The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-28
BREATHING POISONED AIR.
WHAT DR. MOTT SAYS 1BOrT SEU ER
GAS IN NEW YORk HOUSES.
"Potent In Linking the Cradle md the Grnve,
aud In shortentrw the Distance between
The M Discoveries In sixty-seecnd street.


position among New York's leading medical
practitioners gives weight TO his opinions on
matters connected with sanitary science, Ito
see The Sun using its influence to promote re-
form in this matter Of protecting our homes
against the poison Of the sewers. II is n subject
the vital importance Of which cannot be over
rated, yet one upon which many otherwise in
tclligent citizens seem ignorant and even indif-
fcrcnt But no physician can afford to under
estimate H. The prevalence OF sewer gases in
the chambers u the sick is one OF tho greatest
difficulties we have To contend with II defeats
treatment physician may know the disease
he is called TO combat-mny think hc has the
proper remedies; yet this subtle influence baf-
fcs all his skill. lie may even apparently cure
his patient. Suddenly there is relapse and
the worst phases Of the disease break torth
again. There is 10 defect in his treatment. By
all rules OF science and laws Of unimpcdcd ma
ture. the patient should get well but he does
not. and. OF course. the doctor has TO bear all
the blame. while the real mischief is not in his
incapacIty but in the constant exposure of the
patient to tho same causes that have produced
the disease. II must be understood that sewer
gases do not simply induce certain typho- ma
larial fevers. but they aggravatc. often to fatal
results, many different complaints which have
had other origin. but into which they Introduce
new and obstinatoly dangerous clements. am
now treating n patient on Twentieth street for
gastric affection. and after an immense deal of
trouble with the case have been compelled TO tell
him that he must move from his present resi-
dence or he cannot get well. | can never cure
him whore he is even If effect temporary
relief | cannot keep him well there. The rea-
son is apparent TO my senses every time | enter
his house. Going into 1t from the pure air OF
ha I flnl
sewer gas TINT have to hasten my getting out
again whore | can breathe
have had tO treat during the wintera num-
bcr OF case OF typhoid fever and pneumonia.
aggravated ~ sewer Ens poisoning. and have
now under my charge three cases Of we-de
yeloprd typhoid. which believe attributable
directly 10 that cause. Yet my patients are all
among people who are not compelled 10y pres
sure of circumstances to live amid poor and un.
hca'ihiul SURROUNDINGS They are rich enough
10 have proper homes. and suppose they pos
srss them. hut results prove the contrary. The
Tact Il that no man wealth - ot itself sufficient
To- ensure him against thc cyil devices Of his
"Wnier is the season for typhoid. Thcn our
dwellings are closed to keep out the cold. our
rooms are hot aud il there Is any chance for
scN,i % ~ !" ~. ", Us 'nch = tlr lllr wien we
most ene'uvcly nssi-t lts chnnce and reap the
fullest share of the reward. Malara fcNtr has
az seas ms Tor lis own. Hnt i- not more onscrv-
ABLY prominent AZ one time than another. I'm
doupt"dly very great proportion oi what We
have oi 1t IN the city is attributable directly
10 sewer gases. II used 10 be- supposed
that maariul feveTs were caused by tho decom-
position Of vegetable matter and yapors from
freshly upturned earth. The superstition was
correct beyond question. but W. have many
cases occurring IN the city among people who
never knowingly approach decomposing yeee.
table matter. and who never have n spadcful Of
end To another. Whore. then. does the infc,-
tion spring from That It can come from the
sewer gases we know and have little doubt
but that careful nvestigation hy nn exp.r'
would demonstrate that in ninety-nine eases
out OF hundred Of that clasS that WIS the pro-
ducing cause. There are few thnEs-outside
the list " substances only prorurp bile from drug
stores on prescription potent In linking
tho erhdl" and mo- grave. re- ir t'4Cr'rp ing il'
omanntiou- froin ih. sow,rs 81 which onr
r.umbrt- Erucrully manage that We shall have
on the north side Of sixtv-second street. lust
east of Tenth uNcnu". stands block of five
Down stun" building handsome houses rN-
t'rn4lly. arranged for the occupancy Of two
| fraly viewed. they might be cla--ed ~ belong
lng To the better sort ni tenement houses or
iaihrr 10 tho ch.ap Nat ,y,". Tn"y were all
put up by one man. -perulai"r oi the Budd"n.
sick sort. who came tn Erief fuan 'hlly. and
now n, pc houses. with five more Just around
III" corner on Tenth avenue. hay" all passrd
Uut of his hands. The cnstsrnmO-t of the
houses on y--tond street i"il INTO the hands
of AN owner who has done all thli wns necessary
ul IN" uthcrs nre stIll very nearly IN the condl-
tion In which they were lett yth" hulldrrA v,Nr
ago. and Two oi them. II and -. are. IN respect
ut sanitary pr"cuui oA-. pult" unehHu-, Il. with
tl" exception u %" yNi"nSi'n of th"ir vast
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