The New York herald., 1878-02-07

SOCIETY ON THEIB SANITARY CONDITION.
Al the meeting of tho New York Medco-Legai So
ciety, held last evening, at their rooms, in West
Tnrty-hrst street, DR.. r. j. O'Sullivan, as chairman,
submitted the report OF tho special committee the
sanitary condition Of the public schools OF this city,
This report s to bo transmitted 70 tho Medical So
cicty OF the State Of New York
The following is the report
The undersigned, having been appointed a commit
tco under y resolution oi the New YORK Medco-Legai
society report to Toe state society in relation
quIries as 10 the sanitary condition OF the public
schools the CITY oil New York, bog leave 10 answer
the question submitted to them as iolows:-
q. Is any system Of ventilation followed in your
pubic schools A. No. VeEtIaton Is manly by the
windows during recess
q What method o. heating rs employed aud what
kind OF fuel IS used? A. The rooms are heated by
steam radiation supplied from boilers in the base
ment.
ana what Is the usual ranger A. Three times a day.
In answer 70 TINS question principal OF the primary
opened year for reception oi pupils say
average eighty degrees.
Is the seating capacity in the lower grades sufl-
cien; and wbat air space Is provided Tor the light?
A. Limited; prescribed BY the Board OF Education.
An abstract from the report OF tho special commit
tee school Hygiene Is here given TO illustrate
tbs point
At the outset of INQUIRIES attention has
Board OF Education undcr date Marcn i5 1875.
only slight moddcaions Of eond which we are con.
vineed are utterly Inconsistent WIN due for the
We brst notice the conclusion of your commftseo in
ovcrcrowein. I'm fixing tie sitting capacty Of rooms the
following snail be minmu llowsnce Of hoor surface aud
schools and five square feet and seventy cubic
eighty euCie ises, grades grammar
schools square oet aud ninety ieef in the
four higher sraaes nine feet and 100 cuoic ieet
Report. pp. 229-23l) such capacity OF school
n,shsrso uss" aliosel anls Of Children
w.. Osi icnl
law or with the opinions upon Tins subject Of
a h eu :" m
has %s osn d. %
pertinent WIN me most periect mechanical appsnces
init OF removal times AN hour without apprecsbe
ns the conearrng opinions Of ali credible aasorities TINT
write upon he best practical means Of ventilation,
In area to the demonstrated actual necessities and
allowance, ior twentyour hours We would there ore,
recommend IN agitation Of TINS amount to school hours
every hour TO prevent this shirry eanc feet At least
@ a s as tor % s
space compatoe with enicient ventiaton without dan
gcrous exposure to draughts.
RELAXATION.
Q. Is any system OF exercise or gymnastics fol-
lowedY A. Simply caisthenics exercise.
o. Are the houis oil scnoo properly interrupted by
PERIODS oi relaxaiionf A. No; there but recess
during the morning. and none af all IN the
For ours t.s little cndren the gallery classes
obliged 10 remain without change OF position In
strained postures, packed as closely as II is possible
Commonly Two classes occupy this space
q Have any observatioEs been made the reia-
lion between tho rate o. sickness ana the system Of
heating and ventilation? a. None. some time since
order was Issued directing teachers to report
TO the Board o Heath cases VI contag K uus
diseases and TO dismiss from the school pupils
sizing IN the injected house, also contiguous ones.
| fhs order Is inopcratve. Inc teachers have no
means oil acquiring this Information but through the
children, VINO are AS a rule uareliabio Physicans
not as rulc report these cases. Moreover,
among the tenement population physicians are
not usually called IN until the disease has
sumed grave character, the patients beng frequently
at the point vi dcatn. How, then, could the Health
Board derive THIS Information ~ such carly period
mako IL available Tor the protection the neah
| oi tue pupiIsr In tue meantinc other children of
the family and those hvins Ia adJ accent
como 10 the schooroom spread the disease var
drcctions without the parents teachers having
| any knowledge OF It's origin. IL Is plan that
these schools are not Protected IRON exposure
| TO diseases. We recommend proper medIca super
VISION 10 prevent this Experience bus demonstrated
that the only possible means vi anording this protcc
ton u the appoln tment OF competent med, i-
spectors scboo houses. bill making app0in
ment under the jurisdiction Of ihs~ Board OF Health,
passed the Senate last year. and II viii be
again during the present SESSION, Is hoped it
| will become a law. The state Medical Society would
materially aid the passage OF tue bill by its recon-
fncndation. the chairman OF the addressed
notes to several vi our most experienced teachers,
teachers have been connected for upward oil twenty