New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
INCREASING MORTALITY AMONG IN
FANrs CAUSED BY DIARRHGA
,orvALENcE OF THE DISEASE ATTRIBUTED IN
MEASURE TO THE IMPURE CoNDI-

.ovvurNCB OF THE DISEASE ATTRIBUTED IN A
MEASURE TO THE IMPURE coNDI-
TON OF. THE WATER
-s.-s e a remarkable increase IN the mortality
-, ohusren in this borough. The local Health
D,srd Yesterday reported twenty-nine deaths Day
,,e- day for several weeks the mortality has been
eater than in former years I'm this season. Pres-
Sent Michael c. Murphy OF the Health Board has
,,en specific instructions TO the local Board TO
80 rigid and exhaustive inspection OF the milk
,rniv and to exercise its greatest in this re-
80, as on account Of many complaints that he
,as received and from the health returns. he has
become alarmed AT the excessive mortality this
ear among Brooklyn children under FIVE years old,
which is caused mainly by dlarrnea. Medical men
and chemists believe that the condition OF the
r-ater is a contributory cause 10 the mortality
A chemist OF the Health Board Of this borough
said Yesterday that the water In bad condition
r N De Varona one OF the engineers OF the
Brooklyn water supply. stated that the water was
not as good it ought to be. but that there was
no cause for general alarm.
Deputy Water Commissioner Monett said early
a. June g. 1899, that the water supply was short
and issued preventive orders against it's useless
waste IN parks. lawns and gardens. The drouth. OF
course caused a great limitation IN supply in May
and June. and while the supply is fairly good now
Il is not up 70 the demand While the quality OF
The water has greatly improved Of late It is not
yet as good it should be for domestic uses.
Nj De Varona says that the water now being
pumped into the mains contains unhealthful sub
stances and that the water taken from near the
ocean has more or less OF chlorine The supply
should be increased. and no lasting improvement
will ne effected until the means of supply have been
Increased.
Robert Van Buren,. engineer in charge Of the local
water supply. said that there no danger OF a
water famine in Brooklyn this summer Lack Of
rain has aggravated the situation and conditions
lew
The reports Of analyses show that the a!buminod
Ammonia in the samples Of last week is almost
twice as great as they were IN the comparative
reports Of 1897 and This shows that the water
o. other poisonous material In addition 10 these
n the old water mains Of fungus. accumulations
OF slime and other things. Warm weather causes
whrled through the mains and pipes and flow out
o. the taps IN houses. Deaths from diarrhCea
from last Saturday 10 noon OF Thursday were ~
Several doctors attribute the excessive mortality
q the hthy condition Of the streets. Unquestion-
ably they have not been Kept as clean as when the
laie Colonel George +. Waring taught New York
the possibilities and benefits OF excellent sanitary
Another remarkable feature OF the case is the
fact that The Board Of Health makes no adequate
inspection OF the diaries. Lax methods seem TO
who wants 20 start dairy may make great
bluff 10 the Board Of Health. An inspector is
sent in the hrst place. Naturally everything is in
spick and span order Tor MS Inspection. he goes
away and reports favorably. Thereafter there is
hardly any inspection at all or az least only
eemblance OF n.
The dairy keepers simply keep their COWS in stalls
Or turn them our in yards. The cattle are stall
them with the result that the milk is not only
poor but that II is liable 10 contain the germs Of
disease The Dairy COWS are practically strangers
from grazing in fresh pastures and the consequent
freedom Of movement. fresh air and natural food.