The New York herald., 1875-12-20


OF sanitary reform Tho attention or the Health De-
parment has been frequently directed to this subject
sha lev years ago the laws against improper and de-
scve mousse drainage and other sanitary imperfectiona
10 the construction OF dwellings were Vigorously en-
oIcea but during the past two years little or nothing
mas been done beyond reporting the existence ami
nrIous effects OF this great OF epidemic disease
Vne ne principal sources Of this trouble tho de-
lectlve materials and workmanship employed and the
.o.ai a'sregara OF providing proper ventilation ans
means OF carrying OF the accumulation OF poisonous
gases Tho Of coment for the closure of Joints In
the construction Of soil and waste pipes our dwell
ngs s decidedly Objectionable for nearly every
where this material used hnd that after the ,pse
OF short time the cement plugging oosens and
gradually drops away, permitting the free escape 81
health and life In all cases pipes constructed
for the reception and carrying or Of sewage should
thoroughly calked with lead, this material forming
close aud permanent joint preventing the escape OF
any foul odors The OF cement In the joints OF the
connecting drain between the houses and street sewer
also decidedly Objectionable for the foregoing
The construction OF proper water traps and providing
for free ventilation by carrying the soil pipe IN every
above the level Of the house top the principal
be adopted in order to secure freedom from
the poisonous effects OF sewer gas and remove this
fruitful source OF conagon and disease Our high
death rate and dangerous sanitary condition is TO
great duo TO serious defects in this system OF
house and street drainage permitting as u certainly
does, In considerable portion of the more denscy
populated districts of the city, the satnraton OF soil
with sewage and the pollution OF the atmosphere with
one o the most dangerous posons 10 human NO. Inc
Importance ofths subject cannot be overestmacd The
Board OF Health should thoroughly Investigate u ana
report tue condition OF every street sewer and house
drain IN the city, and then demand ample power and
means 10 correct anu remove this great source OF disease
and death.
PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF EPIDEMIC
disease and danger TO public health have been
examined-nrsi, the effects OF the large area of tidal
lands sunkcn and undraincd lots the upper portion
OF the island on the sanitary condition OF the city, and
the necessary measures OF relief second the extern
sive influence exerted by present imperfect system
OF street and house sewerage as Of the
forms of contagious and malignant disease, and tho
alterations and improvements necessary for complete
and permanent removal of this source OF danger to
human health II but now remains to briefly consider
the present wretched sanitary condition and the
siant overcrowdng of the dwellings occupied oy tho
poorer classes OF community as cause OF sick
ness and disease; IN other words, the
TENEMENT PROBLEM.
Tho proper remedies for this great evil is serious
puzzle best sanitarians kingseys description
OF the poorer quarters OF London in 1856 may, with
ttlo modification, be applied to certain portions OF
New York IN 1876
turned into nm alley meath the wall,
And stepped from earth to hell The light ofheaven,
The common on ar was narrow m gross an and dim a
Tottersd o'er inky pools, where reeked and cured
shrl mothers cursed children walled; sharp coughs
Rang through the crazy chambers; hungry eyes
Glared dim reproach
The moral and physical evils resulting from tho
wrctchcd condition of the dwellings OF poor are
deserving of the gravest consideration. In large
number Of the miserable state OF these habita
due to the greed and rapacity OF the owners.
Any repairs that not absolutely necessary TO pre-
vent the total ruin Of the building entirely neg
ected Tho observations contained in report of the
Central Board OF Health of Belgium this question
may well be applied to this city:"In these wretchcd
habitaons every repair necessary to the health and
comfort OF the tenant is totally dsregarded. What is
the OF cleaning the walls for people whose habits
nlthy2 Why make windows for the entrance OF
air and light repair cleanse alley COW
cred with stagnant water for people who accus-
toned to pes tlental smells' II is what proprietor
can never understand" This is undoubtedly tie gem
eral vew taken by the owners of tenement houses in
this city and their principal argument In defence OF
their criminal neglect and It Isl dseredit to the Of
cias charged with the of our public health that
many of these tenement owners, who outrage every
OF decency and humanity, are not made TO
answer fer their disregard of human health and life.
This subject is in which every resident OF the city
is deeply Interested.
Some beneficial changes have beon accomplished by
the Health Department but still much more needs TO
be done. A close and severe application OF our san-
ary laws to this question absolutely necessary Am
pie power has been placed in the hands OF health
oiicins remedy a very great extent this evil In
interview with Drs. Harris and James, OF the Health
Department, these gentlemen frankly admitted the
great necessity for reform in relation to this subject
but stated that, although the Health Board acting un
der the sanitary CODE had full power to materially
lessen this of disease, STILL owing TO tho want Of
necessary funds general action could be taken in
the matter beyond abatng the nuisances reported to
the Board, contractors and workmen were un-
willing perform labor and have TO look TO the owners
OF the property improved for payment. The over
crowdng Of these wretched abodcs OF the poor is
doubtedy OF the principal sources Of malignant and
contagious disease in this city, and II Is well rccog
fact that this condition. associated with decc
tive ventilation, is most fruitful cause OF typhoda
disease, and that the great mortality among youn(
children be directly traced to this agency.