New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-17
DANGER OF AN EPIDEMIC.
THE CITYs HEALTH IN GREAT PERIL.

| FORM ALARMS MANY PHYsIcIANs-How 1T WAS
CAUSED AND HOW 1T HAS sPRgAD-THE AGGRA-
yATIoN OF FILTHY sTREETs-coMMENTs OF THE
DOCTORS.
The presence and spread of typhus fever in
this city are viewed with much alarm by promi-
nent physicians especially "a the streets are
in 40 filthy condition that even ordinary
diseases which generally yield to simple REM
edies, are now aggravated and malignant.
Fears of an epidemic are expressed. The
fever first broke ont in low lodging house
in Prnce-st. and az yet it is confined among
the poorest classes. Warmer weather, which
will bring better ventilation, it is said, will do
much to lessen the danger; and if the streets
were properly cleaned, probably the disease
would disappear.
ORIGIN AND RAvAGES OF TYPHUS FEVER.
HOW THE DISEASE STARTED RECENTLY ~ THIS
CITY-TrE DREADFUL CONDITION OF low
LODGING-HoUsE-HOw PATIENTS ARE TREATED.
"Typhus fever in this city started among tramps.
Nearly all the far have been anong tramps,
and tramps bid fair 10 have a monopoly of the dis
ease" said Dr. J. Is. Taylor of the Health Depart
ment who is in charge of cases of contagious disease,
the other day. The fact that ffty-iye casess
were reported for the week ending April o has ere
atcd considerable anxiety on the subject, and q
visit was therefore made by a TRBrNE re-
porter to the Health Department. 10 gain lnfonua-
tion in regard to the disease.
We had n few cases last summer,
and one or two in November" said DR..
Taylor 'but they were of little impor-
tancc. 4 few weeks ago, however, it was found
that some tiamps in the German, Charity, B.lleyue
and Chambers street Hospitals suffering from
di,,asc much Ike typhoid fever which puzzled the
doctors. About the same time We were sent for 10
visit a man sick at the shiloh Lodging-IlOUsc at
Prince and Mariou-sis. Here were found some cases
OF gcnninc typhns. and it was then discovered that
thr-r hospital cases were tie same and had oria-
mated in the same odging-housc This an oil
negro churchNllich had been turned INTO a ton-cent
lodging house. The pews retained for hls and
over thrm hammOcks were slung attached 10 poles.
so tiat the men slept IN tiers. The house contained
COO or 700 No hcd-clothiug was pro, idcd. bnt tho
building was heated by huge stoves. The tcmpera-
turc was sometimes up 20 90. As in most oil
buildings. there were practically 10 mean. Of yrnti-
lation. EYpIbing was tightly closed, that tho
lolg,r- might keep warm.
The men were the hlt!icst an9 most di-lr," class
imagiIallc. There vasno change Of air. 10 thsor
of! er similar iodgina-housos nearly every case of
typha4 fever ha, b,cn trlcrd. This W., probably
the s;artug-poiut in this city; the di>l>c can
ori .aatc its n. mlik" smallpox, IlthoI2h 10 NAV
base brn hsuls'l' in by tramp from camden or
Philadelphia, hcic there ld been r.a, i IS
caused rs lack Ol ventilation. want of food. nsni-
,rui clothing and other privl'ions. 7 r unusual
severity %, %" wia''r has probably hc. f'i' inme-
Gi4,c cau-. lh" tr ps have suffered '2,., di Is,
.nl u..u5 bose died fioin Starvation
"Iia 'lHu ,i,l. With tvihus fet'r h1d lii" e
,Hl'l. u..lrr l.i. inflow. don't yol tliuh il would
D. .g I'd ,lau,. ni recovery $50. asked.
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