The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-20

fcvcr; but, strangely enough, no record
seems to have boon made Of the low forms
Of malaria fever, which in parts OF New
Jersey are lyno means uncommon. Finally,
we may mention that the number Of deaths
from smallpox was only As.
Among the special maladics discussed in
this report is curious disorder, not seldom
attended with grave consequences, known
as the matters disease. The symptoms
a. described in the transactions of the New
Jersey Medical Society are swelling and
liberation Of the gums, lOoscning OF the
teeth. aud n species Of shaking palsy; and
the remedies employed are those called for
by cases of mcrcurial salvation. This dis
case Is observed to occur exclusively among
the hat finshcrs and the presence Of mer-
curry I'm the hat bodies before going through
the final process having been established by
chemical tcsts 1t seems plain that the hot
iron voatiizcs the mercury, while the alb
sorption of It into the system is favored by
the ill-vcntilatcd rooms. There is no doubt
that the greater prevalence of this malady
in certain years is due to the more extended
use OF mercury in order to render poorer
materials available for manufacturing pur-
poses. The serious danger TO which this
practice exposes the operative has been
very properly brought to the attention of
the Health Commissioners.
Another interesting matter discussed in
this report is the outbreak Of cntcric fever
in the State Reform School at Jamesburg
during the pust summer. Here. although
the promises were said TO be kept scrupu-
lously clcan. and no adequate cause Of the
distcmper was apparent, not less than
twenty boys were suddenly stricken down
with typhoidal fever 1t was known that
the buildings of the institution were situated
on high ground, and it was believed that
more than ordinary care had been taken to
insure the proper arrangements Tor drainage
and sewerage. Nevertheless, upon investi-
CATION, this turned ont to be case OF water
poisoning through the gradual choking up
OF porous soils with focal deposits and the
consequent infection OF the wells. The I'M
toward experience of this establishment
shows what faulty sanitary work may bo
done Ivy mechanics Of moro than avera 20 re-
putc. and how an institution organized and
managed with the most sedulous care, may
be storing mp in its underground sewers
and cesspools the seeds OF disease and death.
The Commissioners hold up tho results Of
the Jamesburg inquiry rs timely admoni-
tion TO the settlements which have sprung
up Of late years along the Jersey shore.
There, too is found porous soil. OF sand
ami gravel with an impervious layer Of
clay several feet below For time the
upper stratum may contrive 10 rid itself Of
organic material, but ultimately must so
far fail that wells and houses become i'm
prcSuatcd with the products OF decay.
There is ground to believe that the surface
soil has in the case Of several seaside towns
nearly reached the point OF saturation,
although no dangerous epidemic has as yet
been sgnalzed. II ought to be borne in
mind that these new watering places offer
in their formative periods the most favora-
BILE opportunities for sanitary foresight and
precautlon, and their prospects seem TO
justify the outlay cntailed by scientific
measures. Nor should il be overlooked
that the health resorts of Great Britain
have recently given rise to important in
vestigations which should warn and instruct
US as TO the value OF provision