Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-18

War Against Dirt.

A goodly portion of the Inhabitants Of
New York are making fierce war upon
the filthy condition of the streets. lanes
and alleys of that city. The strife has
been waged with great earnestness but
as vet with little success, The dirt still
remains to offend the eyes and nostrils of
all who travel the city, and to increase
present sickness and threaten worse in
the future. During the past week great
public meeting was held and the physi-
clans occupied the stand in telling what
they knew OF the danger from the reign
of filth in the metropolis. 1t was the
same story which has been taught from
Bible days. that dirt and health are sell
dom found together, that the former is
sure to drive out the latter in wrestlc
between them for superiority.
Owing to the filth which has accumu-
lated the last winter the death rate has
increased enormously and the number OF
sick is very great. DR.. William Parker.
President of the meeting mentioned above
said :"It seems to me that there cannot be an
individual within the limits of the city
who breathes the atmosphere Of our streets
who has not been more or less affected,
unhealthy, thereby. 1t is impossible tor
you to breath an impure atmosphere and
be healthy: that you may lay down as a
fundamental proposition. II must be un-
derstood that in few days we shall have
the heat Of summer upon us, and the ef-
fect OF that will be fearful 1t is well to
inquire what we will do in such a case.
In 1s49 the last visitation of cholera broke
out ON the 18th of May. We have only
from now till then to get this city cleaned
that is, we have only one month. If
the heated weather were to come there
never were so many factors tor producing
disease, at one time, as there are now.
We have already indications of pestilence.
The severe winter has encrvated us, for
we always find after severe winter that
we have great deal of sickness. 1t is
because the nervous system is so enervat-
ed by the pressure of winter that the con-
ditiOns are found favorable TO an outbreak
of pestilcnce, if there is accompanied
herewith a cause for pestilence. In the
that the conditions are favorable for such
an outbreak in our midst. If this should
be the case it is impossible for me to say
what the effect will be. Great guilt will
be at the door of some one. | will not
call it murder cannot call it manslaugh-
ter. 1t is killing. and you may call ii
what you choose"
The other physicians. of whom there
were several, addressed the meeting in the
same strain. warning the people of the
evils which will result from negligence,
and denouncing the do-nothing policy by
which this state OF things is permitted to
continue. Prof Alfred M. Loomis spoke
of the typhus fever which has recently APP
peared in the city. Three weeks ago"
he said, "only a few cases were known.
NOW IileTt are oNcT Que HuiluIcu CuScs vi
this dread disease in the city fever hos
pital. And this typhus fever is making
its appearance. not only in the downtown
streets-the dirty streets OF the east side
the tenement house quarters-but in Mad
ison square. You may say to yourself,
oh. I live uptown; typhus fever will no,
get here; the neighborhood is healthy,
and the streets are not so dirty rs down
town. But say that unless thorough
cleanliness comes in and we have the IA
voring breezes of heaven upon us. this
contagion will force its way into your
dwelling. no matter where you may live
in New York. You are liable to con-
tract it on every side"
1t would seem that such remonstrances
against the accumulation of filth in the
city would make themselves felt at Al.
bany, but nothing is done, and the danger
of pestilence increases daily. 1t is
characteristic of most communities that
they delay action in such cases until it is
too late. Then comes the pestlence,
natures way of cleansing the city. and
does the work in such terrible manner
that the lesson is not forgotten for many
years.