The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-28
TENEMENT LIFE.
Dwellings in Rivington, Eldridge
and Hester Streets.
IMPERFECT VENTILATION.
Mothers Who Do Not Believe in Bathing
Their Offspring.


HERALD representative among the tenement houses
OF portion OF DR.. Lordys district, which Is bounded
by the Bowery, Rvingon, Eldridee and Hester Streets
IL served to corroborate very fully what was snid
some days before by DR.. Koch, whose district is con-
tguous this one that the people OF this neighbour
hood OF decidedly better class than the tene-
mont population Of many other quarters. And at the
Same time IL served TO strengtnen the proofs pre-
scented from time to time in she reports OF similar
visitatons that the house system of dwell
,ngs Tor the poorer classes which involves
great evils and IS provocative OF grave physical,
social results For while 1t was found that,
a rule, the houses were toleraby well kept and the
people residing them OF more than the aver
age intelligence of the aborng classes and that there
little destuton, yet the houses themselves were
necessarily unhealthy. The close physical contact
OF SO many human beings as tenement house usually
contains must also DO productive of many disadvan
tages
While IN most cases Dr. Lordy well received
ana mis- abors for Board Health behalf OF the
sick children were thoroughly appreciated. and his
prescriptions and excursion tickots gratefully re-
ceived, yet there many cases whore the people
were nclineo TO stand somewhat upon their dignity,
and which the statement ''We have
our own doctor" rather brusquely made. In
all these the Doctors CHEEKY ''Ali right" and
his pleasant kindly manner disarmed resentment and
brought pleasant WORD OF farewell
PROUD.
The locality visited yesterday contained few of the
kina of houses and that could call for any
active interference by the Board, though IN some
cases a word OF caution 10 the
cleaniy condition of particular
uncaed for and unkindly
ceved. The locality The BLOCK bounded by Grand,
Eloriuge. Hester and Forsyth streets, popuious
block, but containing nusAnces and many
tarf M Idrtd Twas 4 ha sf
house visited, and proved to % tall tenement, built
the usual plap OF tenement houses, well filled
Nath tenants, the most OF whom were GermanA
Many OF the women and children were moving to ano
ro IN the nails, making locomotion rather difficult to
sne who unaccusaomed TO the place and the dark
ness OF the halls rhe first observation made was
lnat tho ventilation was abo m'nably bad, and though
lhere was smell Of dscayed garbage, such as
poisons the air in nearly all the tenement houses OF
the poorest classes, yet tho smell from dteen or
twenty kitchens (Ior II was about noonday) was
enough sIcken delicate stomach. Tho usual lack
pf provision Tor venulation was noticeable. There
a door at the ROOF which stood open, and the
front hall doors stood open, buL though
draugnt certainly established thereby IL was not
strong enough to carry away the foul that urked
In the halls. IL impossible thar It should do SO,
Tor the hall narrow, alter the tenement house
fashion, that insufficient space was left between
the stairs and the floors Of the successive halls, to
establish any direct current AS Is usual, SINKS aud
water pipes were found in every hail. and though
none oil them were In condition that called for
lutte censure, yet them entirely fresh
sweet. The halls dark, OF course for ten.
ement house hail docs not reach either the front
rear Of the house. but Is placed in the nidde, with
doors at ciher end, leading into front rear
tenements. Over ench door u small transom, but
nearly ali OF these were closed and ooscured by cur
taius
Knocking briskly at one door DR.. Loraly mot the
suriy response 'Who's there2"
"A DOCTOR" he replied, laughing. chow are your
babissY'
''ob al. right" said the Doctor, chseriIy, as he
turned to the next door, On the fourth 1oor was
n u all ~ M WQa
midway In the lausiabe task Of scruboing her floor.
rne onehaii OF The room Was terribly dirty anu The
other hall was remarkably clean Sne looked 10 be
. haidworking honest woman, with PRIDE in her
,hIluren and caro- tor her household. When she
learned her VISITORS errund she took the baby from
the arms OF The larger baby who holding it, and
Explained that It had little fever. She could not
speak English duently, but told clearly enough what
kers The chi's symptoms, and listened gracefully TO
,he Doctors directions.
