The New York herald., 1879-07-13
Work of the Health Department in Be-
half of the Children.
IMPROVED SANITARY PRECAUTIONS.
A Tour of Tenements on the East
Side OF the City

unusual precautions to prevent the possibility Of
one. The Board is now understood TO be con-
trolied almost entirely by physicians. in place
OF politicians. and hence the Improvement In
the health OF the metropolis. The idea OF hav-
ing force Of sanitary inspectors composed of
medical to visit all the tenement houses OF the
city and report and relieve cases of infant sick
ness was put in practice only two years ago
and has worked we'll and 10 said to have
no counterpart anywhere else Besides these
there inspectors OF fruit. meat and milk.
and general sanitary inspectors who report the con-
dtion Of sinks. water Closets entries sleyways and
courtyards and in addition there is large force
ployed for vaccinatine purposes. The department.
keeps sharp lookout for smallpox. it ranks first
in the list of infectious diseases among children.
Tho fifty visiting physicians report very favorable
condition of health throughout the city, especially
among the children. The breezy character OF the
weather has had something to do with this. and also
the fact that the mothers of children much bet
ter posted than formerly the methods Of treating
their sick offspring. owing to the information I'M
parted by the sanitary inspectors In fact the in
spectors are understood to take much pains to
tighten mothers on the proper way of handling their
children in sickness in looking for of
lection.
NO POSSIBILITY Epidemic.
DR.. Samuel Kohn, of No. 134 Second avenue, has
charge of the sanitary district lying between Hous
ton and Canal streets and Allen and Bowery.
bracing a numerous collection of tall tenement
houses. As he started out with HERALD reporter
yesterday afternoon tour of inspection he OBJ
served that there was possibility OF epidemic
in the city, as the chances for one are reduced to
minimum. There few Of smallpox.
measles. whooping cough and diphtheria. but moth
ing to cause the least alarm. Diarrhea q common
complaint of children. was, usual, rather preva-
lent, but the proper remedies now pretty we'll
known to most mothers.
1.-The worst of 1t is" said the Doctor 'mothers
imagine it arises from the childrens teething and
pay little heed to it, thinking it natural concom-
tant of that circumstance. They give spoonful of
brandy to help them over It, which only makes the
diarrhGa worse by creating an irritation of the in
testinal canal Another mistake mothers make is
allowing their children to eat everything that comes
IN their way. A.woman seems to take pride in
seeing her child tackle all sorts of food thinking it
IL sign of health and strength. Tho best thing
q child can be fed up to twelve or eighteen
months is milk and crackers. but lots of mothers
give their little beer broth and other wrong
diet at this tender age. But the women
getting to know much better. In our vistations
tell them the right things to do, and the informa-
ton saves much sickness that might otherwise
happen"
AMONG THE rENEMENTs
The first tenement visited No. l2S Hester
street. The house appeared new and there was little
exception to be taken to the condition OF the halls
aud starways. On the first foor little thing about
two years old was suffering from the measles. nd
her little sister, year older. had Just recovered
from the same complaint Both children
ming around the hoor industriously smearng their
faces with much dirt they could lay their
hands on. On the second floor the advent of the
Doctor created quite stir among half q dozen
women conaregated in the corridors aud disposed
to be facetous They complained of having cholera
infantum themselves, wanted to be vaccinated and
were clamorous Tor tickets to the sick
childrens free excursions. The Doctor concluded
from the merry spirits of these matrons that there
30 he proceeded to the top hoor. where he told
there was an Italian woman with u sick baby The
baby looked decidedly i'll. but amount of PAN
tomime could make the mother understand what the
Doctor wanted to know as to the nature. of the
child's complaint. neghbor. however. volun-
teeAed the Information that she saw the little fellow
eating a cucumber and then the murder out and
the diagnosis of the became easy. Forsyth
street appeared to be running with children.
They crowded the curb OF the sidewalk the gutter.
the doorsteps and Railways and for the most part
were barefoored and barelegged. but healthy and
cheerful.
SCENES on POVERTY AND SICKNESS
When the Doctor inquired on the first floor OF No.
Is Forsyth street if there any sick children
woman made him answer. "No, sir, neither sick nor
well; poor people can't afford to have any chill
drcn." which left the inference that she had none
herself 1t observed that the women whose
children were in good health were themselves in
good spirits as though they were particularly
favored by Providence in this exemption OF their
offspring from the current ills OF infantie hu-
manity. On the top floor in the rear of this number
an open door revealed three half-cad children
sprawling ovor the floor. which was in very dirty
aud confused condition, bucket of slops being
half spilled in one corner. while old boots and
shoes and rags OF every conceivable de-
scription were Uttered around. tall,
broadshoudered woman, In her bare feet.
and dressed In single short, thin petticoat and
scanty chemise stood in the middle Of the hoor and
she looked at the Doctor she appeared to be
making ready to spring on him and throw him down
stairs but 1t turned out she had intention of tho
kind. but. on the contrary. felt like casping HIM to
her bosom, for one OF her children had the whoop
ing cough another diarrhua and the third measles.
Here, indeed, the Doctor was q most welcome Wis
ftor and his prescriptions were looked upon az a
lie
seemed she was perfectly helpless in the presence of
this varied visitation of sickness and her children
lay about the floor pale. languid and dirty II they
had no mother to look after them.
In the OF No. 40 Forsyth street PALE hand
some, back-eyed woman opened the door to the Doc
tors summons. She had pale. puny child in her
arms and the Doctor thought this was case where
most potent medicine.
Better take a ticket and go of the free ex-
cursoLs with your baby" said the Doctor.
But have three more babies" she replied
''Wcll. take them all along"
'Can't do Ii. for there would be left at
home to cook supper for the old man"
This was only one OF hundreds of where
poor women, unable to keep servant have to toll
and nurse along from morning till night through
the whole hot season without ever getting chance
to the green fields and get the country air TOR
themselves and their babies. On top door of this
rear building. and occupying just two rooms.
sad of sickness and destitution in the persons
of old man who was parayze and rendered una
BILE to work and his wife laid down With cholera
morbus They had no soul near to help them and
Forsyth street, on the second hoor called the Doctor
to see little girl OF eighteen months who in
teething had had COMMISSIONS. She worn
away to thread aud her eyes had
tensely weary expression. Her hair was mass
OF blonde curls and sLs had evidently been beaut
fni child before her sickness. The family all
solicitude about her and the Doctor took pains to
them that she would be all right soon, though
the chances looked against her. On the hoor above
this young woman whose life had evidently not
been passed bed OF roses. showed the Doctor %
poor pale-faced child that had been suffering from
diarrhoea for eight days.
"what have You been giving hor?' was asked.
"Coffee and little bread"
'rhat won't do. Why don't you give her milkp"
''She won take milk and don't know what
to do with her."
The room had a deplorable look OF poverty The
window curtains were In rags. and an old mattress
with the contents proruding here and there through
the covering lay on the floor, which was withouta "a
shred OF carpet oilcloh while a rickety chair and
table constituted the rest of the furniture. The
said TINT sh m 81 Il whom