The New York Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1875, Page 4

vthe map that the sec ms 4 THE CROTON SHED. Additional Instances of Farm and Factory Nuisances. HOW THE WATER IS POISONED. a ‘The Men Who Foster the Along the Streams. Abuses PESTS ON LAKES AND TRIBUTARIES, ‘What Exists at Brewster's Station, Monkey Town and Muddy Brook. —_————— OPIMONS OF PROMIVENT PHYSICIANS. —-—— ‘Malaria and !ts Causes, Defective Sewer- age and Tainted Water. INCREASE OF MIASMATIC DISORDERS. ‘Tho second part of the Croton shed exposé, as pre- | sented In the New York HERALD, discloses some ot the | most frightful abuses to be found. In the previous | article the Whitlock slaughter house—reaily the first of the great nujsances—at Croton Falls was a fair samplo of what may be done in defiance of the Croton Aqueduct Department, so long as no law has beon enacted giving it control of the water front outside of the reservoirs. Now we propose to place squarely before the public a group of similar offences, situated withinan area of not certainly over twenty miles square. The starting point on this occasion is Croton Falls Village, aad the course is up the Croton River toward its sources or one of them. It will be perceived by reference to on embraced in this portion of the narrative is watered by the two branches of the Croton River—the West and Middle— and also by a stream only known as Muddy Brook, which empties itself into Toneita Lake, somewhat east by north of Brewster's Station, The west branch of the Croton River bas its origin somewhere southwost of Croton Falls, and is a wretched little stream, to say the most of it. The middie branch rises among the bills north and west of our headquarters, and, maugre the tainting process common to the country—barnyard and pigpen drainagé—is comparatively decent, Muddy Brook ts all that its name indicates, and the lesser rivulets are beastly, Rvally no language could be too strong if condemnatorily applied to the trrigating pro- cess displayed in our map, for every squatter and prop- erty holder the country round does as be or she pleases, and makes the Croton River and its tributaries sub- servient to all the purposes of farm sewerage. As will be hereinafter elaborately shown, each “house, field, shanty, factory, shop and den bas its dyke carefully cut through the soil to the great fecaers of Croton Lake, and peopie in this part ot Putnam county care about as much for those who suffer by their infringe- ments of the law as the good folk in the region which has go recently been visited byghe Pandora might be expected todo. Facts speak for themecives, and they will be furnished. THE Mar. At the outset, Lowever, the map merits first atten- tion, It las been carefully prepared trom the latest surveys and the Hexatp expiorer’s personal examina- tion of every nook and corner of the district described. Itatretckes on the south from Croton Falls to the western shore of Lake Glenelda; on the cast froma little above Purdy’s Station to the hills south of Peach | Pond; ou the west from the west branch of the Croton | to the northern limit of Brewster’s Station, and on the | north from Brewster's across to the footing waters of Peach ond. The ph ue of the regiou is mountain- ous, and every billock hag its natural watershed. In | the vales on the uplands are built the homes ofthe | farmers and wealthy people who own the soil, but in many instances don’t live there, and coursing down the slopes are innumerable = drains and ditches—the sole method of sewerago in this part of the State of New York. These are sloughed and poisoned by the filth and excrement of the dwell ings and pens through, by and unaerncath which they run, and finally help to sweil the. tide which flows through either branch of the Croton into the Inke— New York’s greatest reservoir, The better classes of the inhabitants reside on the high lands; the worst on the river's banks, The former, having means and doing business professionally in some of the neighbor- ing towns or New York, or being what is known as “gentlemen farmers,” live 1n commodions buildings fitted up with all the modern improvements obtainable therefore, the nuisances complained of and such eyesores to the Croton Department and the public at large are notso virulentor glaring. They are bad enough, however, and should be removed because they help to increase the poisonous elements injected into our Croton water, already more than should be borne. ne word more in explanation of this portion of the ater shed. As in the previous map tbe places marked with black spots are positive blemishes on tho water | front; indeed. they'are aggravating instances of the departinent’s impotency. Any mab, ag will be shown, | may ercet a mill, factory or privy upon the edge of any | sfeedor, and he will not be molested. The property owners feel secure when they have good tenants, and | the latter consult solely their own