New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-29
Public Hea1ths

The discussions before the American
Health Association. now in session in Phila.
delphia, are Of the deepest interest. Some
of the facts brought to light are OF startling
Importance. 1t is stated, for example, that
sixty years ago One-half the deaths which
occurred in New York CITY were of persons
twenty.:our years of age and upward: now.
adays one half the deaths in the city are Of
children under tive years OF age. and more
than one fourth the mortality is among in.
fants les. than one year old. In New Or
Jeans the deaths per annum among infants
under one year ct age amount to nearly
one fourth of .he whole number. This
frightiui mortality is attributed to causes
completely within human control, and are.
consequently, the result OF criminal negli.
gence ON the part of the civil authorities.
He who calmly look. on and permits hu.
man being to perish for the want OF assist.
ance within the compass OF his power to
furnish is conceded to be murderer. The
authorities of our crowded cities who compia.
Gently permit the infants OF the community
to be carried to the grave on account o!
miasma and malaria within their power to
remove ars in fact as much enemies Of the
human family az were the emissaries Of
Herod while engaged III the slaughter Of in.
fants two years -. age and under. And that
the causes If epidemic AVID endemic diseases
are largely subject to the troll of medical
General Butler changed the sanitary char.
acter of New Orleans. whose reputation for
mortality was the wOrs: OF any city in the
Union. IN Il single season by the yigilant
''police" OF the streets and alleys. (using
that word in its military eense,) making it
equal IN that respect TO the most healthfu!
city in the North. And the sanitary condi-
ton of nearly all the cities Of the Union is
steadily improving under the Wig liant and
enlightened efforts of health associations
and sanitary commissions.
Washington city. under the supervision
OF our energetic and ever watchfuI board of
health, has in this respect led all her sister
cities of the Union. The mortality ratio
has been greatly reduced. and the city has
been absolutely FIRE. from all epidemic and
endemic diseases for more than full wear.
OF course. al! has not yet been achieved
which medical science is capable of accom-.
plishing for the people of thi. District. The
Board OF Health encounter the usual
amount Of opposition occasicned bv the
prtjudices Of the ignorant and the absence
OF support from the enlightened. Every.
body wants everybody else to have his ten.
ements renovated and his grounds and snr.
ronnding> properly cleansed. but nobody ia
willing to tolerate personal interference
with his own affairs even toc the purpose.
OF removing causes OF malaria, disease and
death.
:, For example. the board repor. against
the continuation of the use of springs and
wells in the crowded portions Of the city.
They have analysed the water and know
that large proportion of them are i'm.
pregnated with seepage from the upper
surface Of grounds. yards. and stables. as
vel! as from sewers. privies. and slaughter.
houses. and. in some instances. from Gem.
eteries, and must re unhealthy as a beyer.
age. or for cooking purposes. although
judged by the unaided senses the water al.
pears to be excellent. OF course the poorer
classes will drop the use of these sources of
supply. and resort to the use Of the Potomae,
water with great reluctance.
And yet no portion Of the comnunity "a
% much interested in the enforcement nf
sanitary regulations as the class Who resort
70 wells and springs for . supply Of water
for domestic nse. ~ rule they are not 90
.ell teds ahsltered end clad q tboce "