad ON
cias; to the propretors Of hotels; to emigrant aud
sailor boarding houses to cheap and vagrant lodging
houses and all similar places where strangers congre-
gate. The method or disniecton applied 20 the
sinks and water-cosets OF private houses made gen
eral, would not only cleanse the house-drans, put
through these the public sewers would be deprived OF
greater portion OF their poisonous gases. / would
therefore respectfully recommend that some action be
taken by which the desired Information ana Instructions
may be circulated as above proposed without delay.
Kespectfuy submitted, f. II. JAMES, NJ. D.,
Sanitary Superintendent
Tn relation to the character OF the disease represented
N he Agatc cholera which present tending TO be
endemic in New orleans, the Commissioners have re-
ceiyed very little information. They have determined
~ prepare for coming however and will make every
effort to have the city thoroughly clean. During the
mast week the corps OF Sanitary Inspectors have been
busy distributing dsfecants aud have dlsniected tho
most unhealthy districts in the city, among Others the
entire Five Points region. AS another measure to the
same end the chemists of the Board are engaged IN
rolvztn1 the dsinfectants offered for sale, aud will
give information the public Of those which are worth
less Tho Sanitary Committee made long report IN
relation TO the NewYOrk Rendering Company, giving
history of the contract OF the city with the company for
the removal OF dead animals and the manner In when
tho contract had been fulfilled. Inasmuch citizens
complained that odors arising from tho rendering boat
living at the foot of Thirtyeghth-st.. had made the
r,,cbborbood almost unnhabitabe, and also as the
Rendering Company denied the truth OF the complaint
the Committee recommended that the Board grant
hearing TO complainant and defendant on Thursday
June H. at p. The recommendation was approteu
Sanitary SUPERINTENDENT james reported that ne had
iUecfed the tidal lands east OF SecOndaye between
inspo t. ~ 10 One-hundred- -fourthsfs and had
tn tlat the complaint Charles Crazy. President OF
tbe Fast Side Association that the lands were being
filled In with street DIRT and garbage was true IIe
den0sits when exposed 20 the alternate influences OF
masturs and dryness emit poisonous aud offensive e1-
haations By reason Of organic decomposition. Inc
Material IA received from scOws belonging 20 tho etGCe
eaninK Department, from which is removed in carts
and deposited without the application OF dsinfect ants
lecot OF