The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-30
IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH
DUST DISCUSSED AT MEETING OF
 HEALTH OOlLlLISSLONERS.

NEAA@ANNS
 Fleischner, Lindsley and Carmalt-Dust
 Injures the Lungs-Eleotric Cars Cause
 the Large Amount of Dust.
 A special meeting of the board of health was held at o'clock yesterday afternoon to receive a committee from the New Haven County Medical society composed of Drs. M. c. O'Connor, c, A. Lindsley and w, H. Carmalt, who wished to present their views to the board upon the matter of the dust in the streets, which is said to be fast becoming ai menace to the public health, Health Officer Wright opened the meeting with few remarks stat ing in general way the object of the meeting.
 Dr. O'Connor was the first speaker. He said that the County Medical so- ciety appointed a committee about two weeks ago to appear before the board of health and call It's attention to the streets, due to the electric cars, and Vle consequent danger to the public health therefrom. "The electric cars," he said, Ego so much faster than the old horse cars that a vacuum is created and the dust whir1ed along in a terri b1e manner It Is dangerous to the health not alone to the people on the cars, but also to the pedestrians, and Is besides exceedingly uncomfortable. And we ought to have comparative comfort, if nothing else, This matter seems to me to be more important than pavements. Pavements we can have in time, but the dust is always with us as nuisance"
 pr. c. A. LindsIey then discussed the matter from a sanitary standpoint, and indicated the exact scientific reasons why dust is dangerous to health. He said: Amy housewife or merchant will testify to the discomfort which is oc- casioned by the dust blowing into the house or the store. I guess the saloon keeper is about the only one who could be found to advocate dust. He may sell a few more drinks.
 "But more important than the dis comfort which annoys so many is the disease of which it is the direct origin Consumption has been known from earliest times. Ten or twelve years ago scientists announced that there was a specific germ which was the cause of the malady. Yet if ones lungs are in sound condition they will in all prob ability be able to withstand the germs. But the dust acts on ones lungs in much the sanne manner as the particles of iron dust from the knife-grinders stone do on his lungs. They eat through the pulmonary tissues into the lungs, and thus put one in a condition in which when the specific tuberculosis bacillus cemes in contact with the lungs they are much more liable to develope con sumptiom Tn fine salme manner the dust in our streets is compoed largely of the dust made by the grinding of stones by the wheels and horses hoofs. These tuberculosis bacilli are every where about us, and there is no ques- tion but that they exist very generally among populous communities"
 Dr. CarmaIt testified to the truth of Dr. Lindsley's statements and urged that something be done from an econ onlical point of view. He said that people would not bring children here to be educated, as it was fast getting the reputation of a big dusty city. In his opinion the dust nuisance is a frightful one, and the electric ears are principally to blame The cars stir up more dust than half dozen other things.
 Dr. F'leischner said that the ratio of 1 sickness had increased in the last | month, especially in lung and throat | diseases. He thought the subject was important enough to have a public | meeting for immediate action for relief ! of the city this summer. He thought the pavements were the ultimate solu- l tion of the problem, and he expressed | himself in favor of asphalt pavement. |
 The following resolution was adopted l to be presented to the meeting of the | board of councilmen:
 Voted, That in the opinion of the | board of health the unwatered streets | of the city, with the consequent dust, | are productive of diseases and prejudi- cial to the public health, and that in their opinion this nuisance should be at once abated. and voted that copy | of the foregoing be transmitted to the court of common council for their im- mediate action.