The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-10
SUMNER MORTALITY.

WORTHLESS BOARD.
The excessive heat OF the past lev weeks at this
early season directs attention 10 the large death
this city during the summer months aud the Causes
Tor the same. During the season Of 1876 the mortality
among young children very high, some weeks the
death rate amounting to 800 the prevailing disorder
being diseases OF the digestive system ana the brain
Tho HERALD has repeatedly directed attention 10 this
condition o! AFFAIRS and has pointed Out the fact that
ths dreadful destruction oil infant lie was not alone
duo to the great heat OF the months. bat also
10 the dsgusngly bad sanitary condition OF the city,
particularly In the poorer and densciy populated
quarters
In Philadelphia and Boston no such disregard Of hu-
man lite Is shown by tho authorities and tho copse.
qucucc is that although both these cities are subject
60 the same climatic conditions their death rates aro
lar loss than Nov York. while in some respects they
nrc not located in sanitary point Of view in favor
able position us this city.
SLAUGHTER or tue iSSocEsla
Last summer the mortality among children under
i've years OF age became that seemed almost
impossible 10 arrest this terrible loss OF HE. The
health officials powericss the matter and
seemed completely ignorant OF the causes that
produced this great mortality, so much so
that the Health Board found IL necessary to make n
sanitary survey OF tho city and house TO inspcc
tion, clearly showing That they ignorant OF tue
true condition oil Now York so far the puolc health
was concerned rapid inspection made Of the
tenement districts, and was found that the excessive
death rate among children was duo 10 three causes
unwhoesome food, dirt and Impure air. Tho action OF
the Health Department IN this matter was very much
ike that OF the locking the stable door after tho
horse stolen, Tor tho Joss oil LIE from
prevenabe Diseases plaoo before any effort was
made on the part OF tho authorities to adopt preventive
measures.
uxwnoLssoxE rood.
One OF the principal causes OF tho high death ratio In
Now York among young children Is the consun pton
oil impure and unwboesomc iOod this Is the caso Ia
especial degree with milk because forms the Oh sf
lood Tor children under years and hall old This
beng so viii DO at once seen how important matter
II Is TO exercise strict watch and supervision the
SAFE OF tins article ia this CITY. MIX, Vi all other
artcl,s used us ood, Is tho most difficult 10 keep pure
And IN wholesome condition. Tor Il Is easily affected
by heat and becomes rapidly poisonous ana dangerous
In It's ciccts alter exposure IN Iou atmosphere for
rapidly Absorbs the impure particles IN ioui MIR and
swILL MILK #*It @it
II, IN conjunction wnA those evils, tho milk Is
taintod IN s very source as IRON disease III the cows
or from the BAD and Improper feeding OF these AMI
mas, II can easily DO estimated the dangerous effect
SUCH food would have on the Lunun system, par
tcuariy IN tho case OF young chilaron. large pcr.
ccntage Of the deaths IRON Intestinal disorders anoug
youn. children are duo 10 THIS source 0i Disease tor
the use o impure milk produces immediately diar.
rhccai disease, particularly during warm weather.
