New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-29

deaths from dphtheria IN the city but ohiy sol 90
Trinity During the two 10 yyss city but
death from this cause occurred III LINING
Now. II these tenements we're IN such hltny ana ia
unsanitary condition. how was 1t possible N a,,h
view OF the great prevalence o. TG az Ward in par
ticular. that few deaths were que 10 ,on noo 81
causes in the ,tenements OF the 0orp0fA''o" u
MORE EVIDENCE OF UNFAlRNESS.
But Furthermore, II we consider the mortahty OF
a. we find stu more convincing evidence or the
unfairness and Injustice OF the charges against the
sanitary condition OF Trinity Tenements. DURING
the past year there la6 deaths from stnaiipoH
In the city but not one death from TINS cause III
Trinity Tenement. There were 5il deaths from
scarlet fever in the city. but not one death from ths
cause in a Trinity Tenement 325 deaths from ty-
phoid fever but none in a Trinity Corporation Tene-
mcnt; 2iJ from cerehro-splna inenIngt.s, anu NO.
and yet in the face OF all facts; the charge Is
made and attempted TO be sustained by statisucs
that excessive mortality In Trinity Tenemehts
was traceabe to the highly unsanitary condition In
which II asserted these houses were being kept
Filth may not be the cause OF disease but 1t certainly
has been proven to be condition OF disease ana II
the statements in regard 10 the sanitary condition
OF Trinity Tenements true. the mortality re-
turns would present an entirely different character.
As natural consequence we sholih theh ma an
excessive prevalence OF Just such diseases as have
nty been called Nth diseases but as matter OF fac,
find that these diseases have been proved on
the authority Of the Board Of Heath records not 10
have been excessively prevalent In Trinity Tene-
ments during the six years 1894 We have recent
New York city was the lowest on record for seven
ty-nve years hut nothing has been said about me
fact that there was an Increase In me mortaity
from smallpox. dlphthera and measles ana b't a
very slight decrease In thu mortality from scare,
and typhoid fevers and darrhocal diseases ne
decrease In The mortality vas among tnose cause
which the Board ~ Health has iitt,r II any
control and therefore the faiing OF IN me acoua
mortality IL !css the work OF the BOARD OF Health
than the result OF Other Sses AM r set
CONSUMPTION NOT EXCESSIVELY PREV
A.ENT.
one word in conclusion in regard to the statement
that some OF the Trinity Tcncments are "hotbcds
~ dIseaac" This statement was made at the time
with spccial reference to consumption. have care
fully tabulatcl the mortality from this cause Tor
each tenement FOR the SIX years and ma Only
three Instances IN which three deaths from con-
sumption occurred during he six years under Cd
,cryailon In any one house. 1t Is far too early In
the present stage OF knowledge ~ the cause g,
consumption t. advanc" any cain or proPpSp AZ
theory euch insufficient cy.denrs ,onsunhpu ,Sn
among the poor L. increased chicny thro"kn wv
combined influences OF hereditary preil",osi,Ion
environment. occupation ami Indifference 10 per,
soma hygiene II tho suggestions OF the Board OF
u,cre resnccfeI and obeycl there Is no doubt but
Ina, the mortality could he greatly diminished But
how can the poor avoid sleeping IN me same ROOM
ocrun,ej bv one who has consumy ION n that ono
room h. he only one they can AFFORD to rent. or
earring the social relation OF persons suffering from
snspccicd consumptioni when they are unable 70
ev,n consult the physician" behind the counter o.
. drug store We'll ihe board OF Health said
le largely within the power OF tho affected IN,
dlvdna." Way then Ak tn" same time. place ~
tho blame FOR the prevalence or th'. as Vel as al
the other rreveniahlc diseases. on the wrong
shoulders but u have said before. there n no
evidence whatever OF any excessive preVa enc" 81
this d.sea-c n .nsl" one 81 the te""neh's o' '"'
Corporation - Trinity thur p.
/ have far exceeded my original purpose 10 MAKE
this report 4 very bref one. yet have only Deeh
able present some of tho most important PhaSes
81 the prob ON under discussion. In q fna repor,
which To- follow. lot ais VIII be presented ana
Fundamentally data Viii o" included which II has
n,i been possible 20 Introduce here. Enough mas
been said however. 20 dispOs" at once ana forever
Of the charges made as 10 tho sanitary cohIltiDn
of Trinity Corporation Ten"m"rfs. ana sincerely
trust that those most Interested IN the ruin IN TO-
earl 20 these charges VII. nnl In these state
m.nt4 an 81 which AT" based on actual facts DO
rived from official sources suih'icnt PROOF 10 f"-
flute accusations which We're as has been SHOWN
In these statements. based on nothing but stats
teal rIessHork | Will conclude my report WIN
Get IN which q somewhat similar attempt al fals"
statistical method WIS condemned with the foi-
lowing timely remark we have 80 strong a con
,iciion ~ tho powerful influence that our Ma
tl1nAl system Of mortality statistics has exercised
On tho progress OF public health IN England that
lie faith IN those statistics should not b" weak
ci~l hy Ambiguous terms. by falls" methods ana by
un-ounl Deductions Very respectfully YOURS
FREDERICK t. HOFFMAN,
Actuarial Department. Prudential ms g.. Newark
-. =. March y. lW
Mr Iiormnns conclusions are Endorsed by such
authorities James VI. Craig and Emory Nc
Chntpck
ft fi~ arf