convenience. The | landlords do not know much about their tenants’ do- | mestic economy, and the tenants do pretty much as | they like. We give on the map the landlords’ names as they are known to the authorities; below we furnish in | detall the names of the present residents and actual | offenders. AT CROTON PALLS | we have already fixed the tirst great clanghter house, the beginning of this batch of abuses; above it we will show in their proper order of sequence the remainder, It should not be forgotten that this examination of the | foodors had to be made slowly and cautiously, some- times afoot, again on horseback and always carefully. ALD correspondent started out exch morning after daylight at the point where the previous even- concluded, and travelled up the main 1 first and its tributaries next, noting cach plague he went, and mal careful diagrams of the Just above the slanghter house—Whitlock’s and | samo, the old shed waieh formerly was called ‘Purdy’s Old Mill” —the river tends northward, and ik followed by the road to Bri rs Station, Only a narrow strip of grasa land soparates the thoroughfsre und the watercourse anc on the verge of the jaiter houses, or to speak more | corrcetly, frame shanties and huts stand, They are occupied by the poorest clasers of the people and over. | look the dirty stresm. Al! are wretched oatwardly and nearly all contribute un equal ehere to the slimy Jeposit m the river bed, Purdy’s ofd mill ie unoccu- pied now, that is t no werk seems to be going on eay there. Time was, however, and not so very long ago, when men.and beasts used tho draim which trickles down the slope wear by to the central channel as a ort of necessar, surround- It was a prime adjunct to th ing nuigences in those days, but it haa since been va. ¢ant and only remains to-c ne of the places that may be ueod at any tite to putrefy the water supply. | Right opposite, almost, and on the weetern bank of tho river stands tho Rev, Albert Chamberiin's home, which Cannot justly be devignated a8 a yrave ance ines. much as it iss well kept residence, removed several toda from tho skore and unnhke those about it, furuishod with a ditch sewer, Stil onc cannot paes ie vy without epec arbago is flung and how the iam dumping them suto neichborhood eo iid roton River, torily explain atthe Chambe refuse, and roost persons believe tquietly found its way into the common sewer— river, Then onthe right shore looking north tho watcr, though rapithof current, was moady and green Jn mony apote, owihg No doubt to the stuff carried into it by the drains or sewore of Croton Falis village. All through the town of South Kast, which comprises within ite limits most of the villagea on the cast bank of the river shown in the map, these dy kes and trenchos + Tavo been cut and do tho dirty work of tho farms and *quatters around, Even the old blacksmith’s shop in tho rango of Clinmberlin’s homestead and on a line ee Purdy wl ja am Maa, A ¢ | into the | thinks it eminently propor, roms of ibe | POLLUTION OF OUR DRINK ‘The Westchester Stables, Slaughter Houses and Privies Which Are Drained Into the Croton Water HAMEL aM AV HASUTLITHLT Tce Works. L.Brandow RR Se My HR HA B aaearn ae Q ‘urdy's.Oid Mi Whitlock's Slaughter Hous : slope above the water, say twenty-five or thirty feet high, and properly supplied with its drain, outhouse, privy and manure heap, each of which drips feeder'and adds more or less muck to the muss below. Ten rods nearer Brewster's and on the very outskirts of Croton Falls vitage is*a shanty clap- boarded and dark with age. It stands between the road and the stream, and 18 occupied by a laborer’s family who have lately come there. They have provided themselves with the regulation drain and have studi- ously located their backhouse on the very bank of the Croton River. Of course this feature is unnoticed by the native, because he does the same thing himsolf and The slops of the house- hold, night soil and everything supertiuous are flung down here through the small shoot, and are swept away by the rapid water down to the lake and reser- voir, This point is on the confines of THE THOMPSON KSTATR, which has upon it besides three other dwellings, with their privies and {ilthy appurtenances. This property is known as belonging to the heirs of the Thompsons, and is let from time to time in smail patches to whom: soever will pay the best price for it. A tenent house, ag it is styled in the country, or what we would call a tenement, is close by, with its children, drain, back- house, duck pond and. ‘garbage hole in full blast. The people are poor and careless, beheving religiously in the use to which they put the Croton River, and taking speciai care that no particle of stuff shall tind its way elsewhere. MIKE SCULLY’S shanty is two rods further north, and may be taken as a@ model of the dwelling houses in this part of South East. Here you have your privy, manuro heap, drain, auck