New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-11
GREAT LOSS BY DISEASE.
So Health Commissioner Le1ciS Ar-
cues an Report to Governor.

Albany. April I0-,Iany millions Of dollars an
nualIy lost the people CT the State of Newborn
through preventable diseases is the startling key
note OF the annual report of Health Commissioner
Lewis to the Governor made public tonight.
IF the monetary value OF human life is assumed
to be 35oco" says Or. Lewis, the deaths from but
FIVE the preventabe diseases during 1893 in this
State represent loss of sos $780, 900 These figures
seem appalling. and yet millions on millions can
properly be added this in loss Of wages, eX-
pense of the Of the sick and many other ex-
penses incidental to the management OF these
| epidemic and infectious diseases
The commissioner complains Of the pauclty OF
appropriations for the work of his department, and
shows that in several parts Of it there is great
opportunity and abundant authority 10 meet condi-
tons but absurdly insufficient appropriations with
believes 81. 10000 a year could be used with great
advantage to the people of the State.
DR.. Lewis urges the enactment OF the bill no"
before the legislature at the instance OF the
department, providing $4,000 for the establishment
and maintenance for year OF new bureau OF
water supply and drainage in the Health Depart
ment.
As the most conspicuous feature of the sanitary
condition OF the State in 1903, the report cites the
typhoid epidemics Ithaca and West Seneca
Buffalo. In Ithaca, with population Of 1900.
there were over five hundred cases reported and
fifty deaths. West Seneca had about twenty-three
deaths out Of SS4 in population of 1900 In
both instances says the commissioner the distr-
button of the fever indicated the water supply
as the means of transmission of the infectious
material. There is evidence to prove mat similar
inequalities of the State as we'll as numerous
health resorts which extensively patronlzed oy
citizens of many States besides New ork Bene!
cent results in preventing diphtheTia have been at
tanned by the distribution of anttoXin, and prog
ress has been made in the prevention and treat
In the report Of Dr. Willis c Tucker, in charge
OF the Bureau of Chemistry. Included In that OF
Commissioner Lewis. it appears that or SIXTY
samples OF food analysed about 81 per cent were
mas nrrpb only o.,
ndiscrininate selection Of foods IN the markets
would show much smaller percehIage oi
alton. There is evidence that low grade lIiuInlha
ing oils OF a dangerous quality are being SOLD IN
a % OF the aw t 9rd Ine of ampes
notification OF dealers and assistance in the prose-
Deaths from cancer numbered 452. or 10 per cent
in 1903 than In 1902. and II is made plain that
lttIe progress IS oe!ng maze ; II, Ga I'm rencr re
lates the examination of the eyesight Of school
children Last year the e 81 I
ports of examinations which Indicated that al per
cent OF the pupils examined had defective vision
Smallpox caused only forty-one deaths OF which
twenty-five occurred IN Rochester. During the year
there were indexed S9.06I birth certificates 1876
death certificates ana 2Zo marriage cerIin
Among other important questions set forth in the
report, which is voluminous. may he noted; De,
plorable delinquency on the part or some I2cai
health departments I'm reporting vital statistics;
large number OF sewage systems inspecte ed rules
for water supply protection laid down apateireht
OF nuisancee and Investigations carried on. Re
ferring the long delayed report on the alleged
pollution OF the waters OF Lake Champlain by acid
sludge from the wood pulp mills, DR.. Lewis says;
The examination has required a vast amount OF
labor. including the microscopical and bacteriolog
cal examination OF large number OF samples OF
the sludRe from the beds OF the streams and the
contiguous parts Of the lake beds. The question
for the department 20 decide Is plainly whether te
gerous TO the life health OF the residents OF the
locality. II IS expected that the reports rom
engineers and other Investigators VIII De '"hlpe'e
a early date