The New York herald., 1874-12-04
DIPHTHERIA.
Causes OF tho Epidemic.

A meeting of tne Medical Board OF the Eastern
Dispensary was held at the Dspensary Building
corner OF Grand and Essex streets, at noon, OF
Thursday, the 19tn inst. Dr. H. !. OSuilivan. the
President, read a paper on Diseases OF the Upper
Air Passapes.v % at the conclusion OF which he rc
ferred to the alarming increase or diphtheria In
this city and among other things said:-
.sThe reports OF the Registrar OF Vital Statistics
show an immense increase In tins disease toiph.
therta, while the sanitary condition OF the CITY.
comparatively speaking, has been IN some respects
better than for some years past. The press has
been loud in It's demands for some satisfactory ex-
planation OF the increase OF this disease as also
that OF infantile mortality; hut nothing satisfac.
tory has been obtained either from the
Health Board or our medical associations as
to the predisposing cause OF the fearful increase
Df this disease. Much OF 1t can now be traced be-
yond dispute or contradiction. TO The unsanltary
CONDITION 0f our public school houses. 1t is now
matter oI record That this and other contagious
diseases incidental 10 school HE have been IN
creased OWING TO this cause.n
Or. OSulllvan was not able to state how many,
any, public school children have actually died or
dlPntnerla but he insisted that many OF the public
school houses were over crowded; that basement
ecnool rooms, deprived OF sunshine and proper
ventilation, were not suitable I0r the purposes to
the compulsory education law is enforced matters
VIII become worse, rather than better. Win
!our or i've hundred small children collected
from Over-heated rooms IN tenement houses, and
often clothed In rags, crowded together IN one
room for two or three hours. the chances 1or con-
sssio1s diseases Propagating themselves must be
THIS Is matter OF deep impor tance to the pub
sary mas decided to devote Its next session, 10 be
neld At eleven O'Clock A. M. on the 10th 0l Decem.
per, to the discussion OF dipntneria. DR.. Brecks
mas been requested to read paper on this topic.
Coming In contact with the masses or the poor
- the physicians OF this dispensary do-they nave
good opportunities for the study or all contagious
diseases There IL much more dlpntherla in this
city than the public Is aware OF, since many
they apprehend fatal terninat ton. there 'se are
PHYSICIANS who regard this practice Of sDrinklIng
tne streets after cold weather has set In as per-
nlcious In the extreme. The roadway remains
moist and damp all day, causing the air to pe
Chilly and filing IT with the products OF decay
diseases OF the air passages and may be predis.
posing cause Ol dipntheria. In our present state
o. knowieage regarding this mysterious and fatal
GERS should work together Tor the purpose Of se-
curing the best sanitary conditions possible.
FULLER WALKER N. D.,
Secretary OF the Medical Board.
How the Disease May BE Prevented.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
As our city and vicinity have been visited Of late
By this most malignant and incurable type OF
disease, diphtheria, believe it duty TO give my
views OF Its prevention, hoping that much good
VIII come therefrom. AS the winter and spring
advance It's force and terror are In nowise abated,
and the warmth and Ill ventilation OF our houses
lncreas rather than diminish Its development.
The nrst step TO be taken is cleanliness. To
secure this take up the carpets throughout the
house twice year, IN the spring and IN the
the germ or more disease than Is supposed
Throw cOpperas into the sinks and closets,
admit all the sunlight possible into the
different rooms. open the shutsers and windows,
let IN all the pure AIR ior as least freen minutes
every Gay, and last OF all, procure small Vial,
leave II nncorked, place it beyond the reach OF
children. and you VIII have little to apprehend
from this trouble. 1t must be borne In mind rnat
the germs OF this disease are developed in the
houses, Dreathed into the lungs and so poison the
blood, by which process the atmosphere OF house
becomes lniecL0us and tts inmates liable to Its
po!sone. Respectfully, P.J. K.