New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-03
DOCTORS AND PLUMBING.
POINTS AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.
MEETING OF TIE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE-INTER

- 'iHbdtcs anu sanitary evils WeIe ulsCuSSeu by
the President. Dr. Fordyce Barker and ny Professor
Doremus and others. Among the physicians present
were DR.. F. H. Hamilton, Dr. Willard Parker DIR.
II. A. YOnderpoel DR.. Edward Janoway and DR..
Austin Flint, jr The meeting was called to order
at p m, and after the corresponding
secretary had read the neurological list
OF foreign members and after the reports of the
Various sections OF the socety had been made, DR..
SadkGr presented letter OF regret from Professor
chandler OF the Board of Health
DIR. DARKERs REMARKS
DR.. Barker then read an address which was as
follows:
FELLOWS or THE ACADEMY One OF the avowed OBJ
lects or this Academy, expressed in constitution
all Of our scenic work lis in tbs direction. but this
meeting is In larger devoted specifically
Opeci Icre Is not physician in tins city engaged in
active practice who is not frequently called upon see
sease various degrees OF severity often resulting in
II We can see our patients early enough, We ca.
eSVeoSiy Hetl such pOlSons rs arsenic as corrosive
suhhmafe rs aconite. and all OF this class because
have azidotes which will prevent their effects But
WheTe ne poison is introduced into the system ndi
OusH "at lne su9cci II uncnlScions OF IFS absorption
until rs effects rodaced, then it is not question 0f
anudotes; bct The problem is, How shall cOuHteract
Ii5 consequences and how Shalt We keep our patients
awe unt the fedesiroyng agents have ceased to put
l. jeopardy the vital powers
Inc spccal poisohs which now refer the gases
resulting from detective plumbing to which al classes
able ~ command the necessares and many Of tle GSur
les o. ie and those who live in the most expensive
are alike exposed. None but ply slcians know
how general this posGns ana how positively IL expains
much III the disease that they called upon 10 treat,
and OF The many sad dca ths which follow.
When assert that 1t IS daily experience with to
see persons whose general health is sUlleing this
poison, as manifested by maase, loss Of appetite Gad
physical ana mental de9rcssion ana that have
seen infants, children and adults suffering from dp:-
iberia scarlet fever OF mid type cated with tns
disease and destroying lne tLOee IL vigorous health,
students III colleges ambitious and active young men
IN ne Professions or Ia the commercial or financial
world stricken down by typhoid fever some struggling
through thu disease and others dJmsi ana that the
cahe mas De'h demonstrated 10 DE this iVsOh only
state Facts witch arc cOn.sOn Ia the experience of all
physicians IN tins city. Ia tlis las been the
result 81 ignorance OF me very Iuhau"fy conditions
which enYlrOncd them. For example, Two young
were stricken down with typh i'd fever, one OF whom
pied Offices in the same building, tie vicinity Of wall
| st. On investigation it was found that there was
ot Trap IA tue Whole building In house, IN when
! Dui lew months before several hundred dollars hau
been expended TO at the plumbing IL perfect condition,
young man died Of typhoid lever and others o. The
family became III, when II found that defective
i'ut sucn facts as these are SO common and well
known 10 the profession that need not dwell upon
It is the custom Of many in this city whose means win
permit them to do So 10 ,asc Their families Tor health
and pleasure summer resorts at the seaside
the mountains and other attractive country hotels but
every year Tor some time past sore of these Ulac nave
| proved fatal % health ana 10 NE ~ typnol1
lever; so that now IL seeihS 10 be the plain duty
OF every ply stefan warn such families as hold Lin
Responsible for their health OF the danger Of every
reioit hat does Hot give them ihe ev:den Of coUp
tent sanitary expert tGat thCr house safe from all
such dangers. None but physicians fact
that many VI these living in bcaut tu and xpcuslye
EuuScs III this city are Ike the Inhabitants who dwell at
the base OF Mount NeSuvius soit baimy, yOiupuous
atmosphere, surrounded by vineyards ana gardens
urhV WIN tho owe and the IL aud the orange trees,
when mask ana hlde the danger and dcs0atiOu
OF the lava ana ashes disease absurd suppose
that those VINO md pleasure ~ eNpendng many thou
sdhs IN u&uiy aAu art 10 cnbclsh their homes Will not
| galy e1pend The Insignificant necessary 10 make
their MONIES healthy for their fauIcs theHseVes
The physician should never be alarnist-Le never
can hoist The signal Of danger except ne the
! IOrtwdrnlu5 slgus of an Impending Storm Uniortd-
natey lie never tie danger from this position,
unu It's effects are already beginning to develop
! shown ny disease. Then again lie !dbOrs under the
difficulty OF being unable to demonstrate suggest
| where TIE poison originates. ne only say thaJ
scoIce LaS esaDushec the TACT mat certain - inpOms
are due TO certain causes IL that IL ~ The
duty OF The profession TO educate itself up the point
patients how tie danger from poisons may orig
mate. now have the pleasure Of Introducing Mr..
