Year: 1875

inquiry and in fact Of all matters relating sanitary
science. One OF the first physicians inte -vsv&e
this subject was


PROFESSOR A. HAMMOND,


and In answer to inquiries hc stated his willingness to
give all the information in his power on the subject
He said:-'I bel eve, with all natural advantages,
New York is Of the most unhealthy cities in tho
world and certainly have the highest death rate OF
any important city in the United States. | consider
that the present deplorabc condition OF the public
hoath is to great extent due to tho utter incifcicncy
OF present health authorities, To give you IL
lustraton OF the ignorance and neglect Of sanitary
science and public health in this country will take
the thres medical colleges OF this city In Of them
does student receive the slightest instruction nfor
nation on these important subjects from the time be
enters until he is sent the world to practise his pro-
csson although physicians considered and held
the guardians OF our public health


REroarER-Dr. Hammond what is your opinion as
to the presence or malaria this city and its influence
the public health


Dr. HAMxoSD-My experience has been that the infu.
of maaral poison a OF disease has
bcen my knowledge, active extensive within
the past year and that diseases dependent this
source, and hitherto unknown except among the poor
are becoming developed in tho richer and better OF
classes of tho community This is especially the case
with ono afIccton-dphtheritic paralysis Nervous af
ectons such neuralgia epilepsy, catalepsy, spinal
irritation loss or voice have largely increased, and
have witnessed within short time three Of in
sanity that directly traccable to malarious n1u
A good many OF these affections have yielded
and the patients recovered under the use Of quninc
and arsenic the usual remedies for diseases dependent
maaraI poisoning. find my clinics held at the
college that the large proportion Of Of malaria
disease from the east side Of the city and you know
that it in this section that OF the defective
sewerage and allcd-ln ground located Dphtheria,
prevalent and fatal, is undoubtedly due to this
source.


REPoErBR-How do you explain the almost constant
increase Of mortality from masmatic disease?


Dr. HAMNoSD-Wcl, you see, for five years
the causes have been constantly increasing
and getting The population Of the city has largely
increased and the limits Of the city have expanded very
lttc producing in certain quarters overcrowding OF
people The principal Of disease In tho upper
portion Or the city have been the opening OF tho Fourth
cut, the condition Of the Harlem flats and the
dIsgraceful sanitary state Of Central Park.


REPoRTER-Have you directly traced the production
Of disease to the present condition OF the Central Park


Or. HAMMoSD-Yes, in considerable number Of
cases | have known of cases Of intermittent fever
neuralgia persistent headaches caused by visiting
Park in The evening consider the present sanitary
condition Of the Park worry bad and unless improved
VIII be source OF good deal OF SICKNESS 10 the people
of this city.


REroRrGR--What means should be adopted to secure
better sanitary conditions


Or. HAMaoNn-In the FIRST place you must disconnect
the drainage or the public closets and urinas
from Rowing the lakes, and also a considerable
amount Of the surface drainage from tho Park. All
this should be conducted into tho street sewerage
Tho lakes ponds should be thoroughly cleaned
the bottoms ccmented, that at stated intervals the
water could DO run OIL and tho lakes bed swept
Another great Of disease wrotchcd sys-
ten OF street sewerage This Is OF the great
causes OF dphthcria and kindred diseases


REroRrER--Is there in your opinion any need for
change tho way the Health Department at present
mauagcd2


DR. HANMoND--0ecidodly thoro Isl the present sys-
tenn Is humbug; with few exceptions tho present
officials entirely ignorant OF a matters relative to
public health and sanitary science The Board have
plenty OF power and all tho aw they want improve
our present condition, but they 10 not know anything
about he matter Thcre should DO one Commissioner
Of Health responsible to the Mayor and having abso-
uto control OF tho public health. A bureau should be
established at the head OF which should be placed
good sanitary engineer to inspect all sewerage plans,
house drainage &c in the city particularly tho tene-
men houses In this way and IN short time and by
tho strict enforcement OF tO sanitary code tue public
health would 10 materially improved To show you
tho workings OF tho present svstcm In tue beginning
or the year attempt made by some Of tho Com.
missOncrs OF Ioath to adopt the plan Of omptying tho
cessuoos and water closets bY passing long tube