Year: 1875




ceived the idea Of the general sewerage Of the city
They knew nothing about the business further than
that sthere millions in IT, and with simplicity
not Initiated by their successors they memorazed the
Academy OF Medicine, requesting OF them plan for the
work and general principles upon which such under
taking should be carried / was then active
member Of this society. had not then been ''sus-
pended" from its imaginary privileges for consulting
with homeopathic practitioners, for the Academy was
then quite new and had not forgotten its objecs-vz,
TO consolidate the profession and advance the science
of medicine. Ethical disqusitions did not then absorb
its energies.


The Academy listened to the request with pride and
with dsgust-prdc at being recognized by "the
powers WERE" disgust being supposed TO know
anything about trench digging and brick laying That
any grand hyglenic laws lay at the bottom of all such
work by which such structures should be made did
to occur TO any who took part in the discus
sion. | was then younger light" To be sure
had rnado them the first scientific analysis and re-
port ''swill milk and second report on the
meat OF New York" and really knew nothing on the
subject However the honor accepted the disgust
was swallowed, committee appointed but the city did
not wait for the report of the committee, but went
build the sewers with great rapdity It lucky for
the enriched contractors that they did delay for the
committee never made report, and, in fact,
heard Of a committee


But the result OF this hasty work, underlying which
is the health OF million of human souls felt to-day.
1t is of little Importance how much money wasted
by digested plans, how vain the "attempts TO make
water run up hill,' how abortive we're many of the
trials; but IL is of some consequence how much ill
health, how many deaths have been caused and are
still justly ascrbable the bad air-the malaria
gendered by them. So great, indeed is it, in
localities that the actual existence OF there is
matter of great regret. Before the built
the frequent aud copious rains rushed madly down
the decivitous streets and the turbid current
washed tho pavements generally and notably
the cutters, cleansing them very thoroughly of
their founess To be sure, tho water sometimes
stood knee deep in the low places, and
cellars we're flooded and with consequent slight dam
ago to individual property; but with what benefit TO
the general health Now tho cutters lever washed
and are never clean But Of this more


The Academy never gave any opinion respecting
some OF the great points where scientific judgment
imperatively demanded. II never has said whether
sewer brick should be laid in cement left open so
that the moisture OF the adjacent soil should be able
permeate through and be carried of whether the
bottom should be lett open with similar design;
did they give any opinion upon the management OF the
mouths and the debouchure Had they done SO then
the community might have had reason for thank





CONDITION SEWERAGE


As at present constituted the sewers have two funda-
mental defects-the traps at the entrance are not o
retaining within them the gases putrefaction
therein evolved next the debotsctures not con-
structed sufficiently low or long, that these mouths
may be constantly under water The result Of these two
radical defects that the foul air disgusting the OIL
factories preudical health Is left permeate
the houses the city, and disease the community That
this is done few will deny. How IL is effected may be
explained folows:-


AT low tide the mouth OF an mperfectly constructed
is left exposed In the extraordinary conjunc-
tion Of low tide with brisk wind which blows the
water Of the bay. all perhaps left open to the
entrance Of the air, which entirely fills them. With
high wind blowing into them this is forced through
their length overcoming the feeble resistance Of the
trap and effects entrance into houses If the
weather be still the effect scarcely less unfavorable
for the returning tide closes upon the sewer and this
retained with each advancing wave is forced backward
md backward till further condensation is impossible
and the swash Of the waves soon produce the re-
suit before obtainedthe traps and the
noisome odor pervades everywhere.


There other less important defects in
age system less frequently to-day than formerly
but which numerous enough to seriously affect the
health. Sometimes the grade OF the sewer has not





ton Of its receipts and the Accommodations pcstcr-
GUS Sometimes the calbre Of the sewer is insufficient
Tor the requistons Of sudden and especially
when in connection with high tide when the back
water is forced into the cellars and lower rooms Of
many houses, leaving behind a sedimc4t, with
5ompanying smells, which remains for n9xy days, and
necessarily, with consequent Injurious effects upon the
health OF their inmates This last conditiss is in
East Thirteenth street. where the allowed
be built by the land owners who eSercxed their
rupdity or ventilated their ignorance by building a
sewer too small for the purpose for which was de-
sgned but who are rewarded for their Ill placed pars
mony by the prayers mot loud but deep Of the oc
cupants OF the houses margining its extent


But some may think occasional bad smell is quite
trivial matter and really not worth talking about
Let us see.


WHAT ONE RAD SEWER DID


That epidemic known as tho 1rst choleran had its
origin In foul sewer, which ran near the old Fly
Market, my venerable deceased friend DR. John NJ
Francis very frequently stated when the connection
of the sewer 10 the health OF the city wns recognzcd
and efforts established ts cleansing the labor
employed for the purpose generally made sick
and died. The hotel epidemic at Washington from
which much sickness and death resulted was di-
Jecty traceabe defective sewerage and the choking
OF the wasteppes of the house saw of dis
ease caused therctrom One gentleman, who died from
other disease this present April considered himself
be permanently affected by this exposure. The Lake
Mahopac Hotel epidemic, with its muItitorm diseases
and many deaths was ndisputably traced to defective
sewerage and improper drainage of the house. per-
sstent foul odor pervading the house and tho
complaints OF It's inmates insufficient to draw
proper attention 20 its dangers we'll unpleasant
ness and It's abatement until the finger OF death
compelled some effective means for its remedy.


WASTE DWELLINGS.


Going still backward. we dnd great and garng do
fects IN the structure OF the waste pipes OF Of
our houses II has been already mentioned that by
the action Of the winds and the waves impure gases
were made TO the too shallow traps attached
TO our sinks, washbowls sc As at present con-
structed II Is doubtful IL there single trap attached
10 the main exit pipe after IL leaves the house and
prior TO its junction with the street Next the
traps-wbich consist OF merely bend IN the pipe
10 retain quantity OF water which a plug
these traps imperfectly made, sometimes 70
mize room, sometimes save the lead oftenest prob
ably from mere carelessness and ignorance In cheap
houses, tenements and shops which, perhaps, origin
aliy Intended for shops are changed into lodging
Toomsa these causes unite. The traps frequently
emitted entirely, and then nothing prevents free
passage OF the air Of the sewer rising by It's natural
Impulse into the higher levels of the house.


These sewer emanations the direct cause Of dis
ease and deaLh. Nnthing a mnrc nridnnt IEn cnnan