CHaiies NIHgaie, who Will read the paper OF the
| evening. lAppause.l
THE address OF c. F. wGNGArE.
The address OF Mr. WIngate was substantially as
| follows:
For layman to venture to address snoh an audience
height Of presumption, when reflects how debt
by physicians, its growth has been mainly due to their
voluntary and disnteresed abors often at great per
IT therefore like carrying Goals 10 Newcastle 10
offer advice to medical men regarding sanitation. Yet
''the wsig time" go it has strangely come 10 pass
that the sanitary engineer can assume to instruct
his GcitCrs and even show physicians their omissions
matters properly within their province.
-,
hinlI my REMARKS 10 lhe pIacHca points relating 10
| plumbing and kindred subjects which have direct
relation 70 the physoiaDs efforts to overcome disease
When 50 much Sickness can I've traced 10 unSantary
dtons in the 10 pTcycntibe causes, it IL de
point ou such conditions, ana III general way suggest
! the proper remedies for them When, also, so much
sO-cacd modern improvements, tie ply stefan sE"uld
he able not only TO assure but 10 convince his patients
that plumbing properly executed with good materials
and upon scientific principles Is absolutely and il
| decidedly to be approved rather than abolished tits
Idle TO talk Of returning to the primitive dscOmfOrts and
abOmEatlons Of on fOreathrs in this line. Modern i'm
| proNcIeatS are improvements. The world does not
mOvo backward nor readily abandon any thing which
conducc6 10 comfort and health. Plumbing appliances
gas electricity the railway the newspaper each
of which ia also open 10 serious objections.
| ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR DOCTORS.
OF course the physician cannot perform the sanitary
engineers work III detail hut he at least point
the necessity OF watching house plumbing ana indicate
In general way, what steps are necessary to correct
defects when they discovered. Successful practice
of medicine depends upon relieving pain and checking
| or eradlcating disease. This, l presume, no
| ono Will deny general proposition Row.
| then, can the physician gam these prac-
teal ends unless hc point out the of disease
| and how to remove them The greatest skill in
diagnosis MASTERY OF therapeutics will be vain so
long the patients surroundings lowering his vital
y poisoning his blood. If the ply stefan can detect
these i'll conditions, and promptly correct them will not
he receive due credit from his patients and their cndsi
II the conditions are beyond immediate correction aud
patient ordered to leave lie house the physician
entitled to just much credit he justy claims when
| invalid returns from sciOurn IN
Florida Colorado, at his insgatiou, with health
| stored.
The true function OF the physician being understood
| Inteiigesn patients recognize That there
| mage ah"ut medicine and that disease Is
| Lot removed by ncuntatiOn s!eigLt OF land.
Every lgL-mInded ply stefan also scOrns to rely upDn
mystery deSon or plc'ence whenever sickness, such
as Is usually tTaceable tOdeCcyc plumbing drainage
prevails Ia house ana no sufficient It's exist
ence IS apparent, the py stefan should not content
until an examination has been made by health officer
brother competent pereOn to make mousse
II Tree from sanitary defects. Nothing should taken
Or granted ~ sucn mat -r5, ana no evidence
gaIQ!ng the safety OF hidden plumbing work. as under
ground uras cesspOol traps, etc. except have them
open TO view and their real condition proved beyond a