New-York tribune., 1874-11-12
BUILDING GROUND IN IT'S RELATION TO
HEALTH.
BY DIR. EZRA NJ. HUNT.

The condition of the ground has very much
to do with AL questions of health. The character Of the
SOIL the degree which IL dispose OF all that comes
in with it, whether the form OF gases OF ami
NAL or vegetable decay, Of pure and impure lquds-a
have intrinsic and vital bearings upon human health
The making Of the earth fit place for the healthfu
habitatiOn of is part of the problem
which creative skill has considered. We need
to become of what constant activities and
adjustments taking place TO this end These are not
accid tnti nor Incidental, but involved as II the chief
things intended 10 be conserved Where natural trans
formations arc in tnterered with by art it Is
wonderful 10 how processes involving productions
inimca 10 heah 50 conducted 10 be entirely con-
slstent with vigorous existence While decomposition
the exception. While. for instance, enough calorie
acd Is produced each day to Kill all the In
aged as not to interfere with the health Of man
animal. But the moment spot comes to be
dons. The bGIl1ing ground of that herbage
which had no uDimportant sanitary Office In appro-
light and heat and necessarily makes its condition
to moisture quite different. 1t interferes with
%edate te" ther%omeric and hysTo%ete ccn1tons
OF The atmosphere 1t throws the rainfall into
allowing diHuse itself 1t does In drops. In Win
the course Of water making as may be- tbs cellar the
WELL the cisteTD the cesspoo the prvy yanit, and the
alters the whole relation Of the ground occupied and
OF Its immediate surroundings. Besides all this,
the necessities OF babitatiOn create filtb gar
bage, DUST aud refuse OF various kinds which are
veniently added to the soil just where it cannot
them. PettenskOffr Of Munich that about 90
OF its excroticus into the city ground. ItSs
thus easy what varied conditions nerpOsed
by the fact OF "a human dwelling. II is still
To see how this is maguited and multiplied you
crowd buildings and Inmates.
The great sanitation OF nature is suspended, and fac
tors OF insaluDry introduced 10 degree that must
rest our most careful attention. II cities are ulcers
the body polite they not The less dntbealt combi
nations against the body physical Questions OF veItia
all above ground. Bad air stasnated In tue
ground Is huriu all that constitutes insaubrity by
interfering with normal and healthful aiinlties
1t s believed that OF the causes OF the prevalence
of such evers yphus and typhoid in Water is that
the inner heat of houses causes the Of
from the surrounding ground 10 set TO them under
general law of affected by heat. So
and house suck the ground contaminated
by Its wrong condition. and the local heat ii
penetrate more tlan III tue Summer. Gas and the
cesspoOls have thus been perceptble in houses SUP
Piled with them, aud where the proximity not near
Often in cities, foul instead Of being consumed
discharged by pipes into sewers and underground
connections. This may relieve the atmosphere
Outgush but often sends IL to mngle with
The underground air to be discharged III diluted but
nevertheless. harmful Quantities INTO toe houses.
1t is easy Tor part OF city, or even Tor the sub
cellar of houses 10 become the cesspoO
neiahDOrhOOd by lii tie error or circumstance that
turns the OUtial that direction. We are constantly
finding OutmOre and more how much sickness depends
upon Invisible ground conditions which the sanitary in
Qurer must remedy. or which the City Fathers must
prevent, tDoy Keep themselves their chill
dren lealtAiui. Whereas an some places made SOIL
posed of an OverdccuuIulaon OF Oecaying matters,
OF foul material removed from Streets tho building of
houses IL conceal, but cannot Destroy the
More less Of the 1Oul air find
way Of tie soil aud endaDger the health of those
hvngppOn II. some claim that concrete and cement
and stone shut up e soil so as 10 prevent or moderate
the evil, but eXDermens show that AIR and moisture
still continue tuCir Interchange.
Perfect undertakings under the definite skin OF
OF cellars and ala other holes below the is the
next great study.