The evening world., 1892-09-15

u
Dr. Lewis X. Ner. OF 1916 Lexington
avenue, who practises In the neighborhood
where Mrs. Carlotta Beck died Of cholera
thinks that the occasion demands prompt
action to prevent spread of the disease and
q disastrous epidemic.
lie heartily indorsas the proposal for con-
vention OF New York physicians to discuss
the best mems OF dealing with oholera and
says that should such II convention be called
It would undoubtedly be attended by nearly
all physicians.
When asked about the sanitary condition
Of the portion Of the city In which he prac-
tises, DR.. Mem said:
lone OF tho great sources Of danger In this
part of the city is from the NTH and pools OF
water allowed to stand In vacant lots.
Between Eight ty.siXth and One Hundred
and Tenth streets there are vacant lots In
nearly every square, and there seems to be no
provision whatever for cleaning tnem. Every
one watches the streets nnd at Onte com.
plains II they are not kept perfectly clean,
but 1t seems to be the business OF no one to
turn his eyes beyond the psvements.
=" Within a stones throw OF the house In
which Mrs. Beck died is lot IN which pools
Of water and nth have been standing all
Summer children play In the dirt and pools
without restriction and then go to homes
two or three blocks away.
"ff the germs OF cholera or any other disease
should be In that NTH the contagion would
be carried to hundreds OF families, even II
those families lived in the cleanest houses In
the city.
"Another source Of danger is 10 the NTH al
lowed to accumulate beneath the feet OF the
horses kept standing by the Third Avenue
railroad on Third avenue, between Ninety.
eighth and Ninety.ninth streets.
"The stencil sometimes becomes almost
unbearablc, and have crossed to the oppo.
site side Of the street to avoid It. The citi.
zens complain, but that is all the good 1t has
done them. Now is the time for them to de-
mand cleanliness.
~ am also OF the opinion that the stables OF
the Second avenue line, just short distance
above the house In which Mrs Beck died, arc
not kept as clean as they might be. They are
In the middle OF tenement.housc district,
and no nth should ever be allowed TO accumu-
late in them.
~ know It is hard to keep stables clean,
but II corporations are allowed to have them
in populous districts they should be compelled
to spare no expense In keeping their places
clean.
"Another matter for which the city alone
on Ninety-tifth street, between Third and
First avenues. To my knowledge the work
on this sewer has been going on two months,
and during that time the air has been fire..
quently nlled with the worst Of Odors and
ahtN
handle the dirt thrown out by the workmen.
"It Is an outrage that . sewer should be
kept open that length Of time, and It is . still
greater outrage that therc are no measures
taken to keep children back from the clay
and nth thrown on the street.
81 might also mention the fact that the
wagons hauling slop away from the brew
cries on Third avenue, between Ninety.flrst
and Ninety-third streets, frequently spill part
OF the refuse matter on the street and are the
source OF still more danger.
~ have enumerated but few OF the places
In which cholera might lurk. Inspectors who
inspect the city from the platforms OF the
Elevated trains cannot flnd the dirt.
"Ncw York II not In the perfect condition
It Is represented to be. II cholera is allowed
to get a start the germs will lurk IN the NTH
until the warm weather comes again, and
then We will have the experience Europe is
now having.
~ am In favor OF quarantining every
house In which cholera has been found. The
Inhabitants Of a tenement-house are one big
family and should be treated as such. They
get their coal from the same cellar. They
send the dirt from their rooms to the same
I'M haa nd fra IN tlv n rho h,irl
are exchanged.
They live almost In the same atmosphere,
and when an epidemic gets start in one
family all the others are in such danger that
they should he quarantined.
Physicians, newspapers and health
Officers should combine to warn the people OF
their danger, and the measures that should
be taken TO avoid IT.
DR.. Charles Coan, OF l72 East Ninety.fitth
street, Is also favorable to the plan Of hav-
ing the physicians hold conference OF
some kind to decide on concerted action.
"Such a meeting would be OF advantage to
the profession and laymen alike" he said.
"since cholera has got start, we might as
well make up our minds that II Will spread,
1t may be slow In doing 50, or the epidemic
may increase rapidly, but there Is little hope
that there will not be an epidemic
A conference OF physicians would be es-
pcclally valuable on account OF the fact that
few.Amerlcan doctors have.ever seen case OF
Asiatic cholera. They need instruction TO be
able to deal with II properly.
"Ithlnk the people should be warned to
consult physician on the first symptoms OF
cholera although In nine cases ont Of ten the
disease win be b simply diarrnpa. TBy