The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-19
STARTLING FACTS
Murray Hill and the Five Points
Alike Affected.
II H E r E M E ID Y .

be diminished by several tnousanos '"e
syssom Of house drainage and street sewer
age could be made IN any degree periecI
But as perfection is not be looked for in the works
Of imperfect beings, should be satisfied II the
best were done with the available ana IL is the
object Of this article point out The defects In The
working Of the present system and show the necessity
of adopting measures calculated TO eradicate or at
least 70 mitigate, tho evil
THE DANGERS DRAINAGE.
And 6rst 1t may be well to show how widespread
the evil actually and give some idea OF lis fatal
effects upon the health and happiness OF the
city. It is we'll known TACT that most
OF the malarial diseasessuch as dphtheria 'yphoid
typhus, yellow intermittent ieversthat alict the
Inhabitants Of crowded districts due IN majority
Of cases poisonous gases escaping from decaying
matter and these gases frequent source
Than the filthy water Of sewers drains In the
West Indies where yellow lever so frequently cpl
iemic It's origin Is to be found in The rapid decay oil
vegetable matter allowed TO accumulate IN and ABOUT
the city. But in New York, where greater care is
taken and greater success except IN the case oil
the Harlem fats, to keep the city Tree iron such IN
OF nltn the same disease Is found and
has at times become epidemic. Here the Imperfect
condition OF our sewers mas been blame, in the
Of the rapid spread Of yellow fever IN the lower
part OF the city in l79s, twenty or thirty per
sons irving IN small neighborhood at the lower end
Of John street carried oil in single night by
blast OF putrd sxhAa atoms from the OF Burling
slip.
Diphthcra ona OF the most generally fatal diseases
in this city which of 151 persons 1873, is
caused to alarming extent by inefficient drainage.
This is proved by fact that 1859 cases-nearly one
seventh of the whole number in the cityoccurred in
Asng;s ward, the Nineteenth, where the ground Is
high. rocky missrably drained. In the Twentieth
Of 1851 occurred in the two most poorly
drained localities in the city During the past
years been 295 deaths reported in this
city. OF that number 81, 1873 from zymotlc, or
contagious dseases; 1t is believed that AT least
one-hali that number, at least thirty thousand,
have been the result Of Ill drainage and sewerage
Consumption, as statistics prove, the most fatal
OF all diseases in this city, has carried off during Tho
past years 1894 victims, young and old, and is
established fact that many cases have resulted
firocty least from the dampness everywhere 10 DO
ound improperly drained ground.
II WILL therefore, DO that the subject is OF
vital importance to every man, woman and child In
city OF New York and 1t is the interest OF every
who values his lie regards comfort and
safety Vi tnose who dear to MN, 70 guard against
tile fatal consequences OF neglect Inc Board OF
Health has been doing It's best this direction for
number Of years. 10 ta Efforts great deal may
attributed in the gradual reduction OF the death
he without the corporation of those
whose at stake, aud 1t Is in obtaining
tins cooperation ON the part OF property owners that
she Board with greatest opposition. AT
season OF the year when dpnnera, typhus lever and
ether mai4ral diseases are most prevalent particular
should be taken 10 arrest The DANGER and when
the means are known lnFe NO excuse or hesitation
parent why New York's annual record
mortality should not be reduced from
80 600 to 10000 or even to half that number.
The reduction several thousand the year 1872
anu exec tionaily bad weather. and gives The
hope people at last beginning understand
the science OF iiving.
WHAT OUGHT TO Er DONE
The first step TO oe taken toward tue securing Of the
city's health the future should be- the
repair OF every house drain, pool and vault.
Even he best constructed drains are liable TO
oil ordcr, anu IRON their comparative remoteness and
inaccessbity any injury or defect that may
not apt TO be detected. But IL Seldom that
house Dram or cesspooi Is properly constructed,
few words show Dg IN what respects they
generally drhcient and suggesting the remedies to be
applied, Will not be without value TO those who
an xI0us improve Their property and insure their
personal saiety Houses are generally nuecLed with
street sewers by earLhenwaIc pipes and BRICK
and stone wooden drains, through wuicu the con
tents oil wafer closets, ram and surface from
yards. areas and roois, ana waste water from sinks
and washbowis are carried from the prem scs. In
many cases these drains are laid directly beneath
she basement -four, which, when taken up,
show that the cement has been ioosened
where the pipes join, or that The pipes themselves
have settled and broken permitting tneir contents 10
escape by leakage and saturate tue surrounding
rround. The sewer gas thus nndng an escape makes
It's way into The basement and spreads troug The
house. carryiEg with the sceds OF disease and death
EarInenwsrc pipe sewers alJ below The surface tne
cellar are well enough when carefully made but
the dhhcny IS that the work Is ire
hands Iron pipes are often usea ior max
ing the sewer connection. being generally lad
caIked with lead. II they have 10 be opened
tho removal of Constructions one or more noles
generally broken, and, beng improperly closed per-
INIT constant escape OF The ouors of the sewer
When brick drains are used instead OF esrthenwaro
iron .hs psoOao OF aanse Of Is oe eonslaersoy
Dected by single dram fthis description and their
cupants are invariably subject TO offensive odors
from number Of causes. chief among which
Is the retention and absorption Of putrd matter
through the porous substance Of the brick They
also extremely aoe TO out Of repair by breakage
snd The WORKING ioose of tho cement, which allows
rats enter and coonize under the surface Of
thc cellara privilege OF which they are never slow TO
avail themselves. Where BRICK sewers are IN the
occupants OF the house frequently suner without
knowing the actual cause, and seek relief Ia variety
OF ways lar removed from the proper direction. Tho
only enectual remedy Is substitute earthcE
pipes Tor the Intellectual bricks, and to do WITH
Out delay.
RICH AND POOR ALIKE SUFFERERS
This difficulty 10 by no means confined TO the houses
N the poor, Tor Ia many cases dwellings of the best
class contain sewers so constructed TO be constantly
rharged with poisonous gas, while The laid and
semented pipes are liao.e at any time got of re-
pair at points frequently reach. so thar tho
pnly way TO keep the offensive gas extending
effects TO all parts OF the house is TO prevent firm
getting In IRON the street This can be
done by providing the house drain, near
its junction with the sewer, WITH a water seal
trap--a bend IN the pipe resembling somewhat in
shape the letter Swhich retains sufficient quantity
Of water 10 prevent the passage OF tue gas d
rectlon, except under severe pressure Often, now
ever II happens that the ordinary trap is empticd by
suction, becoming the time being practically use
less. A patent Don-sphonine trap, one which
gree Of suction Will empty, Is gradually coming pse
In THIS the size Of the pipe Incrcasou two and half
times at the point where the trap Is inserted.
Another important point 70 be regarded Is tho
proper construction and ventilation OF tho soil and
waste pipea The water and refuse matter escaping
from the bathtubs sinks and watercosets
the house Is carried 70 the house dran by means OF
large PIPE running down the wall Of the house. his
Is frequently dropped the iron pipe IN the cellar
and the JOINTS made fast with cement. Generally
the work Of cementing 10 caroiessly done, or
the wall, the back against The prick surface,
Of the wall 10 80 loosely covered allow con SAINT
escape Of Iou doors, perhaps sufficiently strong TO
excite attention. bat st percepble and 800
great for safety. From us mmeuaie conn ectop with
the house drain thc wall pipe receives uness me dram