New-York tribune., 1905-08-12
BAD CESSPO0LS BLAMED.
TYPHOID INVESTIGATED.
officers Find Unsanitary Conditions
Gases IN Manhattan.

Beach sections OF BROOKLYN caused the death of
It's second victim yesterday when Andrew E. Gus
tavson, OF Bay 43d-st.. Bensonhurst. died in the
Norwegian Hospital in South Brooklyn Four
new cases were reported in the affected districts
while three patients We're removed to the hospital
making forty-two cases there at present
The death of Mr.. Gustavson is said 10 have re-
suited from incubation and 1t is believed that flies
carried the typhoid germs from the garbage
streWn beach adjoining Gravesend Bay where
the victim lived
In Bay Ridge the doctors are thoroughly in
vestigatng the causes of every individual case in
the hope of tracing the origin of the disease DIT
Louis c. Ager. of Ovineton-avc who has many
OF the cases under observation declared last night
that the fever in the section of Bay Ridge be-
tween Bay Rtdge-ave. and s5th-ht. has somewhat
subsded since Wednesday Instructions have been
issued 70 all those living within the typhoid zone
TO avoid drinking water that has not been treated
to some form of sterilization. and to avoid bath
ing in the Narrows
At Coney Island no cases of typhoid fever
have been reported at the Reception Hospital
though several cases being treated by prac-
tsing doctors
After an investigation in the houses where the
disease has appeared the health inspectors have
made preliminary report to Chief ] s Billings
of the division of communicable diseases. who
turned it over to DR.. Thomas Fogarty the assist
ant sanitary superintendent of Brooklyn The
report is in part:
FIVE I've cases Of typhoid occurred among the Italians
February, March and Iuly.-There sewers in
sns section; the drainage is into cesspools, the
foul smelling water. Our Inspector was informed
that the Italians pumped the contents of the cess
pools last spring into the streets and lots
three cases occurred m % P Two cases occupfG9
IN IN Sfh-st. where the sewer broke last spring.
INTO the street Two cases occurred in 57th-st..
contains stagnant water This investigation seems
10 @ ShO" sonsidera Die probability of surface infec
of the Blythebourne Water Com6sny's wafeT taiaT
from which many Of the stricken people obtained
their supply. They say that it was frequently
one infected house in Bay iith-st there was cess
Poo rdr drainage and the people were said TO have
Regardng cases in s5th-st. and 2eth-ave s5th-st..
Bay 92d-st.. 22d-st- Bay 25th-st and Benson-ave..
Bay 24th-st and Bay 27th-st.. inspector states
neshSorOods they are 'T inadeq9afe @ and ow
over after every heavy rainfall leaving their con-
r,o One o,s sewer DISCHARGES at Bay PARKWAY about
told told that the latter is in very bad condition and
| ana Is above the water at low tide
! DIR. Berry reported to DR. Henry n Walker
! chief Inspector Of the Division of Inspection. In
| forwarding DR.. Berrys report DR. Billings. Dr.
| Walker said. In part:
Dr. Berrys conclusions may be summarized in
has not kept pace with the increase in popuIat ton
| While Inspector Berry has not produced specific
! things is hardit obtsinable II Ib T 1ossibiiitv 81
these causes being connected with the undue prev
alence of the disease is apparent Formerly, per
| obtain permits from the Department OF Health
| The Bureau of Buildings took the position that it
| alone had Jurisdiction over the construction of
| eesspools and the issuance Of permits by the
! Health Department was discontinued
! 1t would seem 10 me TO be desirable that permit
be obtained not only to construct new cesspools,
| be possible to obtain complete record of existing
cesspools and to exercise proper supervision over
1t would also seem to be desirable for this de-
partment to take some steps to reduce the present
almost prohbitve cost of cleaning cesspools and
privy vaults in the districts under consideration
The haul to the offai dock at NewtoWn Creek is so
long that the cost OF cleaning an ordinaTy cesspooi
rs i9 @ s ~ 1ufn i s5 bt SI III, - . hdS'SI h b oot @
would be largely diminished. Under present condi-
and unless cesspool is actually overfowing it is
! Impossible To maintain a case in the courts. The
scavengers is utterly Ineffective and if real dsin-
the supervision of this department. Ins eetor Berry
| makes number Of recommendations. which would
in ths dvsi0n saS increase IN the force OF
IN ms report DR.. Berry says that, in the list Of
cases have been made. only two are in such
| general overha uling With these exceptions, she
of inc places ve- OF the better clas Of dwellings
| many Of them new and in excellent sanitary con
The most probable cause of infection. he be
Heves, is the prevalence of cesspools in the Blythe
bourne section In Rens0nhurst most Of the streets
| contain sewers he declares. and the majority OF
| the dwellings connected He also warns agansr
! bathing. Scattered throughout the ward. he de-
cIareS are dumps maintained by the Street Clean
source complaint. There also several tracts
! OF marsh land living in staSnant foul smelling
/ condition.
He says in closing
This department has made hundreds of orders
in this section in relation to CeSspOOs, but much
| remains to be done. and Your inspector believes
stop the building of all ones and keep some
kind OF q record of the old ones. causing them
to cleaned varying intervals according to the
! amount of drainage received and to be water-Ught.
waiting for them TO overflow before cleaning
! There is great danger in bathing. The entire
| : contaminated with sewage from the numerous
! sewer openings. and bathing should be stopped
| at these places the two worst places being at
Bay 32d and Bay l5th-sts.
Patrick Woods. of No. 53s East 135th-st.; his
wife. Margaret and their twelve-year-old son were
| taken "a the Lincoln Hospital yesterday suffering
from typhoid fever. Il is believed that the fever
! originated in the impure water which the family
have been drinking The family have been sick for
about a week They poor. and their condition
first discovered by a nelghoor who visited
/ their fiat
DR. William +. Howley Of AIexander-ave and
! I96th-st summoned, and attended them for
time
Yesterday the Health Department informed.
! and after inquTing into their condition ordered
/ an ambulance from the AleXander-ave. station 70
! take them away. In addition to the typhoid. Woods
their condition 10 the drinking water.