New-York tribune., 1876-09-02
iLOCAL MISCELLANY,
TIE HEALTH OF THE CRY.

METHODS on THE BOARD OF HEALTH fois 1hh fhH-
vENTIoN OF DIsxAsE-THE WORK or THE sum
MER AMONG THE PooR.
Although there were only 10 deaths from
smallpox during July in this city. which has an es
mated population of over 100000 inhabitants the
Board of Health has ordered Dr. Taylor. the supern-
tendent Of the vsccinang Corps to continue the work
of house to house visitation Health Commissioner Jane
way stated yesterday that this done TO prevent
possible, another epidemic Of smallpox, which had
proved TO be an expensive matter to control Aside
the other considerations the members of the board
believe that 1t is wise economy TO prevent any
rise and spread Of this disease, II possible.
Tho expense Of maintaining smallpox patients 10
the Riverside Hospital has already been found TO bo
greater than that OF those suffering from any other
dsease The records Of the Bureau OF Vital Statistic.
show that there have been deaths from smallpox In
this city during the past two weeks Commissioner Jane
way stated that in any large commercial metropolis like
NewYork there will often be imported from other cities
cases Of smallpox and also clothing and bedding con-
tanated with the germs Of this disease Thus the city
constantly threatened with invasion OF this pestlence
which can be controlled subdued and prevented only by
the vigilance Of the Board Of Health and its employees
The law creating the vaccnatng Corps sprang from the
evidence of Its necessity during prevailing and rapidly
increasing epidemic of smallpox This epidemic has
been stamped out and the disease regarded ~ per-
aps more certainly under control OF the Board Health
at the present time than any other with which they have
to contend. - -.-... .- tH3 slrf'.- -lI istl-
Physicians look upon San Francisco as one OF the
heathest cities naturally on this continent Neyerthe-
less that city has suffered greatly from smallpox and
its Board of Health has seemed poweress TO control
that disease The records for July 1875 show that in
that period there 54 deaths from smallpox in
popuuton estimated at 10000. The number OF cases
reported for that month Is estimated to exceed 800 and
many it ia believed. concealed from the health
authorities especially in the Chinese quarter OF the city
There also 2s deaths from cholera infantum in that
city during July There was extremely high tenn
pcrature there as has been the in this CITY, and
each day that city has been swept by powerful north
west wind followed by q cool night -f.
Commissioner Janeway also stated that the attention
Of the Board OF Health had been especially directed OF
the condition Of the CrOon water and tho solution
of the question as to whether there had been dele
terous results from its It has been asserted that
tho increase In the mortality Of children from darrheal
diseases has been partially due to this cause Some per-
ous TO infants where the had been permitted to
drink water contaminated BY sewage. A careful inyesu
sonradicteS ed these assertions completely twas shown
that the principal mortality was among infants under
ysst sed u tSs cson %aor Conmssoner anewsy
added that two OF the most apparent results OF the use
matter we're typhoid fever and typhoid malaria in
tunes Of cholera epdemics i was welesasilssed fact
The records showed that the eathe for the past week
from typhoid fever in this city was only l9 against 10
nected with this showing the statement that nearly
all Of 6sss Of typhoid sseS %a
wells The unusual dryness OF the season ana tne pro
onged high temperstafe TINS M s5s haa gea9 %
also decreased the amount OF water In the wells and con-
orsane natter in che wafer Sewers in this city whshs
Of brick or tile, permitted considerable portions OF
Joints between the tiles became oosensd by time aud
often the tiles themselves were broken Brtek sewers
always leaked more or less and II was generally dcnlt
tn where the existed, 10 renedy the
defect For these reasons the Board OF Health found
tons OF t6 city supplied by Croton water However
bad the crocn might be- was thought II could not DC
contaminated by sewage and organic posons OF tins ma
ture. Well water might appear sparkling. clear and
cool and st be loaded with enough organic poison TO
predicted large amount q typhoid fever this Fall in
the annexed district and the suburbs OF this city and
The reports oi the ot my who have
been employed By the Board OF Health 70 visit the tene
comssoner Jsnsway began the work OF tabnating the
results II is exPeoted that II VIII take several days to
just how much has been accomplished by this expert,
ment But tho board mas declared that II Il satisfied
saved by this work. and believes that the reports will
show that other desrabe results have been reached by
physicians have reported that little timely advice APP
Reared to be what WINS % most r needed n tickets
poor, ignorant mothers have been instructed
n2suitase 1S and Insufficient nourshmeat Neglect and bad
ventilation by trip TO Staten Island or across the river
Many nave Deen sent 70 spenu III
Park and returned greatly benefited by hours
In the fresh air. The small amount OF medicine pre-
scrbed has surprised many Druggists IN various parts
of the city, early In the sent tickets TO Sanitary
superintendent Day. the presentation OF which those
prescriptions given by the Saniary Inspectors to
be compounded free Of expense, and they have been
used wherever Ii has been deemed necessary But gen.
orally fresh wholesome food have been found
be more potent than drugs. Next summer the Board
will organize this corps OF so physicians the
district in which he will daily visit from house to house
and advise aud instruct the poor regard 1 the care OF
chillrens health. lt Is believed that by this
means they eectualy control the mortality from
diarrheal diseases among children they prevent
the ravages Of smallpox in this city. ...t