The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-09
NEW YORK'S PUBLIC HEALTH.

DISCUSSION ON THE FILTHY CONDITION OF
OUR srREETs-DEATH IN THE AIR-PoIsoN-
Gus wArEa-PorsoNous FALSE TEETH AND
POISONOUS HAIR DYES.
The New YORK Public health Association at It's
regular meeting last evening. presided over by Pro-
lessor Chandler discussed variety OF matters per-
tanning to the sanitary administration OF the city
OF New York. II was expected thai the Standing
Committee that subject would hand In an Official
report but owing 70 the absence Of the chairman
Colonel Prentiss, member Of the committee, was
called upon TO inform the association as 10 tho prog
ress made in the investigation.
DIRTY srRBErs AND CARRIAGE.
He said the timo had arrived when this association
should observe the action not only Of the Board or
Health, bus of all those measures that belonged 70
the sanitary administration OF our city. He would
ask why should New Workers be compelled TO meet
garbage boxes IN overy square Gould not the men
charged with keeping tho streets clean be compelled
TO do their duty There single clean streets in
tho city New York except those portions Kept coan by
private contract In Paris the kept clean
every day IN year and not alone on the day when
high public functionary was TO be buried.
Two subjects had been recommended last year TO
the Legislature but they failed Tor want OF
tIme The civil remedy Tor abatement oil
nuisance In q neignboring city, like the Hunters
Point nuisance The other in regard TO vital sta
tistcs aud the Of the law OF 1858 on that sub
ject Either that law should be repealed or better
law should be enacted The Health committees Of the
two houses had reported avoraby on these subjects
aud he hoped this year the association would go 10
work early and do effective work In Albany He
saw why they should be limited IN their
sphere Of action, all sanitary measures come prop
erly under their observation.
DR.. Mcllvalne demanded 70 know the name Of spe-
cinc streets that were dirty.
prnn A ha tray
city twice day and could lind no clean streets.
DR.. MoRRIs-From Fourteenth street along Broad
way 10 Houston and entire section cast OF that line 10
dirty including Mott street aud Mulberry right before
Police Headquarters
no bad noticed all along Broadway tho manure and
dirt tho streets burn in the cutters. Whether
set on fire accidentally or not he did not know but
the effect OF II was most injurious on pedestrians
Dr. O'Sullivan possibility OF succeeding
with the Legislature unless an organized effort was
made by this society. All outside influence should be
discarded committee should be appointed and SEQ
that tho required work done in Albany, and then
gooa results might DO expected. To pass resolutions
use The only practical result could be attained 0y
this association taking upon itself the aborous work
OF watcnng not its own but the city's sanitary inter-
ests while the Legislature was in session.
HEALTH AND HAIR DYES.
DR.. Allan McIane Hamilton read paper on metallic
poisoning from sanitary standpoint He maintained
that the effects from metallic poisoning were greatly
exaggerated. In the course oil his Investigations he
had examine 800 printers and he could lind no evil
results from the constant contact with lead. There
only two cases that proved serious and those
were men who were in the habit OF putting type In
their moutha The same exaggeration existed as 70
Croton water running through lead pipes Most OF the
trouble arose IN the upper stories OF houses where the
Croton only reached occasionally and when
used some OF IL had remained an undue
length OF time in tho pipes. He also
considered tho action Of the French government an
excess OF caution when II forbid the Importation OF
American hams that were covered with tinfoil The
greatest DANGER he admitted consisted in The use ot
hair dyes which often were tho immediate cause OF
brain disease. Nevertheless during long series Of
years very small number of22S deaths only had been
reported as being traceabe TO lead. He would call tho
attention OF public however, TO dangerous results
arising from the uso OF cheap red stockings. which
last summer were sold in this city 10 great extent
He knew doctor who had worn them, and got
swollen limbs reurn. The swoen limbs disappeared
when the red stockings were land aside he considered
the copper far more dangerous ihan lead especi
ally in the construction oil soda water pipes, ana
great danger existed when cheap false teeth
purchased as several POISONOUS metals were used In
their manufacture He did not believe that the late
Mr. Fox, the pantomimist, was poisoned ~ the cx-
cessve use OF b,smuth, as It really had soothing
effect s...
were concerned Dismuth was so dear-costlng 81
pound-that 1t is now but seldom used where lace pow
der be had for so little money, and there was No
danger lace powder, except that u closes up the
pores the hair dyes, however, were an danserous;
though the expose made three years ago mad
them also considerably.
Dr. Garrish stated that he had boon poisoned by tho
use Of water that had been long time IN lead pipe.
When thus attacked he-not relying upon bis own
ideas-c0nsuited other physicians, no less than ten
OF them. All OF Thorn differed, and he was bound to
say that II he had followed their advice he would now
be in Greenwood The malady disappeared whom no
used other water Ho agreed, however, with other
speakers that the hair dyes were dangerous.
A member here and offered him dollar
head each case Of poisoning by hair dye ne could
produce
that hair dyes were poisonous, and, alter voting
resolution OF thanks to Dr.. Hamilton the meeting ad.
journed.