New-York tribune., 1876-10-07
HEALTH AT PHILADELPHIA.
CASTS OF SEVERE sICKNEsS-CAUsEs or SICKNESS
IIIE HOT sUMMER-oyEREXERTIoN IN THE EX-
o the Edttor Of The Tribune.


THE HOT sUMMER-oyERExERTIoN IN TIE Ex-
HBTTION.
TO the EdttOr Of The Tribune
SIR desire to deny certain false reports
about the ieath of the Centennial grounds and vcin
ity. My position physician resident in the imne-
dae vicinity OF the grounds since the first OF last May
enables to speak with degree of authority about the
health Of the visitors this locality In the course OF
my practice been called to nearly all Of the larger
and smaller hotels and bOardngplaccs OF this vicinity
or there have been many Of sicknessespe
cally those OF trivial nature-which have not come
under my observation. Among the hundreds OF cases
which have treated since the first OF last May, nave
seen but of typhoid fever and only one other
with typhoid symptoms. / have met but few cases OF
intermittent fever and in nearly every instance the per-
sons so affected have been those who, coming from
maarious districts have been subject to 1t before COM
ing here have been called TO only two cases of dysen-
tery OF which one was a child. who was suffering
severely from darrhea before coming here have not
heard of a single case of typhus fever In the city. In
general might sum up the results of my experience
and observation i'm the following statements:
First: That in proportion to the number of visitors in
this vicinity percentage of the sick has been very
small
Second That the vast majority of cases have been OF
a trivial nature and OF temporary duration; and.
THIRD: That almost all the sickness has been caused
by the entire change ofliyng OF those affected.
THIS last statement may require some explanation. A
great de u has been said against tho water supplied 10
this city, but any doubt TO ts purity ought to be set
nj rest by the results OF the careful analyses recently
made by the City Chemist DR.. G. NJ Cresson That some
Of the darrhea complaints OF our visitors may be que 10
change OF water cannot reasonably be denied; Dut 10
attribute the OF all bowel complaints to TINS IL DOth
unjust and unscicntc since mprudent use ot Otnef
drinks and in eating, especially after the faugne
and excitement which follow long daily stay in
tie Exhibition are regarded by competent medical au-
ihOres as equally important factors III producing such
troubles Moreover thr excessive heat oi tine past sum
mer which was felt all this country must bo CON
cred prcdi,pOsng OF many OF the cases or Sick
us which have occurred since the last part OF last June
- factor which must be regarded as entirely indepehd-
cuf OF the sanitary condition OF this vicinity. AS nave
indicated above, fcyers have been very rare most OF
the having been slight stOmachand-bON troubles,
such as indigestion, cholera morbus, ana dlarfhea.
Iasty consequence of the cold, rainy weather there
IN, been an Increase would naturally be expected, OF
pharyngis. laryEQitis and bronchitis diseases which
are prevalent any locality at this season OF the year,
aud decrease OF bowel troubles. When one considers
the fact that many strangers are gathered here nom
every part Of cOuntry-and tue world lndeed-WhO
have changed in almost every particular their mode OF
living who are subjected 10 the continued excitement
and fatigue Of sightseeing Onany Of them forced 10
crowd the work a month into Iew daysl The wonder
h that the percentage or sickness is not qadiuped at
least. W. ii. H.
Fhiiadeiphia, sept. 30. 1876.