New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-21
DEFENDING THE METROPOLITAN ROAD.

DECLARATION OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS THAT
TIE NOISE IS Nor INJURIOUS TO HEALTH.
Three memorials, signed by more than 200
physicians and surgeons Of Ncw-HOrk, representing
nearly every medical college. hospital aud other medical
institution the city presented TO the Grand Jury
Yesterday, In reply 20 the memorial heretofore pre-
sened representing alleged injuries to health caused
py the noise Elevated Railways. The first OF the
three cOuoyers the statement that 1.-THE soft brain Of
childhood BEAUTIFULLY develop, and the faculties
Of mature life rapidly waste under the continuous
eIctauon OF Il special sense >" and adds:
at known to every practitioner that the brains OF
OF our busiest hOroughfares In spite Of the noise con-
tnue develop and 10 be free from waste in degree
places = Fortunately, an experience 81 four
months enables us TO estimate fairly tue effect upon
law the traus Of the Metropolitan Elevated Railway IN
sxth-aye II stu possible TO notice the usual number
Of ue looking healthy growing children whose active
lmbs quick movements, and ruddy checks are not ind
cave Of arrested development 81 their soft brans aud
energy OF the radesnen ana others ON tha
great thurOugre continues 10 br exercised IN way 70
forbid the suppOon Of cerebral decay as TO them We
do not learn that there has Deen any increased demand
for admissions 10 the lunatc asylums, nor has our
cnentage been sweled by cases 0i perverted mental
or moral action, cerebral exhaustion, INSOMNIA
hystcra chorea, I mania paralysis: paSisnIs
on the line OF or near the road nave recovered
from their ailments with the usual prOmptness since the
opening OF the railway aud the death rate In tha vlcn
ity during tue past Summer has not been hEler than IN
year, past far as our experience goes In our Onin
objections WnlCh lie against the BIC
waited Railway that do not lie with equal perttnence
against OF noise which tend 20 disturb sleep
I'm the city, but soon ~ the population on and con-
tguous siHthaye. become accustomed 10 the novel
rcverberations OF the railway, the Inconvenience VIII
disappear" 49,. -,
THIS memorial Ia signed by thirty-four names. The
second, signed by III names, asserts .,
We do know OF case OF disease or death that
has Deen caused the noise OF said railway We con-
slider that said Metropolitan Elevated Railway IL,
and PROMISES to be, great public Dcnent In anordng
speedy and safe rans and IN rendering the heathul
region OF tho upper part OF the island available for rest
dence 10 large mass Of the population. In this way
n n easy 10 understand the said railway may necome
detrimental IN improving the heathfuness and In
diminishing the death rate OF our city
The third memorial. signed by NIFTY physicians ana
snrgrone saws We have not met with any OF the ef-
feels detrimental health set forth ia the memorial re-
fefred TO- The statement that various nervous aud men
raj diseases NAV be and produced by the noise OF
the said railway trains IL one which IL Wholly unsup
ported by authority, and thus far, IL contrary 10 our
experience On contrary we are OF opinion that Dy
onenfug ND 10 our crowded tenement population the
more elevated aud healthiu regions OF the upper part OF
the island and the adjoining country great boon VIII
he conferred upon the community and that many lives
will be saved by the healthful means OF iOcOmOtoh
Afforded 10 the people; wet feet ana exposure 10
draughts Of wintry rainy weather In the h0rse-cars
and serious delays occasioned by snow, being avoided
by the use OF the Elevated Railway
Among the signers are DrA Fordyce Barker, A.
pearsall Brown William A. Hammond, j. ". ,. HOuley
William Thurman Wooster Beach. John DOran, A H. NJ
Purdy @. T.. Ellington, Alfred C. Post, and Leroy NJ
Yale. ,-,--- - -. .
sented declaring that the sgners withdrew their names
from the petition asking for the indctment OF the Me-
tropoitan Railroad. Among the slgners OF TINS were
Doctors spitEka, Lee, Ellsworth Eott echohey' ana
BOZman.