mire, &c., in close proximity to the river, and inclined that way with rigid intention. There is no mistake about Mike’s purpose, He mcans to sce that all his household and farmyard refuse shall be laid on the bosom of our Croton water. His animals wallow and flounder on the margin, and his privy overhangs the bluff. * Night and day and day and night filth oozes from the Sculiys into the feeder, and helps to render the water more poisonous, ‘xt we have ‘THM THIEL FARM, which stretches over all that part of the country on the Croton bank, a mile or two out of the village. ‘It is owned by a family whose name it bears, and is no donbt inall respects a model of ita class, The home- stead and barns stana in the field, om the right hand wide of the road; but the cattle sheds and stables are in the pasture on the left, moar the stream, and well drained thereby, Tho beasts roam through the sedge and weeds, so prevalent hore, and the riverat this point may certainly be termed a farmyard ditch. It should be remembered in this connection that the reader is looking on the highway toward Browster’s, and along this meandering course of the river in a northwesterly direction; and it should not be forgotten that while scarcely any mention is made of weedy spots, fungus deposits, and presence of vegetable matter, they are bumerously distributed throughout the whole course in little coves of several feet square, in patches and minor inlets, but not in the state of stagnation found near the Nelson and Lockhart farms on Croton Lake, ‘The places now indicated are far more grievous and disastrous in their influences on the character of the Croton water than any situated below “the Falls,” | And now we come to HENRY TOMKINS, whose residence stands on the left bank of the river, some rods inland, It is not directly so bad as some of those already mentioned, but it contributes something toward the general nuisance deposit. Little streams pass from the building and outhouse, permeated with decomposed matter, tothe river, The liquid is vile and dense with refuse of every description, and close by is A mire stream, which may be characterized as the prin- cipal sewer ot'the section. It bears no particular ap- pellation, but is universally known ag Tompkins? Brook. Bac as it ia, however, its cleanly when compared with the systetn of drainage dissovered at GEORGE WOOD'S TENANT HOYSK, ed by Individuals not any too nice in their habits it thetr surroundings be any indication of customs, Total disregard of the purposes of Croton River ts prevalent, Slops and hourchold garbage are thrown into It daily, and the privy is near enough to ingure its dripping aud drainago in that direction. A great deal of comment is made by the inhabitants ot this district on the practices in here, and al- though it s useless, innsmuch edial measures are ont of reach, it 18 sufficiently indicative of what is necdod. After leaving Woods, we come to DRAN’S CORNER, where area group of dwellings on the river side fos ing and carrying on the abuses hereinbefore detai The occupants are Americans, it is true, but pone the lees dirty, They emulate the examp and keep thefr outhouses and privies drs of cuts that lead and empty themselves into tho Croton branch. They are not so bad as some about them, but they are nove the less poisonous when we remomt that they cast all their Worst filth into the stream bo directly to the lake, Above Dean's Corner and just evuth of Browstor's station are two terrible spots. One 's JO# NEWCOMN'S SLAUGHTER NOUSE It is built at the water's edge and is in a horrible condition. The shanties which comprise this nuisance are at the bend of the river and open into it. From the which is oce’ central building runs a shoot to carry off the blood; the cnelosure over which it passes is used as a cattle pou, and the killing block {8 on brink, Its yards and enclosures are strewn with all sorts of horwome matter. Particles ot stinking flesh and hides, green and bloody loo, cover the open space on the water's edgo immediately In front of tho building, the flooring Which has beén stained again and again with gore, nd so uninviting to the visitor as to deter one from on entering the place, The shoot through which {rom the killing block and house, the sauguine fluid flows into the water, is washed by Croton River every hour of the day. 6 shore is dyed all 6ver with hu blood spots, aud the banks for feet around aro inch thick with the dung of beasts, The ground coating |g too soft and pulpy to bear a footstep, and not an inch of the yard is free from the refuse or a slangnier honse. | Thoy kill several beasts weekly bere, antrinse the ; Jeoring of the shanty with the water «rawn from Croton River, inta Which she scourings drop through the slivot shown to the diagram. Cnagalte bo Newgomy's le anovber glaugbter bouae which though now in disuse retains its old character for filth; and wears to-day even a