The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-02
The Sanitary Condition of New York

| Last year, remarkable for its loss and sui-
fering in every trade and industry. was also
remarkable for the lowest death rate yet
| recorded In this city. That indicates un-
mtstakably that the restitution due to tho
business depression had not yet become so
| dire as to reduce the vital force OF tho COM
munity. Where such need appeared 1t was
promptly and continuously supplied by
| Astounding charity.
Tho decrease in the number OF deaths
proportionately to tho population was most
striking among young children. but it was
also noticeable as concerned persons Of all
ages inhabitlng tenement houses. The
diseases especially stimulated by lad sani-
tary conditions were less prevalent and
less fatal; and generally the same was the
case with the maadies induced or aggra-
waited by the physical enfeeblemcnt due to
extreme poverty. Tho mortality from the
maladles peculiar to the summer showed q
diminuton as compared with tho average
Of the preceding ten years. which reflects
the highest credit on tho sanitary rogula-
tious OF the Health Department.
The vital statistics for last week show
that the health OF the city continues high
even at this time. when the number OF the
unemployed is undoubtedly greater than it
has been at any time before since the Pc
Rod OF Industrial depression began. They
afford no indication OF any extraordinary
prevalence OF disease in the districts where
the poverty Is most manifest. Except for u
slight increase in the deaths from contagious
diseases. the mortality would have been less
than it was the week before. The causes Of
death were normal. There Is nothing In
them TO suggest that the town is in an
otherwise than normal social condition.
There is nothing in them suggestive OF
more than usual restitution among the
poor. So far as they afford the proof the
people OF New York have entered upon this
present winter with their vitality unim-
paired by the deprivation to which 30 many
OF them have been obliged to submit be-
cause OF the hard times.
Starvation Is not yet cause OF death
noted In our vital statistics, nor is il likely
to appear in tho list, no matter how long
the period of depression may last The In
crease OF restitution has simply multiplied
the activity OF benevolence for its relief
When the cases OF suffering are extreme
they are soon discovered by the many tire
less public and private workers In the
cause OF charity. and tho necessary sue
cor Is furnished. Either the victims are
removed to public institutions where they
receive necessary care. or their need Is sup
piled from the fountain Of private phllan-
thropy. Nobody in New York is compelled
to go without food for his nourishment or
healing for his ailments at this or at any
other time; though undoubtedly very many
people are now forced to put up with much
less and coarser fare than they have been
accustomed to get. Men are finding out
that they can support life on small part
OF tho food they used to consume. They
are learning the lesson which the poor OF
European countries learned long ago.
That Is not lesson which We like to see
the working people OF this country COM
PEELED to learn. The extensive practice OF
such economy means a lessened consumI,-
ton that is injurious TO every interest.
Let US hope. therefore. that tho necessity
for 1t will soon pass away Let us trust.
also, that the occasion for the present boun-
tiful charity will not long remain. for the
need of taking aims tends eventually TO the
degradation of the recipients to level in
consistent with tho dignity OF American
eitiZenshin