The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
Summer and Autumn.


The summer, the most trying season Of
the year for health is now over, and New
York is singularly free from malarial
fcvcrs. and other diseases Of anything like
an epidemic character. II has, indeed, been
one Of the hcalthicst summers the city ever
experienced, and with proper sanitary pre-
cautions and duo attention to cleanliness,
we may expect To get through the autumn,
ON which we have now entered, with death
rate lower than that Of last year.
Miasmatic fcvcrs, Of course, always pre-
vail more or Less in the fail. and some cases
Of them are reported in Wcstchcstcr County,
the wet summer having paved the way for
their progress; but there is no epidemic Of
such fcvcrs, and last week there were only
p cases in the city proper. We ought to
have, and If the work OF street cleaning was
performed more thoroughly and systemati-
cally we should have. even fewer than
these The Board Of Aldermen. on Tuesday.
urged the Board Of Health, the Police, and
the Department Of Public Works to devote
special pains TO he cleansing ~ the cutters
of the streets in the most deusely populated
parts of the city. Their plan was 10 turn
on the full force OF the Croton water from
the hydrants, and wash away the filth every
morning between six and seven o'clock until
the first OF November. This would UNI
doubtedly be good way Of cleansing the
foul cutters, and, happily the rains since
early spring have been SO abundant that
the supply OF water is now ample, though
somewhere about ninc-tenths Of what flows
into the city is ordinarily wasted.
Some Of the reports TO the Board OF Health
indicate that there is ali imperative need Of
action in certain portions Of the city to get
rid Of accommodating filth and feculencc If
we wish 10 bc guarded against the approach
OF pestilcnce. Already in the lower part Of
the town wise but unusual step has been
taken in lifting the boards which cover the
cutters in front OF warehouses and remov-
ing the dirt underneath them: but though
cleanliness il highly desirable and very
necessary there, 1t Is even more important
in the crowded wards on the east side. II
any disease like yellow fever should become
epidemic In the Seventeenth Ward. for in
stance, no subsequent sanitary measures
and no medical skill would avail to stop its
sweeping progress.
DR.. ESDEMASN, one 81 the sanitary in
spcctors, has complained OF the Street
dreaming DuIfuu lpl uiloWlIlp nun To BhNNel
In the cutters on the east side Of the town,
and to remain there for days and weeks.
This carelessucss, II il cont inues, will force
the disinfecting corps TO use a stronger So
luton than that now provided for neutral
izing the effects Of the fostering accumua-
tons On the whole, however, the city is
now cleaner than usual.
During August the number OF deaths in
New York was 2,447, or 4s9 less than in the
same month last year, which ia an exceed
ingly encouraging show 10 make at a time
when yellow fever II dcclmating so many
Southern cities and towns. For the last
week ~ August the number Of deaths re-
ported was jj3, an increase over the pre-
ceding week, but decrease Of ~ as com
pared with the same week last year, and n
still greater falling or when compared with
the average OF deaths during five years.
The fatal diseases reported are also those
which ordinarily occur, with n lesscned
number Of those peculiar to the season or
gienc.
New York Is therefore fortunate, so far rs
health Is concerned, and, while guarding its
doors against the entry Of the pcstilence
which is devastating New Orleans, Vcks-
burg, and Memphis the metropolis can dis
play its gratitude for the immunity it en-
joys by the continuance Of the liberal aid 1t
Is extending to the afflicted cities OF the
South.