worse aspect than ite neighbor. The river bank is coated heavily with de- composed accumulations, and no effort so far as any man in the vicintty is awaro has ever been made to ro- lieve the place of its fetid incubus. The teoder laves oth, and daily carries away with it towards Croton, Lake much of the nasty stuf. Right above these pests, and opposite Mr. Everett's house, is a privy of ancient date, and iu high winds the bane of the sur- rounding residents, Then comes BILL. TH.LOTSON'S house and privy right overhanging the river and drop- ping its poisonous burden into “the Branch.” Hero, too, close at hand aro the Irish settlements; Thomas! privy, Van Schoy’s ranch and necessary, Walter Branch’s outhonse, Mr. Bailey's closet, aud, at the foot of Marvin's mansion, settlement immediately con- nected with Brewster's Station, and called Monkey Town. Of all the places in the district reviewed this 13 undoubtedly the worst, Each hovel and tenement house, occupied by Irish’ people, hangs over the river, and ail the privies empty themselves into it. Little streams run from dwelling to brink, bearing off hourly the slops, suds and general refuse of the laborers’ fam- ilies, But, worst of all, at Brewster's and contiguo to Lake Toneita is THR HAT PACTORY of Huvt & Co. Itis perhaps the greatest generator of poison and taint tobe met with Ongthis arm of the Croton River. It stands upon asmall stream that is known only as the Factory Stream, and is about 100 rods from the Croton. Every particlo of muck and shop garbage is flung into the stream and borne down the slope uniuterruptedly into the river; the dye, wash and scraps meet a similar fate, and when I saw thé mouth of the Factory Stream a few d: ago it was tinged with coloring used by Hunt & Co. But at Brewstor’s there is much to describe, and it, with Carmel and the tributaries about Lake Glencida, merits a much more elavorate description than anything yet men- tioned. First, we have on the right bank of tho river GAIL RORDEN’S MILK SHOP, with its machinery and condensers, working the year round, Its foundation was laid on the shore and is now washed by the Croton. Within, no doubt, all that skill could do to make the place cleanly and sweet bas been done. But outside refuse and stuff of every sort fall into the river and remain there, The shop is built on a level spot at the foot of a hill and as close to the stream as itcan be. Every drain or ditch in tho neigh borhood must empty its filth therein, so that tho slops of the hands in the shop finds a similar outlet. Indeed the urinal and privy are at side of the dam and 4 contribute to the general infection of the tributary, Certainly this part of Brewster's Station is as bad as It could well be, and the people call the settlement Monkey Town out of sheer disrespect for its appearance A character. The cattie pen ut the depot is drained into Croton Riwer, and all the sewers of the village discharge themselves there also. Bad, however, as Brewster's ig, Carmel is worse, itis the prettiest village in this part of Putnam county and stands upon the shores of Lake Gleneida, four miles southwest of Brewster's. The headquarters of the engineer stationed in this section of tho Croton Water Department is next door to Small’s Hotel and in full view of the | On the roadside, southerly from this office, are erected the dwellings of the well-to-do villagers. They face the main road, are fenced in and a rod from the lake, Each has a backbouse directly overhanging tho water and the family slops are doliberately thrown into it, This is tho case for nearly a mile along the margin, and nothing special is sald aboutit. Trac, the engineers think such practices are wrong, but they are j owerless to prevent them. Such has ever been the custom, and ad to abate the nuisances ihug will cation of the houses on the Gloneida Hicated by the spots marked A, B, O, & wnright poisonous to the water which feeds the western branch of the Croton. MALARIA. MEDICAL, OPINIONS-—WHAT LEADING PHYSICIANS DEEM THE SOURCES OF MIASMATIC DISORDE! Recent disclosures made in relatibn to the defective sanitary condition of the city, and the largo and tn. creasing death rate from this condition, have been a source of considerable uncasiness to the public, Our health reports establish the fact that notwith- standing the expenditure of vast suis of money for the preservation of public health the city has never beou since the organization of the Health Department in such a wretched sanitary condition. An examiaation of the mortuary recurds proves that deaths from miasmatic diseases have been almost tantly on the | se for the past seven years. Allthe efforts of the city oMciale chargod with the maintenance of the public health have been ffuitiess to arrest this state of affnirs, and the serious questions now before the people of this city are, the causes ot the exceasive mortality, the senitary measures neces. sary to