New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-18
DANGERS or DIRTY STREETS.
ACTION OF THE PHYSICIANS.

| MEETING OF THE NEW-YOEK ACADEMY OF MIDI
CINE-THE DANGERS OF THE FILTHY STREETS
PoINTID OUT WITH EMPHASIs-oPINIUNs OF
DIES. FLINT, BARKER AND oIHrES.
| Al the meeting of the New-York Academy of Med
| cine AT No. II West Thirty -frs-s last night. the
alarming increase in the death rate of tins city was
discussed, and attributed largely to the filthy con-
ditlon Of the streets DR.. A. l.. Looms said that
tine alarming increase in diseases and their malig-
nancy called for the earnest attention of the society.
This increase. he said could be attributed to three
| causes-irst. that New York is maIaral district;
second. that the sewerage is defective as well the
plumbing and third, the terrible condition of the
streets. He thought that the condition of the
streets was the principal cause of the present in
crease in the death rate aud ther fore he offered the
follO"ng preamble and resolutions:
Whereas. It lis opinion that the uncleany condition
Of the streets OF ths cIty s an Efficient factor in inceaS-
uirs 10 the pfeSen' Alarming dealt rate therefore,
Resoir,d Ibat acting under deep sense Of Onr re-
HpOnsIblity M members OF Profession whose cniei
duty Is to check the development 81 disease. ear
nrsty warn the pubic against the danger OF allowing tins
stale ~ things u COnlinu'.
RrSolrfd. That are heartily in accord with the call
for rltlz us meet to be held at Cooper Union Friday
evening, March Is. to demand RELIEF ftOn the LeSsEl-
ture.
DR.. Austin Flint seconded the resolutions. lie
stated that he heartily III favor of them. beev
ing that the cleaning Of The streets would be step
in the right direction, and that twOud lead the way
to some important sanitary reforms. Defects In the
sewerage system and the deficiency in the supply of
water, which should lie abundant, also partly az
count for the increase IN the death rate. An i'm
prove ment in the CONDITION OF the streets was q
rlaittr Of vital importance. and the resolutions
should have The unanimous support OF the medical
profession.
d.. q. NJ Smith also supported the resolutions. re-
gatuing thr unc,eau condition of the streets n
matter calling Tor tie earnest anu prompt attention
=. all clz-us interested in the welfare of the city
and ~ saving human life Police Surgeon NJ. ii.
Henry opposed TIE resolutions, and WAS alone IN SO
doing liz said tc condition IF The streets had no H.
n0 b. Il" with the increased death rate. He denied
that the CITY was ma ara or particularly subject to
ma iHrIIl diseases. II was wrong. lie said, and IN
furious to the interests oi the city to raise that cry
The c"naIton oil the streets would
not wa.Tnt the attempt to raise
pane ami make the pnbc brncvc that re,i'cnfs of
Nrw-lOrk were RAPIDLY giliIng mo untmey
graves. O.c great cause of the increased dra rate
was trr CO, dlInn "i trDt"n water. he dead fishes
aId the rrtuse material thrown into the CrOOn
i.Ncr ami the AXE, IN Putnam County wOnld ac-
ruumt Tor that. Some day the big bngbrar Of
bad sewerage would be found To be
due To the had condition OF Croton water.
Even III uriyl;c h"us u was not the bad sewerage
eraturs which pu.~Onrd the food before II was
served. here wee 800 miles OF streets 10 be
clrWrG. "a hc.ore t'e anth"rlihs w"rr cpnaenn"d
the DIN uliie5 OF me prob en- OF strsri-cit%hlng
should be- taken iin tOn-Ilrratl0n. lie dd not
want II 10 ON To the prupic as tie OPINION OF tins
Academy tuat New YORK h,d the germs of death in
It - n"Herou>iy attributed ~ TINS rcSo nlon.
DIR. loIuycc Barker PRESIDENT Of the Academy,
thea -p",r ~ favor o. the resolutions ~ follows:
| ne I.>D.utInI.s now before he Academy pertain
10 matters 81 vital import Incr not only to The plo-
-siOn II ~l.rnt Of tins Guy. Ii II GER
iaInlY the duty II the Profession 80 Tllse an adi III
~ such trduiprt tones Will a1OuSr the publlC 10
WI-e AID efficient action. The prolific causes OF
Il .cas. and death now urcIle-sly DESTROY more lives
~ Tin, cl,y annually than are usually lost
~ the conflict of na'tlr between treat cnutcGdug
armies II the public could Ue made 10 Understand
the meaning aud dan cr "t the blood POISONING
winch results from the souTcrs winch the rr>Olu-
inns before refer tn-l the lie could
rs the profession >rrS how TIA 81 VIII" are c"nsu;u-
tuHaIiy healthy are made ml>rrablc ANA III; now
d.c.l~cs OF a mid tyre are mace dangerous
aud malignant; bow CunvaIesrrnce from tb 'se
natural Processes NhCi and To the happiness oil
families aud ihr population OF the Cliy II inter-
Iuptrd. prolonged aud often attended with danger
uu- comp caiIon-. and how the life oi chIhlrn and
often those IN the bloom oil yUuth Il sacrhCei-ts
danger wOud he 50 apparent and appalling mat all
men wnuld be awakened tO the necessity
o. s, -pTrsrrValiun. II mist be that bI1lns can be
found ana utIiz-d by sura - maternal Government
~ nov rules IN municipal ana State AFFAIRS
which vii drvis ihorourhy rhcient means Tor Keep
ing STREETS Tree from those offensive Disgusting,
pt->.cutal heaps OF iltn that infect the ar that We
all must breathe
re resolutions offered by Dr. Luumis then
adopIrl without q dissenting voice.
b.. Richard II. De:by mkt offered the following
Resolution. winch Was adopted
PrSo'rra. That oludo.. iHst alop be auihrn
Gated tic president aud ,ccrearY Of thp Academy
aad mat In" president arpoln' some emo" OF the
Academy To- present them 10 ;hr meeting iOr street
q, aung reform 10 held m the Cooper Institute Fri
day, zen ~, w;h suc rrharks ~ hr may deem tx
p'drnt dcuunstratc that the resolutions express the
unanimous scntmcut # the Academy Oi Medicine and
the med cal profession OF all SCHOOLS
The president th"n appointed DR.. LonmS TO con
vry the resolutions to the meeting Cooper lDstl-
tutc tO-nIgit.