The recent exposures made by the HERALD IA r0a-
this business Is carried and nus tho health ocui
VI Ihis cry were lighting about tho diuion OF good mix
with pure water but lyc or no attention Ii pad 10
the graveY Kinds OF milk adultorato AT tho present
timo no proper measures have been adopted the
prevention VI the introduction OF this diseased milk
the OF this State The lacloineicr viii not
that tho mix unit tor II II cUmcs up to
the required standard oi density, anu the nuid may
be absolutely POISONOUS ana DO passed aa good IN TX
unless recourse be had 10 microscopic Or chemical
analysis
Thus instruncnt for estimating tho pur,tysot mil
has been long out Of use IN Lusand, France and
10 most pnr,s OF Europe, ana II Is about timc
more accurate test SHOULD be accepted III this cly ono
oil tho most eminent SANITARY authorities vi Eu.opr
writing on the subject OF sm I'll mix In ths CITY,
s mo ~ s n n;ay nas rcsacl IRON
aud vibriupcs, ana Dr. Parkes suggests that by the
decomposition OF that uud digestive ailments may
arise IA children, and that The disease known
thrush may b. conn, ced with them, Tor fungi
fouud in Inc Busters that ioim. The swift nnk. or
that IRON COWS ted on dstiiiers' graus and wash, Is
notoriousiy UNIV hOieEomo ~ New York"
ovkRcRowDiSG AND tiLrH. #tt
The overcroMcing Ut human bciugs into dark ana
ilthy dwellings, where anything Ike pure ar aud
light are almost unknown, has proved TO DO very
grave source o danger 10 tho health OF this CITY, In
the majority Of the poorer tcncmcnts but uttlc no
provision ID made os tho vcntiaton OF tho buildings
The foul gases ana examinations IRON the detective and
than useless dram anu sewer pipes poison tho
atmosphere and makes these places centres Tor the
proJuct,on oil the lowest types OF disease. Laws
have been passed providing ,or TIC propcr
construction and OF tenement dwellings:
but as lar NJ any beuen being derived, they night
Well never have been cuseted AZ general rn!o the
ADMISSION OF fresh air True the law provides that
there shall be transvn WINDOW opening lIom each
seeping a. ariment into the pubc han But tubs law,
even carried out, does not remedy the EVIL for tho
AIR the halls OF such dwellings, Is bad and impure
as within the dwelling rootnR
The effects oil such . system be estimated II TO
these evils We add that OF the extreme heal sl the
mcr months aud the nncleanincss OF The iInabltants
tLenselvea Under such circumstances II viii not sur
Prise any observer thai hs city has nIeh extremely
high dcath ratio among children under hse
years oil age and that such deaths are for
O. All lert
IS strange iact that the part OF the sanitary
thoiuies OF New York pers's.cIt desire has Always
been shown TO cvaic tins tenement house question.
IL cannot o. from ignorance Of tho large danger.
Gus influence inns sourccoi disease cxcrs ON IL. pubic
health, TOR tho HRRALp mas been consaniiy drawing
then atcnton 10 the same ior years past In tac re-
ports VI Tho Department VI Health papers found
upon every conceivable subject, Tut the great aud
Important one 10 the people VI THIS eny,
''wha, shall DO done 10 improve the tenumcut
buildings Tor tho poorr Tue legislature OF THIS
State hIs enacted the stringent laws Tor the pro.
lection OF the public aeah from dangers that threaten
It from this source, bul such laws have Always re.
manned dead letter upon tue statute books
WORTHLESS yrr COSTLY fnAhn
The wortniessEoss OF The present Department, of
Health has never been nero uil, shown than by ihcr
treatment vi this question. Not that they are any
worse than the boards gone before iAemali arc alike
IN inis particular One energetic man, with brains
aud Will TO encounter the difficulties Of such problems,
would be worth moro the people than ali tho boards
anu com missions that have e,er admin stercd health
laws this city, Out or the large anonni OF money
Appropriated each yeas Tor health purposes and which
AT the present time aud has Decn dusing past years
spent foe tho support OF oncc-holders whose services
we're In no way necessary Tor tho gooa o the
public. enough could DO spent Tor tho
pfovcment OF the tenement houses Of this city.
out OF the sum Appropriated each year for tho Of
the Department OF HcaIlb two-tllrds tho amount
used up IN The pny ment OF mssIoncrs inspectors,
clerks ana lawyers. az stated before IN tie HERALD
large reduction should BIO made in the number pc0-
Pic employed by the department, and The money
wasted Va THIS way could DO spent IN Improving tnc
tenement quarters OF tho city The mere inst cctIon
Of buildings and reporting them us 10 bad sanitary
condition and unit for occupation VIII NOT make them
al 10 1--we In. IL IL necessary 70 make alterations and
improvements Az inc present time ana In past years
the health officials complain they have funds TO do
this necessary work, anu that larger apprOpr tor
sanitary purposes necessary IL hard TO spare
any funds practical work when the salary account
OF the department. averages about $40 00O iron which
no real benefit rs derived.
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The time Is last approaching when the true cundi.
ton OF tho poorer quarters OF the city wii be known
and tile advantages OF tho sanitary inspection oil tho
Board OF Health tested. The results last year were
a death ratio among children under oisht years
LII .lluIl a a -.