New-York tribune., 1880-07-02


heavy, cammy condition of air indicated 0y
fall in the barometer, which would nave Deeh
disspated or rendered Innocuous in clear, oxy-
genatcd sunshine. Two or three years ago Il
majority of the vi.it0rs at sea side watering
nlace were stricken down with disease re-
semblino Asiatic cholera within few hours OF
each other. The attacks were violent and
exhaustng. but no one died. Vague stores
went abont of a passing ship with the disease
on board, from which had come this peStllental
breath; but the secret lay in an open dralh
which favorable electric condition OF the at
mosphere had set TO its murdcrOus work.
The condition of affairs at Princeton is q very
fair instance of the carelcssness of the average
American to the mCst essential Of sanitary pre-
cautions. Here was body Of learned and
scientific men, who no doubt kept themselves in
the IN of physiological and pathological dis
coye,y, yet wholly ignored and neglected the
ordna.y rules of drainage, by which their own
ard the lives of their scholars only can be rem
dcir secure. Consequence. death from
typhoid. A still more marked instance oil the
national carelessness Of prccaution was the re-
assembling of the pupils to their commencement
exercises as usual in the infected buildings. 1t
was. it appears, thought necessary that the lads
should receive their diplomas in the regular
place. even at the risk of their lives. ms
dogged adherence to precedent Is very uh-
American, however, and would have sultch
some venerable English Scotch University
better than any of our brand-ncw colleges.
Affection to their Alma Mater is a praisewOrthy
thing TO mrulcate in the boys, no doubt, but
hardly at a time when her drains are choked
with dcath-dcalng filth. Very few of the
young men, we are Glad to learn, returned to
run he risk.
In connection with this topic we have word
to say upon the diseases Of the coming Summer
Much of the death and sickness which are re
ported in the healthiest season might be pre-
vented by the exercise Of ordinary caution.
The American has at last got the idea into his
head that health requires change from town
to country during the hot months. He sends
his family ont of town, therefore, and there Is
the end of it,. Asa rule he looks no further. If
they come back leIner, more nervous aud dys-
peptic than when they went, he IS amazed and
disappointed. Haven't they had country air
sea bathing2 expensive board The fact Is,
that all hygienic rules Except that of change CT
base) are usually laid on the shelf from June to
October. "The country" is to do everything.
The children, whose food in town is regulated
by the rules of skilled physician, who battle
regularly, and sleep i'll airy, well ventilated
chambers, are now fed upon pork in every
shape, old potatoes, clans hot bread, and
fred denominations OF every sort They eat
ravenouSly the fresh air which makes them
hungry helps them to digest their food but the
poison nevertheless tells on their s.Omachs in
the end. They are packed into cloSet-like
rooms at night, prey, too often, TO mUsq utoes
and guats they are set free to run wild In the
hot sun, and the boys at least, battle half
dozen times a day. Added to this is the bad
drainage, which is the rule and not the eXcep
ton in the farm houses and summer homes to
which the great mass OF townspeople resort in
Summer. The ordinary farmer is apt to cherish
the odors of his pig-pen, baIn-yard, and other
abominatIons as part and lcel of his property,
inherited generation after generation. When out
of them come the typhoid and malaria which,
early as,itjis are already at their deadly work in
so many of our country places, he refuses to
blame the venerable nusances and throws the
fault on electricity or the barometer.
Add to this carelessness on one side and
ignorant pigheadedncss on the other. the uni
veisal plunge of the American public at this
season into ponds sailb0atS, and the SCI, with an
equally universal sublime ignorance of swim
ming, rowing, or the management of sail, and
no one need wonder that the bills of mortality for
the Summer foot up so high.