The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-14
Death rates during the year 1874


sFrom Massachusetts, Board Health sixth report in
answer to inquiries sent to 100 cities
This undeniable fact of unusually enlarged death
rate in New York must have some grand general
Let seek till find IT, Ii surely Is not from pow
erty The lowest classes in midst well fed,
clothed, housed as in any Of the cities with which
comparison Is made. Charity abundant to the needy;
medicine and surgery here have their highest develop
ment. There has been no especial epidemic and yet
physicians have noted marked increase in types
Of disease of a maarous character; this growth
gradual, yet persistent, running through series
Of some twenty years and markedly advancing within
ACUTE recent period. In 1s45 the city extended but
sparsely TO Union square There then malaria
known except the wild and unkempt suburbs above,
in scant Yorkvile and smaller and less settled Har
lem, and city people the habit Of saying with
OF pride that all over Jersey and Long Island
malaria was everywhere
TnE INTRODUCTION OF THE cRoroN WATER
altte before this period marks the beginning of dis
Of ths character and the increasing death rate.
AS too, about this period the rapid growth OF the city
commenced, with the making Of streets, the
dwelling OF hills and dllng up of hoows 1t
rally supposed that it the exposure Of earth
The sun that the cause.
But the city stu grew streets monthly
opened new cellars daily dug and the disease gradu-
ally increased But the Croton increased its ever
flowing stream, and gradually the old wells became
Ged to repleton the cesspools overlooked the earth
filed with moisture absorbed little Of falling rams
and the cutters became small rivers rainy weather
with submergence Of the cellars in the low portions Of
The city. Here seemed OF disease, and
the city fathers necessity for sewerage and then
began the system Of underground works which has
ram6ed the city.
In confessed ignorance the Common Council memo
iaIizcd the Academy of Medicine, asking or them
plan for the general sewerage Of the city. This ever
impractical body thought ethics more important
than health but recognizing the honor conferred APP
pointed committee which never reported. The Com
Council again has asked opinion OF them,
but went on building with many errors and much
necessary expense, the sewers which riddle The
srritory.
Concdenty intermittcnts increased, which in part
perhaps due the dsuse of wells the stasis Of
water in the old cesspoos and prives.
But the city grew and grew till to-day It's area has
doubled, ts population doubled, its death
than proportonately increased
To-day malaria over the entire city as never
before in the old city, whence this disease had ned
ialny since the Dutch dynasty; Murray Hill and in
East Broadway the highest natural parts Of the city,
remaining as well as in the swamp" and the filed in
lots Of old and new creation.
Concdent with this recognized intermittent ten
hency have a series Of other diseases notably
syphus and typhoid fevers.
When came this city had the idea Of becoming
A"fever doctor.p had been educated amopg IL the
hospitals Of Boston, had studied II in the hospitals Of
Paris, had watched IL the hospitals Of Geneva,
Heidelberg, Amsterdam and London. intended TO
lay myself out for this specially Alas for my "welI
laid schemes" After years. residence save few
eases Of bilious remittent had not seen fever case
except the ship fever OF imported Irish famine origin
One day, some twenty years ago, Dr. Griscom invited
The profession to the Broadway Hospital to see az
great novelty three or four cases Of typhus fever IL
curiosity now Look at the death lists and here
you viii and new item 10 swell the death rates.
Next comes Another disease Of miasmatic origin
diphtheria--one Of the foulest and most awful COM
plants OF the human system; stl another, the dis.
rcssingly agonizng almost incurabe cercbro spinal
meningitis, also Of malarious origin
Physicians OF practical observation viii tell you that
The type Of many complaints is changing; that they
have marked exacerbations that diseases well tho
people arc characterized BY less rgor; that debility
has supplanted plethora and stamina Witness The
deaths OF the strong and vigorous during the last
winter by typhoid pneumonia, complicated disease
rarely seen til except among those Of feeble
frame and depraved constitutions
Why Is il that smallpox Is on rampage that
asrippes" and lnhuenzas and neuralgas are so fire.
1ucnt?
nnd an answer to these queries cause for these
complaints, the why antecedent to the wherefore
the almost as obscure expression malaria. But go
further and attempt show OF this
crease OF malaria methods Of its Introduction into
the city and into systems
| propose IN the present series Of papers TO
Efrst-Ascribe 10 malaria the great increase In the
death rates of New York
Second-To point out new methods by which
systems decrioratcd by this subtle influence enter
ing into them through iood and drink as well as
through the air We breathe.
Thfrd-To point out recognizable and easily effected
methods Tor their prevention, and, II interest may still
remain
Eourfh--To show how remedial measures may
be instituted for the permanent Of the evils that
have been introduced.
THE cRoToN WATER.
The Introduction Of the Croton water was consid-
cred an unmtgaied bleYsng The water ran all over
our houses; tea gould be made without going mile