The New York herald., 1878-02-07
REPORT OF THE NEW YORK MEDrco-I.aAr

SOCIETY ON THEIR SANITARY CONDITION.
Al the meeting Of tho New York Medoo-Lsgai so
ciety, held last evening, at their rooms, in West
Thirty first street, Dr. r. J. O'Suivan, as chairman,
submitted the report OF Tho specal committee the
sanitary condition OF the public schools of this city,
This reporti 10 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
teo under u resolution oil the New YORK Medco-L
society TO report TO tne state society IN relation TO
quries as 10 the sanitary condition OF the public
schools OF the CITY 0i New York, bog leavo
the question submitted 10 them as iolows:-
q. Is any system Of ventilation followed in your
public schools A. No. VeEtiiaton Is mainly by the
windows during recess
q What method Of heating IS employed and what
kind OF iuel rs used? A. Tho rooms are heated by
steam radiation supplied from boilers in the base
ment.
O. Are frequent observations OF tenn perature made,
ana what s the usual ranger A. Three times day.
In answer 10 TINS question principal OF the primary
department, IN one o tho largest grammar schools,
opened last year tor The reception oi pupils Say some
rooms VIII not average sixty degrees; others VIII
average ei ghty degrees.
L. Is the seating capacity In the lower grades sui-
cent; and wnat air space is provided Tor the lghtY
A. Limilcd; prescribed by the Board OF Education.
An abstract from the report OF tho special commit
tee school Hygiene 10 here given TO Illustrate
this point:--
At outset of INQUIRIES attention has
Education nnder Msrcn I5. 1876 yet
sra Of ss ws % s @
vnced are utterly care the pres
rs ncs the @ Of eom%sssec in
10 s s enssy ono
following snail be minimum allowance of floor sura aud
and departments five
IN % Inc nes hs Inc Sgr sdss 1 sSs,s S ss nd
schools square iect ninety feet; In
ns5 ssa ane eaps oa suSe Of .eSo
space though eonIessed greater than that which
in the public schools York not 50 far as we lave
law or with the cpisons upon ih,s ssSjeet Of
SS's wSss . enss to
the sanaaa o saI.s b may DO
w s % s %o a @
init ai renewal times hour without appcc able
araaght rssag TINS a. the loves. s'.sdara ana accept.
write upon The best practical means OF ventilation,
in area to the demonstrated actual necessities aud we
aavs sp."q % Of sSo ss. 's. . the 81
recommend An ADAPTATION Of TINS amounl to school hoars
Es 70 this y sa sas,s @ 'Gs
be orssa ss,ss sn @ 70, s
space compatible with enieieas von'"tion without dan
| RELAXATION
| q. Is any system oil exefcise or gymnastics fol-
lowedg A. SIMPLY caisthenIcs exercise.
| O. Are the houi OF school, properly interrupted by
periods oil relaxalIonf A. No; there " but
during the morning, and none aeal tue afternoon.
For these little chdren IN the aliery classes
Obliged remain without change OF position In con-
strained postures, packed as closely as Is possible
pack tbctn Iheso ctusseS average seventy 1--WE.
| Commonly two classes occupy this space
O. Have any ObservatioEs Ueen made the refa-
iou between tho rate o. sickness ana the system OF
| heating and vcDtiiation2 a. None. Some time since
| an Order issued directing teachers to report
| 10 the Board Heath cases contag Vus
| diseases and TO dismiss from the school pupiis 70.
siding the injected house, also contiguous ones.
rms order rs iD0pcrat,ve. Tho teachers have no
means oil acquiring this Information but through the
| children, VINO are AS n rule unreliable Physicinns
| 40 not as rulc report these cases. Moreover,
| among the tenement population pby scians arc
| not usually called IN until the disease has as
suined grave character, The patients beng frequently
at the point oi dcatn. How, then. could tue Health
Board derive this Information ~ such carly period
as 10 available Tor the protection oi the neat
| OF the pupilsr In the meantmc, other children y
the same family and those vns Ia ad accent foomi
como the schooroom ana spread the disease IN vari
Gus drcctons without tue parents teachers having
any knowledge OF Its origin. IL Is PLAIN thai
these schools arc not projected from exposure
TO diseases. We recommend proper medca super
VISION TO prevent this Experience bus demonstrates
that the only possible means VI aording this prOtcc
ton lies Ia the appointment OF competent med,ca la
spectors OF scboohouses. A bil making sucn appoint
ment under the jurisdiction oi The Board OF Health
passed the Senate last year. and II viii be introduce
again during the present session, and IL Is hoped
will become law The state Medical Society woul
materially aid the passage OF tue bill by its recon
mcndatIOn. The chairman OF the committee addrcsse
notes TO several oi our most experienced teachers
requesting answers to the inquiries made Thes
teacners have been connected for upward ol twenty