The New York herald., 1874-12-13
DIP H T H E RIA.
The Ravages of the Epidemic in
New York.
FROM DIPHTHERIA
The Disease on the Decrease and Hopes
of Its determination.

of Its determination.
The recent discussions of the causes and nature
Of diphtheria OF the sanitary precautions neces.
sary prevent Its further spread in this city, and
Of the significant facts bearing upon its especial
malignancy In certain localities, have at last
awakened the medical profession and the author
tiles to whom Is ntrusted the preservation OF the
public health to the dangers OF the situation. 1t
Is gratifying to be able to state that the epidemic
which has now lasted since the midsummer OF
1872 is somewhat on the decrease, and that public
anxiety might slightly abate In view OF the statis-
tics which will be presented below. That the
spread Of the epidemic can be guarded against
has already been shown in the reports on diph-
iberia which have appeared In this Journal, and
yet afiectionate parents cannot overlook the fact
tnat the maady ID now widely spread over district
OF more than five hundred miles toward the west,
and Is alarmingy prevalent in numerous towns
and villages. The health authorities In this city
say that 1t Is more fatal and malignant In Buffalo
than in New York, and even more generally
dirused In Paterson, N. j.. than In either OF the
above named cities.
SANITARY PREvENTIvEs.
Now, what are the Board OF Health dong to
stamp out the disease DR.. James. the executive
officer Of the Board, says that the medical inspec-
tors OF the Board have been dsinfecting all the
premises where diphtheria had made Its appear.
ance. The process Of disnfectiOn has been thor
oughy applied to all the clothing, bedding, and in
fact to everything In the afccted house.
holds, down to The very spittoons. Every
case has peen carefully studied with reference
to the removal OF the causes Of the malady in the
future, and DR.. James states that the epidemic Is
now in fair way OF being exterminated before
long. He advises the strict enforcement OF all the
~,,loo lad douy hu fhn rA md o1r dv m n.
lished in these columns; the observance Of strict
cleanliness in and around dwellings, good venti-
laon, repairing OF drains cleansing OF foul areas,
washing OF dirty walls and ceilings with lime),
exposure OF carpets, bedclothlng &c, to- fresh air
and sunlight, &C., whsre cases OF diphtherIa have
once occurred. slfsn.~
OTHER SANITARY RULES.
It may be well here to allude again to some OF
the practices to which, directly or indirectly, the
spread OF the disease is In some measure due.
Parents who have the wel-being OF their children
at heart should take care that they have no inter-
course whatever with others who are suffering
from sore throat, Group or catarrn. This precau-
tlon should be extended to The Of all articles
which have been in the rooms OF the patients, and
great stress Ia TO be laid upon the thorough sola
tion OF the sick in well-ventilated, sunlighted
rooms. DR.. James thinks 1t would be very din
cult to isolate children stricken with dipn.
iberia from their parents, brothers, sisters
de-. by removal to q hospital, even II
hospital for such purpose should exist owing to
the dIsinclination OF parents 10 be separated from
their dear ones At such time. The suggestion
winch was offered at the meeting recently held at
the School OF Mines that In tenement houses they
should be transferred to the top story, mas met
with but qualified approval on the part OF physi-
clans and santarians, as Its execution is not prac
ticaple in most cases occurring In this city.
s4 THE NEED OF CHARITY. .se
One remarkable fact In connection with the cpl.
demc TINS city is that the streets and localities
where 1t has been prevailing ior the last sixteen
months are stu the chief centres Of the disease.
1amlhes suffer over and over again. 1t ts signih-
cant circumstance tnat In this case, as
II on amy aeats @
disease' has not failed to visit the luxurious man
rom rom among % tue @ poor and needy, visiting T As it
does The overcrowted and iIl-ventilated tene-
ne ne the owes
classes. Those who are badly fed, or underfed,
who are scantily clothed, and who are but little
TO the terrible disease. Prudent charity should
take these cases In charge ana by supplying the
modatlons not only save the sick from painful
death but also the well from propagation Of the
epidemic. Dr. Harris, the Registrar OF Vital Statis-
/ ties, says great precautiOn should also be used
IN vENrILATING SCHOOL ROOMS
I the theatre or lecture room. and that unless es-
pecial attention Is given to the thorough ventila
tlon OF schoorooms, In particular, hundreds OF
/ deaths may yet aflct parents IN This city. The
disease, he says, viii attack any one in whom
the poison can lind an opportunity OF asserting Its
dominion, and this Is proven by the fact that 1t
occurs in the most elevated and healthy portions
OF the city. However, the main causes are suffl-
/ GENTLY dehnte to be controlled. 1t wei known
that the disease Is particularly frequent and fatal
In the damp places, where offensive emanations
water courses, where the drainage was never
thoroughly completed. Other causes IN Dr..
Harris opinion, are overheated rooms, careless
/ exposure to changes from close rooms to fierce
| winds and other instances OF neglect which are
likely TO influence the ar passages. Whatever
should be vigorously guarded against, and every
child VINO Is prone to throat diseases should be
! possible 1y the observance OF rational modes OF
! INTERESTING STATISTICS.
4 1t Is interesting to consider tue proportion OF
deaths to the number OF cases or diphtherla which
Harris says fnat it has varied from IL In 100 to
"a In 100 ut different periods OF the epidemic. Re-
aeon ae6 6s e ms civ nve Sn M Hr ey u
that with proper care and use OF all the advisable
sanitary rules this terrible death rate could be
Its most malignant fo0thold in the Nineteenth ana
Twentieth wards. and one OF its worst centres Is
at the Northwestern Dispensary, in Ninth avenue
and Thirty-eighth street, and within radius OF
haIf mile around 1t N8 u tAHg
one Of the worst cases OF the epidemic, and one
that shows how much the locality has to do with
the spread OF the disease, occurred at No. 500
/ Eleventh avenue, OH spot which is PERFECTLY
! nith-sodden and poisoned by the most noxlous
cases. Here is o pile OF old wooden tenemeDts
and into one OF these houses there moved q short
time ago worthy put poor family by the name OF
King who had leit. thoroughly healthy locality
in Brooklyn, but had temporarily taken up their
abode in q new brick house on ihe other side OF
the avenue, where q family
..a HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY THE MALADY.
They moved into the ground floor, which was
very damp, and soon their nrst child became
III. 1t received only the crude domestic care
which the parents were able to give IL, they
calling in no physician. The child recovered suf-
1ciently to run about, and then the four other
children OF this family were stricken down by the
disease ana died within lew days. II that family
had retained their residence in healthy locaEty
the probability Is that these children would yet