The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
:
MORTALITY IN PATERSON.

A MONTHLY DEATH RATE OF FIFTY-FoUR TO
THE THoUsAND-DANGFRo Us WELLS AND
DEFECTIVE SEWERAGE.
The mortality report of Paterson, N. j.. for
the past two months has created much alarm
among the residents of that city. During the past
fortyfve days the average mortality per month has
been 54.6 per 000 The matter has been laid before
the Board OF Aldermen and they have instructed
the City Physician to make search
ing investigation. During the week end
ing last Saturday there were forty deaths
and the rate is on the increase Among infants the
mortality is astonishing The causes Of death
ascribed on the physicians certificates prn
clpally cholera infantum and commissions. Among
adults the principal causes of death complica-
tons Of bowel disorders and diseases of the digestive
organs. Malaria is very prevalent and there is
sickness in the city present than at any previous
time. That there is something radically wrong is
acknowledged by all, but what it Is and what
sanitary precautions should be taken is a
matter of dispute. Last year at this time
there like mortality, but d1phtheria
then raging in an epidemic form. The
majority OF physicians attribute the alarming
death rate to the detective sewer and drainage
system Most OF the sewers are twelve and fourteen
inch pipes running through the middle of the
and not nearly capable OF carrying OF the frh. At
every heavy rain they are stopped up and then
flow into the streets and cellars. The sewers all dis
charge into the Passaic River. and this flows
through the centre OF the city all the accumulated
sewer gas is discharged into the atmosphere to be
inhaled by the inhabitants. During at least five
months OF the warm season the Passaic is nothing
but string OF small lakes and at the best, very
lazy stream with not enough current to carry away
the of dead animals that lie rotting the
hot Some time ago the City Physician sent
several bottles full of water taken from different
wells to this city for analysis. They returned
with the report that none OF them were ut to be
used as drink for human beings account of the
quantity of decayed vegetable matter contained in
them. This 1t was ascertained. the result of
the imperfect sewer connections existing all over
the city and tho quantity of surface water allowed
to flow into the wells At one time the City Ply
stefan noticed an unusual amount OF sickness in
certain vicinity and ascertaincd that all who had
used from neisLborng well were affected.
He ordered the use of this water discontinued and
the trouble disappeared At another place he
noticed well which he suspected of being the
of sickness and an investigation showed that
nearly all the drainage of large cemetery flowed
into it. Despite these facts and the recommends
ton of the City Physician abolish all the wells in
city the Board OF Aldermen have steadily refused
to do anything in the matter
In interview with q HERALD reporter yesterday
the City Physician said, 1T is just bad in the
surrounding country as it is in the CITY, There will
probably be meeting of the Board of Health to-
morrow night, when tho subject will be discussed.
We have only few dollars at disposition and 1T
is impossible to carry out intentions with the
funds at present to our credit. One day last week
had thirty nuisances to attend to in all parts
Of the city, and probably not one OF them will be
removed until the law is applied. after several
tifcations.