The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-31
OUR CITY DEATH RATE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
There appears in certain quarters a systematic
endeavor to prove that the mortality OF this city
during the present hot season has reached the
most alarming proportions and that we are all in
imminent danger unlegs some immediate steps
are taken by the au horities. Let US examine this
subject inteligently aud strive to arrive at proper
conclusions. During the past five years-irom 1870
to 1874 inclusive-the number OF deaths in this
city varied between 26,976 ana 32,647, the latter
number having occurred in 1872. Although the
mortality OF the present year has been above the
average since January l, IL Is highly improbable
that it Will reach within 600 or $500 Of the
marKable figure OF 1872. The undue prevalence Of
smallpox, diphtnerla and respiratory affections
has served to add materially to our bills Of mortal
i;y during the past winter and spring, and the
same causes have had both a direct and indirect
influence IN swelling the death rate Of tue summer
months.
Upon examining the ngures thus far presented
by the Board of Health we fad that g34 deaths ac-
tually occurred IN the second week in July and
e55 were reported for the third week. IL is prob
able that from so TO 100 OF the latter belong TO the
former. e., although reported on Sunday or
Monday OF one week, and therefore included Ia
It's registered mortality tney really TOOK pac; on
almost certain that we have reached the highest
death rate OF toe Joar, although some Unforeseen
pestilence might modify our calculations. We thus
perceive that the maximum weekly mortality WIN
have barely exceeded 900, and on looking DaCk we
discover that III 1870 IL was OIL 10 1871 II was
500 in 1872 it 59l, IN 1913 10 was 9l7 and In
1874 II was SOL, comparison by no means un-
favorable TO the present season.
the excessive NUMBER OF mantle deatls has
also unduy excited some Of our citizens. But 652
mas thus lar neen the largest weekly IN iglitY
reported as having actually occurreJ among chi!-
dren under FIVE years OF agc-a MUNGER watch
will hardly be exceeded during tniS summer. IN
1874 such DEANS amounted In one week 70 500,
in 1873 to $685. in 1872 70 007 IN 1871 TO jJ4 and In
1870 TO GAG. We cannot, therefore, dad any special
cause for alarm in the figures OF 1878.
the mOrtuary STATISTICS SLOW tbat the vast
majority OF these lnfdntie deaths lake place IN
the Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, seventeenth,
Fourth, Fourteenth and sixth wards-dIstricts
W nose population is crowded at a rate varJing
fr ON 250 600 TO the square mile In the Tentn ward
to 1IO, 600 TO the square mile In tina SIXTH ward.
When we take into consideration these laCts ana
the other circumstances OF fifth, deficient nourlsh
ment anu Vltiaied atmosphere which combine
with our tropical July heats to overcome the
feeble resistance offered ny iniante ME, 1t Is
really not a wonder that so many children are
carried on but ra ther that so many survive al all
This overcrowding OF our poorer population, with
all its attendant evils, Is at present inevitable IL
certainly does swell our death rate Unfortunately.
A vast Improvement, however, mas been erected
during the past ten years IN the structural Ar.
ranRement OF our tenement houses througn the
qulet aud almost unobserved exertlons OF our
sanitary inspectors, and corresponding improve
msnt has been exhibited In the death rates or
such dwellings, although their density OF popula-
ton has steadily augmented.
In thoss portions or the city Inhabited bg tne
better classes there Ia little TO be desired on the
score Of salubritg. In the Ninth and Fifteenth