New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
SANITARY RECORD OF THE YEAR.
EFFICIENT WORK OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMEsT-A
MARKED DECREASE IN THE MORTALITY FROM
eMAII-pox AVN DrpHTuFpIA

EFFICIENT WORK OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMEST-A
MARKED DECREASE IN THE MORTALITY FROM
SMALLPOX AND DIPRTHERA
The records of the Health Department for
the past year that the sanitary condition Of the city
has been better than IL during the previous year
No epidemic has visited the city, and those neigh
borhoods where diseases have attacked tile In
habtants have been purified by vigorous sanitary
measures thus destroying the Infection The number OF
deaths from smallpox during the first three months OF
1876 only little one-haf that for the same
period Of 1875 In the months Of April May, ana june
1876 the deaths from this disease less than one
quarter OF the number reported for the corresponding
period OF the previous year For the months OF July
August and September, 1876 the mortality from small
pox only H. while in the same interval last year Zo4
deaths recorded. During the last quarter OF TINS
year, mp to Dec. 90 the deaths from this disease
have been only z. This small mortality from a disease
that difficult 10 control In large and Cosmopolitan
city like regarded by the Board OF Health as
evidence Of excellent sanitary condition The credit
Of this result due In large 10 the vaccatng
corps, which organized 10 meet the emergency pre-
sented by an epidemic Of smallpox II found aiter
due trial to be such necessary adjunct OF sanitary Wok
that the organization continued after the epidemic
had controlled. 1t was shown by experience that
IL was cheaper TO prevent an epidemic OF smallpox than
to take care those who fell victims 10 the Infection
The work has been carried out systematically by Vsita
ton from house TO house. besides examination OF pubc
schools flctories, and workshops An important eie
ment Of this OF sanitary work has been TO unsn
physicians throughout the country with vaccine matter
known TO be pure and trustworthy In the first quarter
Of the past year. ending March 81 the corps performed
1888 primary vaccinations aud l.9i3 revaccnations
For the second quarter ending June 30, the primary
vaccinations 4,2l2; revaccnatons, l7,3l2' FOR
the third quarter ending Sept 80 the primary Vaccina
tons were l52, aud revaccinatons 3,572 and 1t Is es
arsar NJ hfG war
viii bring the whole number of reyaccinaiionS Tor the
past year by the Health Department mp to $4,000.
Dpheria also has been disease that has caused the
Health Department considerable anxiety during the past
year In section Of the city has 1t been reported cpl
demlc hut in OF the ncighborhoods where badly
crowded t6nementhouses abound the mortality among
children has been large The fact has been established
the more crowded the tenement, the rapid will be
the spread Of dphtLera. IL has been suggested that
this disease mot be extirpatcd IN this city until
public provision Is made for isoatng those attacked
Measures Of this kind would doubtless enable
the Health Department TO control diphtheria with
greater certainty ard at ess expense than smallpox.
The mortality from dphthera for the first quarter OF
TINS year was ia more thAn lnr Ihe Sil lcIuu @ VI
1875 the second quarter 10 and for the third guar
i'm 10 Dee 20 the mortality since oct from dphthera
275, which Is much less than for the same PERIOD
last This marked decrease has been attributed TO
improvements IN medical science and 90 the more
cGa diffusion OF knowledge Of sanitary measures among
year giving clear statement OF precautions 10 be taken
to prevent con;agon from this disease and the sanary
inspectors and physicians have given verbal Instructions
that have generally been needed.
The highest mortality during any week OF the past
year was 99 tie week ending July II, 1876. This,
IL viii Dee remembers at the beginning OF TIE term
high temperature last summer Tie greater portion
Of the deaths during this fatal week appears To nave
been among children under i've years OF age, DiaI-
rhcal discusses were especially fatal. To meet this
emergency, the BOurd 0f Health appointed CORPS Of
skiful physicians to visit The large teDemeus ana the
dwellings Of thOsS too poor 10 pay Tor medical Htiend-
anCe The reports OF this corps shUSed that many lives
were saved by timely advice To mothers IN regard TO the
care Of their OIsriug. Excursion tickets were dis
tnhntcd, lug many sicky children to obtain fresh
air and nDutishnc food
Dr. John r. Magic, Register OF vital Statlsucs, has
compiled the following statistics for 1876: