New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-22
THE CHILDREN or THE TENEMEyES.

BITS or EXPERIENCE IN THE ROUNDS OF THE SAM
TARY INSPECTORS.
The report of the first weeks work OF the
Sanitary Inspectors showed total OF over 1000 families
visited or an average OF about 800 families TO each In
spccor The number OF eases or illness was something
over GOO and only deaths reported Consider
ing the number OF families visited the percentage Of Ill
ness Is small The poorer the locality and the more
crowded squd the houses the greater the number
OF children. The doorsteps, hallway st,ircases.
yards and literally swarm with Them ana In some
localities where the houses ingenlouslv con
struced that the salrways and halls arc In sygian
darkness the visitor doubt first ~ breaking his own
neck and the time. stepping sleeping chll
perhaps to cause serious injury or even deah. Why
children choose the staircase resting place II Is
difficult 10 explain. but chance visitors TO these tene-
would do we'll 10 take heed for In no case eau one
ndyance safety without giving due warning Of his
coming Though general rule the children are dirty
and -kept occasionally exception seen. like some
rare and beautiful flower I'm garden neglected and
ovcrgrown with we d. The children sanitary in
specor meets his rounds In respects singu-
ary almost patheticaly IrccOcous. often at eight or
nine seeming 10 have laid aside childhood ana taken
upon themselves the and responsibilities OF age In
one little rl OF hne had complete charge OF
the house, consisting OF three her mother being
helpless from attack Of rheumatism. She cooked the
meals for father and two brothers, attended TO her
mother and took care OF three younger children The
rooms were in an exceptionally neat aud orderly con
dtion OFTEN when the inspector turns In despair from
his efforts to gain information from the mother he finds
"A ready intelligence and intuitiye quickness OF under
standing in the children which Is remarkable. I'm many
instances especially among the Poles the chde are
the only Interpreters. speaking English ana their own
langua 20 IA "A rule with equal facility.
Generally the people whom THIS extra summer corps Of
scians is desg ed to reach quick To appreciate
Tho efforts made their behalf and profuse in their
/ acknow ed gmcnts OF any benefits derived from the
physicians advice treatment The greatest or one OF
The greatest difficulties the inspector has 10 contend
with Is the igno regarding the proper food for chill
drcn. Frequently on inquiry he nnds that slcky,
delicate child OF two three years Is allowed TO eat
what IL likes and when II likes One woman made the
rather startling announcement that her little girl OF
three years lived almost exclusively on raw meat and
strong coffee and with such diet she could not under
stand why the child did not thrive. IL ~ this dense
Ignorance disregard OF common In Iced
ing children which Is the Of large percentage OF
the cases calling for medical advice.
The cheap fruit stands do much 10 promote one OF the
most common and II neglected fatal complaints incl
dent to childhood at this Another nuisance In
the tenement districts II the stable, which Ia often
source OF great annoyance and danger 10 the houses In
the Immediate vicinity. In these thickly popul.ted
quarters disease undoubtedly produced by the foul
gases generated In these crowded aud generally filthy
places. "
IL Is somewhat remarkable that the sql0ons often In
the worst localities kept with neLtness and order
which would do discredit TO good hotel seeming AN
oasis cleanliness and order In desert OF filth and
confusion. Very little drunkenness is during the
scene changes During the summer evenings there is
constant stream OF children going TO the saloons and re-
turning with pals, Jugs AMI pitchers, beer being the
most popular as well as the cheapest drink.