The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
zyno'c and Pulmonary Diseases Due TO Dirt,
Bad Drainage and Foul Air.
POWERS OF THE BOARD or HEALTH.
How Expenditures Nay Be Economical With
Advantage.
NEW SANITARY ORGANIZATION NECESSARY.


sources OF epidemic aud contagious disease were
proved TO be dependent conditions within the power
OF tho health officials IL was also clearly
shown that Of the large sums OF money yearly arpro-
pratei tor health purposes amounting 10 between
5000 and $500. 900 zach year out small percent
age actually spent tor practical sanitary purposes
the greater part going 10 large and expensive
SIAN OF oiiiccholders, one halt OF whom could be
readily dispensed with as far providing Tor tho pub
lie health is concerned Tho causes that tend 10 pro-
ducc tho excessive mortality IN this city seem well
enough understood. They mentioned N detail IN
nearly every health report that has been published for
the past ten or heen years. but yet there
been any practical attempt made for their removal.
The diseases that swell the annual death rate In New
York are tho direct result OF this neglect.
CONSUMPTION MALARIA
This disease yearly carries oil large number tho
mortality being duo to a very considerable extent to
tho conditions under which tho people 1--we IN the
poorer quarters OF New York Tho Investigations OF
DR.. Bowditch, OF Boston, President OF the Massa-
chusetts State Board OF HEALTH clearly proved
that this affection very great extent due TO
living damp ground. This theory has boon fully
established by tho experiments undertaken by the
English Privy Council under tho direction OF Dr.
Simon, one OF the abest sanitarans living If such
DO tho case effect have the low badly drained
and soil saturated districts IN this city, particularly
the lower part the health and lives OF the nhabt.
ants? From the source-namcly detective sew.
erago and soil saturaton is produced all the forms OF
maarial disease that affect tho health of SO largo a
number OF the community
The excessive amount OF maaria disease this city
Is also due the mado lands--old swamps that have
been filed, and owing to their lying ut low level and
their retention Of the surface drainage, constant de-
composition OF the filled in material is going on and
the production OF malaria Is consequences. Dr.
Bowditch says:-"Houses cannot be built on
them in their unframed condition without
cellars well recognized OF discnsc tho arr
them and for u considerable distance around is
damp from excessive evaporation; further cause Of
disease sucn consumption rheumatism, neuralgia"
&c. Now 1t Is well known TACT that drainage In
the lower parts oil this city is entirely detective and
worse than useless It does not carry on tho sewage
but permits Its escape INTO the surrounding ground
In many places the laid much lower
level than the tde this permits the backing up tho
contents oil sewers during high water, forcing the
sewage and sewer gus in many places INTO the dwell
ings the cellars OF which not unfroqueny flooded
by tho tide particularly during periods OF heavy rain
and northeasterly winds.
DISEASES.
or the yearly deaths in this city nearly thirty
por cent due TO zymo,lc diseases, or, III other
words, onethrd OF tho deaths The result OF Nth,
uncleanhness and kindred sources OF Ill health. In
articles published from time TO time by the HERALD
this class OF diseases were pointed out and
were proved 10 DO impure air, owing 90 tho
detective construction and overcrowaing OF the
poorer class OF tenement houses In the construction
OF which ltte regard paid to the O. tho
Inhabitants or care Tor the safety of hfe and health
The stencil IN large number Of the cheaper dwelling
houses IN this CITY beyond description,
first place oy detective ana insufficient house mage,
which permits tue escape oi sewer gas OF
most dangerous poisons III existence The poisonous
gases from this source not alone inject tho tho
lis
into the LIVING apartments and sleeping the
unfortunate occupants In addition TO this terrible
| source oil epidemic and contagious disease the evil
elects ,of the overcrowdlng Of occupants must be
borne In mind, where the air Is reDrcathsd until 1t
si,y to human lie The ordinary man Drea.nes aSon
| eighteen times per minute, and at each IN
spiraton consumes ABOUT twenty cubic inches
| OF air AS every nth inspiration Is more
vigorous N round numbcrs each man breathos
about 400 cubic inches per minute equal to "A, 900
cuoc iuchcs per hour Fresh AR contains 900
OF carbonic acid gas, most deadly poison when not
largely diluted with air Air that has been breathod
iorty volumes per 900 Of carbonic acid gas
leo times much pure air, besidcs many DINER
ingredients Now, 10 dilute tho mir expired by
one man IN an hour that II shall contain but It's
just proportion OF carbonc acid there be added
1860 iect per hour OF fresh From the lorc
going remarks vii be seen the atmosp hcric cond-
tons for the OF health and the
| prevention OF disease, anu IL will be az seen
what terrible influence tho dirty badly ventilated
andavercrowdcd tcnenents must exercise the pub
lie health and sanitary condition OF the city. During
the thrd quarter OF The year the mortality from
|
cntre death rate According 10 the last Official report
the death rate in the tenement houses averaged o.
| per cent oh the total mortality
HEALTH BOARD.
The question ut once arises from a consideration OF
the foregoing statements, II the sources OF disease and
III health are 80 well UNDERSTOOD and their removal ~
| necessary tor tho welibcing OF the community, WI
have they been allowed 10 exist and grow such large
and dangerous dmonsionsy and has tho Board Of
Health the necessary power and authority for their
moval? TO the first question would DO dllcut
and ut the best unsatisfactory. 10 any one who has
taken tho trouble TO examine the Official reports the
Department OF Health the evidence Is clear that the
dangerous ami destructive influence OF owdipv
detective sewerage, badly constructed tencmcnts aud
insufficient house drainage has, from the organization
OF sanitary system been July recognized, but be-
You'd the publication OF costly reports aud '.scicnti tic
views' OF the subject nothing has been done OF any
practical value 10 remedy and remove these grave
ond question as to the power and authority Of the De-
partmenl OF Health over any thing prove
rmcnal or dangerous to tho public health best
answered by review OF the laws bearing the sub
| jcct.
THE LAWS PROVISIONS
Chapter $40 OF tho Laws OF 1878 provides for tho
rcmedyng Of detective sewerage anu drainage fol
lows
Whenever shall appear TO DO necessary for tho protcc
wi.hn the corporate limits o. IA. c,,y and county Of New
the be done under the direction OF the Department
| OF ruoc Works
In relation to the erection and management oil ton
eDcnt houses the laws positive and ample under
winch the Board OF Health acts Chapter pOs OF tho
Laws OF 1867 provides Tor vcntilatng or traDsoin
window in every apartment that does not comn,un
with the open ar order to have irec oil
air from tho halls and adjoining rooms; every house
shall be provided with m adequate and proper
at0r In the root at tho top the hall tue roof Of
every sucn house shall be kept IN good repair Il
to leak, aud all rain water shall be so drained
conveyed thererom AS 10 prevent It's dripping TO
the ground causing dampncss IN tho walls yard or
area Every building SHAH be provided with proper
water closets, sewers, dram pipes, no ccsspoois 10
| be permitted IN or under connected with
any house Section y OF the same law provides tha
every tenement house shall be kept clean and irct
from NTH, and that the owner shall cleanse all III,
rooms, passages, foors &C., to The satisfaction and
| often required by the Board OF Health, aud shall
whilewash the said premises at least twice year
Section 70 OF the SANITARY CODE" sanitary ordinances
adopted for the government and guidance OF tho Boar
Of Health aud the prevention OF disease. provides a
folows:--
That no owne- lessee keeper Of any house
lodging house boarding house mandatory shall caus
allow the same 10 be ovorrrowded allow =
great number Of persons dwell lie sleep IN any sue