New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-10
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

LOCAL MlSOEAAAN. /.
THE CARE OF THE PUBLIC. HEALTH.
nrr11NG OF THE HEALTH BoAR o. FAVORABLE
EXHIBIT OF THE SANITARY. CONDITION OF THE
crry-pErECTrvE DRAIN age IN CESTRE-sr'-7
THE uNHEALTHYUINEss. OF gHE CITY PRISON
Tho Board of Health held their regular
weekly session YESTERDAY, President 0hsnaes IN inc
chair Sanitary supeIfacepdent Day reported WI spe0
tions during TIE pxss week, and IS complaints to
ceiyed from cizsos and referred to the Ovp
sor investigation. The DsiDecting corps Vs'eu "
dwellings where CONTAGIOUS diseases were oun"' anu
d,s,uYected ard fuuigated IS houses Inc following u
x,aemepef diseases for the past TWO weeks
-,.a s,.,s Small. S sSISs
,odns rsssg Psve Fsyss Measles Dph'S.r'I p@ hehrsaA
' SS So. ! 80 i5S IS 5
The weekly report Of Or. Elisha Harris, Register Of
Wits, statistics showed that deaths for
IN. mast week. 10 comparison with Goa of week be-
fore There was slight decrease In the mortality from
both small pox and diphthera. The number OF deaths
from smallpox for the past week 49, TO So for the
week before Dphtheria was charged with deaths for
the past week and ls for the week before. Pneumonia
81 deaths In the past week. against % for the
week previous. Though this shows only small de-
crease yet If the Sanitary Department hold its own
IN such changeabe temperatures as have
been prevalent for past two weeks. marked changes
for the better may be expected eqnabe weather
Smallpox has been unusually prevalent during the past
two weeks and the cases have not been grouped so
much the last month but scattered more generally
the CITY, This makes the work OF the Vaccinating
Corps much ardous, they cannot concentrate
their forces upon any section The smallpox hospital
had only six spare beds yesterday afternoon Dr.
James said however, that 1t wond probably be pract
eabo TO send away some OF the patients who are con-
valescent and thus will be gained The re-
OF the hospital have been taxed to their utmost
but by unusual DR.. james has prevented any ds-
comfort or trouble. The mortality IN the smallpox nos
pip has been very small even when II is so nearly full
The number of dphthera reported in the past
week shows a marked increase IN that disease. The
tenemeuts contained the largest number OF cases.
and there the disease has ragged with greater vru
iepoe.
The general sanitary condition Of the city has been
better during the past week than for some time BEFORE
With the exception Of smallpox and dphtheria, the
city generally has been healthy. The attention OF the
Board OF Health has been called TO many cases where
improvements in the drainage Of district are impera-
lively called for The in Center-st, from Pearl
IT. TO Canast.. has been thoroughly examined by SAM
ary Inspectors Tracy and Neas who reported its con-
dillon 10 the Board yesterday The site OF this sewer
Is that which was formerly known IS the Collect
Pond. The drained Is bounded by Baxter, Elm
Duane and Centrest. The sewer built without
proper descending grade and did not convey matter ds
charged therein with sufficient velocity To the man
sewer In CaLa-st keep it free from deposits The
stream wing therein is always sluggish, and dec0m
posing solid accumulate, giving rise to Often
and deleterOus OdOrs and gases, which are con-
viewed hOusedrains into the dwellings on
The line OF the street In heavy rainalls this Gepost
prevents the water running OF freely lt backs up from
Canal-st. through the h0use-dralnS, inning
cellars and percOlatng through the brick into
the surrounding ground. The sewer has settled In
many places. forming traps for the retention OF th
which constantly generate gaseous poisons that
must seriously affect the health of the dwelers in the
adjoining houses One of these traps was found TO eX-
tend from the middle Of the block upon which the
Tombs Is located to Worthst. distance or over 200
feet On of these defects there ia always from
sewer for winch there means OF discharge ex-
eept by percOlation absorption into the surrounding
earth Ii was found that the cellars OF the adjoining
houses were frequently flooded with water causing a
sauraton of the ground and almost constant damp
mess. In OF these cellars IL was found that a
water from pouring over the floors The floors rotted
RAPIDLY had frequently to be taken up and reaid
fhe drainage of the City Prison was examined. The
surface of the cellar under the main building was found
10 covered with water TO such depth tna person
could almost swim In it. This condition OF Things, en-
dangerng health OF every inmate OF the prison. was
owing this defective sewer and the general de1ecuVe
drainage the place. Tne prison cellar and the cellars
of the In the district in question are all above
the inner lung the sewer in Centrest III there was
properly constructed in Centre-st the inspect
orr say good reason why the entire property
Pearlst. TO Canalst. could not be as thoroughly
drnined district in this city. They recommend
that present be taken up forthwith and nat
resolved copies OF this report TO the Mayor 10
fbe Common Council and the Board or Public Works,
rec ommen nd ng immediate action.
PEOPLING WASTE WATERS TO GOOD USE.
NvyI