She told OF the food gave the little one, and
NE Doctor approved OF IL but when he asked her If
)ne bsthed the baby every day. she said. mo; was
Airaid to battle her when shs was sick"
"Dont you bAlne your children?" asked the Doc
'oh yes The father. he put all six children n the
tub every night, but was afraid TOR the BABY when
she have the fevur."
'Don'L be AFRAID Bathe her twice every DAY, said
the Doctor
.'Ali we,' ssad mother q room above this one
when the Doctra made has usual inquiry. The family
were NJ dinner and the Doctor locked sharply at
baby ten months old that AZ the table, helping
himself TO the family supplies.
THAT baby isu't WELL" lie said somewhat sharply.
.'whats the Eater with himY And without paus-
ing Tor reply, he said, "You don't give him
bers eat, your Tor the little was picking
out u slice OF that indigest,bie delicacy, evidently
with the nsention OF swallowing IL. IL 10 highly |
probable that that child will forget the OF
cumoers, ior when the mother, halt frightened at |
The Doctors ea~nestness, SAID Yes" he continued
a tone that was impressive, to say the least, |
IAN wrong. All wrong. II you iced that child that
Father mother both thoroughly aroused !
by this snu listened eagerly TO what mo Doctor iod
them. ho gave them a copy OF the printed circular |
h.,
The care ana diet OF cnidrcn, and made out a pre-
scriplion for OF course on Questioning the mother
more closely, found that the Iito one was danger.
ously sick instead OF ''all well, as she had con-
rioered IT. He gave orders TOO that the doors and |
windows should pc lett open, Tor the inside the |
room was sitting, aud lie LEFT an excursfon ticket,
which the mother Will surely use.
BREATHING PLACES.
In the rear OF this mouse TOUR story tenement |
house, which answers very generally 10 the same de-
fcrIpton AS that gwen OF tne house in 'front.'
ing that the ventilation better. Ibis found to be
very generally the case in rear tenements, as they
Is generally TO be iound window that serves a |
sentiiator. In very many cases the only Wow to |
De nad out OF these windows Is thai OF wall |
pniy loot away less. But |
when there Is only few inches between the walls |
there Is almost always u draught, the narrow open |
space beng almost good u chimney Tor crcuiing
aouuent Of air On the second ioor OF TINS
found famiy with Jour children. Az might be ex-
peced, the youngest one had the com plainL
and tue mother had not calod doctor, gone
TO the uspensary, as sho thought " Was only what
when the cnu was tecLIling. ..fne DIS
pensaries want money, too, nov, SAID good naurod
nelkhDur VINO came IN 10 interpret LOT The mother.
who could speak no English the sigh that accom-
panied her words showed the reason Tor neg |
ect Tor the docors lee Is the thing that the poor
teel able TO pay. DR.. Lordiy, however bis
prescription and told the mother to the oice OF
The Board of Health, no urrang M
maue BY tue Board tor the furnishing OF medicines In
bhe different districts.
USED
No. 81 Eldridgc was found to be similar house TO
No. 81, Dut was better kept the Ia
Was MOI 80 sthing. though II was lar from being
nble tor human beings. The people In the house ana
IN the rear tshenisnt seemed comparatively well TO
dc, their rooms beng well furnished and their dress
beng Indicative OF comfortable circuuistnnces 10
one room IN the rear tenement was found mother,
WHO, though she was well dressed and had handsome
lewelry on, AID though her rooms nero furnished
tyen Handsomely, yct looked discouraged anu moro
worn Than ncr poorest ncghbors IL was not hard 10
tell WHY, Tor 10 her lap ay sckly baby, ana shc told
the Doctor WITH tncss that show cd now che
mad dNsIt on the subIect, OF cry liLllc symptOm