New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-08
MEDICAL And SANITARY NOTES.

VENTILATION OF CHURCH BUILDINGS.-Atten-
ton has been lately and repeatedly called in the med
cal journals, to tho defective aeraon characterzing
most Of the older church edces. According to "rhe
London Lancet if not the principal fault in con-
strctiOn in many of these older buildings is tho want
Of outlets Of a sufficient number of them, while
such openings as do exist are in fact, better fitted to
act as inets than eXitsa desirable change in this
respect being the formation of two large roof
outlets with revolving cOws. The allotment Of floor
space Is ALSO according to this authority, important
consideration, though this as rule, Is contrved with
reasonable regard for health it is only in the event
of overcrowding that wholesome breathing air becomes
more scarce than standing Again, the gallery
system when on a considerable scale while accemmO
dating more stters, aud necessarily increasing what
may be called the breathing surface, lessons at the
some time the available air space; therefore, II con
description compatible with due stability. II is be-
heved that the correction of the evils naned-cspecis
heated and impure air-will 50 far TO obviate the
serious difficulty in question.
OBJECTIONS TO LARGE HOSPITALS.--Sr Morel
Mackenzie objects to large ho,pts remaring that TIE
aggregation Of sick persons in large numbers is much
oht Of place as ntramural nterment-the added viru
lenoe Of germs from the bodies Of numerous cases is to be
considered. in fact, dangerous than that Of those
emanatng from dead bodies. Another objection 10
the large hospital he makes is that the relief given by
it is in ndiscrimnae, the out patient depart
NEXT of hospitals being the greatest paupeTizng agency
now exiscnt-from this arises third objection. namely
the cruel hardship entailcd upon the medical men Of
the nelghbOPhOOd. He considers the special hospital
in large degree free from these and other objections
and favors the exacon Of small fee from dspensaTy
patients
MORTALITY OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to the
Austrian Statistical Handbook published in 1885, the
total number OF foundlings in Austria reported for
1856 was 42,s77, of whom 5,G15 died, 1900 per
cent Of those retained in hospital GIL per cent died
and of those outside 10 the country nearly fifteen
per cent died the averages for the years 1882 to 1885,
inclusive show about the those given for 1885,
the presumption also being that many sent from town
died. but having been lost sight Of the death did not
figure the records of the institution As compared
with the Official statistics OF founding mortality in
Paris the difference is surprising Their were in Pals
in 1874, Eli fOundngs, of whom about 35 per cent
or 756. died within twelve months; in 1873, 1,72O
foundngs Of whom 40 per cent, CO., died with
in twelve months in 1876, ,64S foundlings Of whom
about "a l-2 per cent SOS, died within twelve
months; in 1873, ,403 fOuDdlings of whom about SO
per cent. $40, died within twelve months; in 1875
] $50 foundlings of whom about "a per cent, or 6lI
died within twelve months and Of those who succumDcd
during this series Of years from 30 TO 49 per cent in
the different years died in the first seven days
LUNG AND CHEST DEVELOPMENT.-TheL London
Lancet describes a simple device for developing the
lungs and enisrging the chest Tho device is small
belt or cord which encirces the chest at the point Of
which the ends Of the belt cord attached: this
take mp mechanism consisting of coled spring adapted
TO tighten the belt at intervals and train Of Wheels
BY which the speed Of the spring in taking up the belt
nav be regulated. Upon the cxhaation Of the breath,
otter the full expansion of the lungs the chest returns
TO the size natural to it in ordinary breathing thus leav
ing the belt loose Immediately the takeup mechanism
begins 70 gather I'm the slack of the belt which it
tnues to gather and finally it ghtens the belt about
the chest until the pressure is uncomfortable to the
wearer compelling him 10 take another full inspiration
thus engthenlng the belt This frightening is accom-
plshed by the withdrawal of the strap from the case
which act again coils the spring: the spring, in turn,
when the breath eXhacd and the chest resumes its
natural size again begins 10 gather up the slack OF the
belt These processes are continued as long as the de-
vice IS worn, fun breaths being induced at Intervals,
thus naturally strengthening and charging the lungs
and chest
RELATION OF INFLUENZA TO OCCUPATION
According 20 the last report Of the Massachusetts Board
Of Health, the influenza In that State last year pre-
scented peculiar characteristics. II appears that
the ratio Of persons attacked by the disease in indus
trial and other establishments employing large numbers
OF hands about 35 $40 per cent less than that
Of the population at large-whe that Of the inmates
of public Institutions still less or some 90 per
cent. Again. the ratio Of persons who were Obliged
% leave their account of Influenza
was about 81 per cent Of the whole number employed
the average length Of their absence from work being
I'VE days. Special occupations do not seem 10 have
had marked effect in modifying the severity Of the
epidemic upon operatives in such occupations and
thus. while the atmosphere may constitute i'm
portant medium Of its communication, human inter
course also suggests itself as an equally important
factor The chief diseases which followed IN the train
OF the influenza and intimately associated with IT,
were bronchitis and pneumonia.
ANALIN IN MEDICINE.-Two German Observers
Sitting and Wortmann-n Wow Of the fact that bacteria
and bacl absorb analin and killed by 1t, have
suggested the utilization Of this property in medical
treatment Tho dusblutY ald larmlessness Of violet