New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-02
SOME CAUSES OF ILL HEALTH
COL. CULVER ON THE TAvER IN BROOKLYN.

SIR: Owing to the great diversity of opinion
which has pre- vailed as the OF the low
fever group OF OF which, closely approximaiDs
typhoid has been particularly noted as having
I'm South Brooklyn IL to be dncGt 10 reach any
definite conclusion as to its origin Some have d,
10 defective plumbing inadequate and imperfect
erags and advanced guard of science has pouneed
upon the dried autumn leaf the enemy of IT,
ulent possibilities.
Tue indefinite mulara, to which ascribcd by ply
sicans so many crimes of humanity against Itself
proboblv comprchends series OF preparatory condi-
lions from which certain type OF disease Is the natural
sequence These conditions may be the result Of habits
OF living as we'll OF locality. How far class Of all
nonts is properly traceable to The use OF the vide rgo
OF food which generally prevails in this age, Its linz
pairment by tie modern arts Of preparation and
cookery, its adulterattoD, Its abnormal stmula'
| ton by undue seasoning. etc., and us consequent
effect upon the organs digestion generally Is ques
ton OF serious import social habits have been
lutIonzed during last Twenty-Five years. and in no
direction have influences OF this revolution becu
more powerful upon the social habits OF the
simple mods OF life which covered the formative PEE
rod OF development and maturity. and which, IN the
absence of organic Disease is largely determnalivc Of
tho physical soundness OF the constitution In mature
.ife comprebended thought aud sOicitude rs 10
methods and erals Of clothing fashion and style be-
ing subordnated the adaptation OF food and such
amount Of Sleep recreation and exercise az served TOT
the general py steal advantage Of the young; while to-
day they permitted TO pass through the WIFI 81
dissipation which prevails during Fix months OF the
year. to emerge the other half for the purpose OF re-
cuperatng Tler exhausted energies just az the busy
banker broker railroad man, editor or crprotession
! al slave OF his occupation, Is compelled to do
The trials which modern systems OF education I'm
pose upon young another serious drawback to
their development. They loaded down with super
nnous studies AMI forced to move along la the method
OF a chan-gang through courses Of study with which
min understanding
TO cope and instead OF spending hour at school 10
scan oyer the lessons OF the following day under tho
guidance o a teacher, they are compelled to spend
hours wasted energy at home, their little minds tor
tured aud their whole bodies depleted OF the VIA
required for restful sleep Is it too much asset ths
such as these enter upon the battle of f. pJ'ry
equipped as make .hsm fit subjects OF attack from all
manner oil diseases In another way, adults bring
themselves influences which similarly expose
them to class of diseases almost unknown in their
youth
Many Ioeal,ties in tho country, combining all tho
desirable features resort suffer from black
ecd populations because Of .he development OF da'es
among soourners which the result Of habits OF city
life rathsr than of LEGAL influences SURROUNDING tIem
during their rusticatiOn.
Coincident with the present mode OF living and affect
ing no less directly the health tho many disad-
yantages which inlere in the modern dweing-hnus''
it's construction and the imperfect means
for beating and ventilation which generally
houses are constructed year after year upon a
common type the monotony of which is painful cont
uensry upon general intelligence The four walls
and roof the other details Of constr oton.
inclose certain number of living ana seepinS-ro0ms,
with such elaborate details water supply Closets
etc as are required to meet demands foe comfort
and Injury deemed so imperative in these times Too
often limit OF expenditure has been reached or 80
strained that important features OF heating yenI
ton etc. are left to the within and judgment OF the
prie eager TO the work Within the limited fixed
FOR his remuneration furnace is supplied whose
pacy il guaranteed furnish under ordinary crndL
lions temperature, amount OF heat Sufficient to
warm Theoretically given temperature, the aCsre-
gate cubleal air-space representing tho rooms 10 10
heated throughout the house Location and exposure 10
not enter into the problem and furnace which might
comfortably heat one house under certain conditions
will found to be utterly inadequate under other ca
cumstances hence to derive any comfort at all in the
colder periods of winter and too often throughout bs
whole season rs well the furnace must be driven TO
il, utmost resources and tho house either
heated or supplied with air which has been
derived of that amount moisture which is deeged
TO be essential to its heahuincSs The Irritation - ne
throat ami ~ and other cOmmon
in winter due largely TO this condition OF Things
The mpcrfectiOps OF plumbing are manifold and IN n9
direction more disastrous than in the means afOg led
through the outlets in the closets. basins, etc. for the
passage Of POISONOUS gases from the sewersases on
mpercepiibe the smell. but no less dangerous The
evil effects the direct connection with the sewer u the
living and sleepingroon of house wiz never be got
rd until the closets and basins relesaed TO semi
detac he'd addition o! the main dwelling.
In the matter of ventilation the Introduction OF fresh
air through open door or window Is rarely safe or
comfortable. system OF house ventilation calculated
To change the atmospheric conditions or room without
discomfort occupants would to he feasible
S SSn ,SG for sHs the ao ordinary
viii venture to suggest another source oil dancer 70
! By the pubic. amt that Is the manner IN
limits tcitcs like New-York Brooklyn and Boston, have
been and st being filed IN 10 the established street
being properly supervised IL Is not ana great deal
material uaht for such purposes being ns,d e not
places oerosit of material containing refuse aud gar
bass Of which a" hra ana SGgSssOs Sso &
face makes no sign until 1t is penetrated by The Iouada
Tbelieve many localities in New-York and Brooklra
subjected to the deleteriouS influences Of such
dition elsewhere Ia the future is in dairy progress ln
south Brooklyn there Is combination OF
may quite reasonably be disadvantac,ous ef
feced one Is the largo srGa OF unimp.oyed
more or less improper material, and isioh ot wlca
waters through chanHels concealed bat which were
formerly open ruules to the hay Then thtre are defects
some inadequate for present needs. and possibly
considerably ont OF repair To 20 little further aud
the list OF possible causes. yon ma; put your
finger. metaphoricay upon the Gowanns Cana and rs
mnTnS men nn To this ero@ng sesnSSrhooi This IS
stream OF nth, held in allowance during consider
OF the bay. which is made up aud being constantly
added to by the discharges from the sewers The OUT
let's of these often the means OF comIonni
eating directly Ia many dwellings the fotd and poison
Gus whose presence IN their houses 80 many re'
dents have been made conscious OF. MANY OF these
houses are old the plumbing, Notwithstanding some
superficial modincaUoas Is often very Imperfect
the easing aBc woodwork are often decayed and prom
ABLY pernieated with moisture which bias found ~ way
leaks and other neglected and imperfect meehsn
cal work.
look prevention ot the most practical mea
o! doing good those Large Cities and ~ Brooklyn pa;
tculary think thst this matter OF nliDg low ground ~
ons that should receive attention Another means.
quite radical possibly, OF Improvement would be 20
eliminate the Gowanus Canal remove the filthy depCls
the bottom, construct main sewer on ia present inc
with special provisions for its ventilation Introducing
mechanical appliances II necessary, and then MI ~ inc
whole to suitable grade and pave It, thus substituting
| commodions street roadway. This project would
naturally enough meet with determined opposition on
.tlrna AR