relleye the present low state of the public health, and the changes, if any, required in the present managemont of the Department of Health to secure a better and more ‘horough administration of our health laws, and the carrying out of the improvements neces+ co} sary to placing thig Aty in a proper sagitary condition, Tn Order to obtain a Yhorviigh explanation as to tho sources of our high death rate and present unhealth- fulness, the writer called upon a pumter of the leading physicians to ask their views and opinions on this sub- ject, A considerablo nainver of the medical gontlemea called upon were very reluctant to express their opin- tons on the subject—some for the reason that they wero unwilling to see their names in tho public prow, Oihers Mom (heir gon'easod iuoragee of the eybiogt of inquiry, and, in fact, of all matters relating to sanitary sclence.. One of the first physicians inte-wiewed on this subject was PROFESSOR WILLIAM A. TAMMOND, and, In answer to inquiries, ho stated his willingness to give all the information in hia power on the subject, He said:—“I bel eve, with all its natural advantages, New York {s one of the most unhealthy citles in the world, and certainly wo have the highest death rato of | any important city in the United States, I consider that the present deplorable condition of the public hoalth is to a groat extent due to tho utter inefficiency of our present health autforities, To give you an Il- lustration of the ignorance and noglect of sanitary science and public health in this country we will take the threy medical colleges of this city. In none of them does a student recoive the slightest inetruction or infor- mation on these !mportant subjects {rom the time he enters until he is sent on the world to practise his pro- fession, although physicians aro considered and held as the guardians of our public health,”” Revorrer—Dr, Hammond, what is your opinion ag to the presence of malaria i this city and its influence on the public health? Dr. Hawmoxp—My oxperience has been that the influ- ence of ma’arial poison as a source of disease has nover been, to my knowledge, £0 active or extensive a3 within the past year orso. I And that diseases dependent on this source, and hitherto unknown except among the poor, are becoming developed in tho richer and better off classes of the community, ‘This is especially the caso with one affection—diphtheritic paralysis. Nervous af- fections, such as neuralgia, epilopsy, catalepsy, spinal irritation, loss of voice, have largely increasod, and I have witnessed within ashort time three cases of in- sanity that were directly traceable to malarious intlu- ences. A good many ot these affections have yiolded andthe patients recovered under th je of quinine and arsenic, the usual remedies for diseases dependent on malartal poisoning. I find tn my clinics held at the college that the large proportion of cases of malaria disease are from the east side of the city, and you know that it is in this section that most of the defective sewerage and filled-tn ground 1s located. Diphtheria, so prevalent and fatal, is undoubtedly due to this rource, ; RuvortER—How do you explain the almost constant increase of mortality from miasmatic disease? Dr. Hammoxp—Well, you soe, for five or seven years the causes of diseaso have been constantly increasing and getting worse. The population of the city has largely increased, and the limits of the city have expanded very little, producing in certain quarters overcrowding of people, The principal sources of disease in the upper portion of the city have beon the opening of the Fourth avenue cut, the condition of the Harlem flats and (he disgracéfal sanitary state of Central Park, Revoater—Have you directly fraced the prpduction of discase to the present condition ot the Central Park ? Dr. Hawmoxp—Yes, in a considerable: number of cases, I have known of cases of intermittent fevor, neuralgia, persistent headaches, caused by visiting the Park in the evening. 4 conMder the presont sanitary condition of the Park very bad, and, unless improved, will be a source of # good deal of sickness to the peoplo of this city. Revortzt—What means should be adopted to secure a better sanitary condition? Dr. HasMonn—In the first place you must disconnect the drainage of the public water closets and urinals from flowing into the Inkes, ang also a considerable amount of the surface drainage from tho Park. All this should be conducted into the street sewerage, Tho lakes aud ponds should be thoroughly cleanod and tho botioms ecmented, so that at stated intervals the water could be run off and the lake's bed swept. Another great source of disoase is our wrotehed sys- tein of stroct sewerage, This Is one of the great causes of diphtheria and kindred diseases, Rerortex—Is there in your opinion any need fora change in the way the Health Department is at present Decidedly thére is; the present sys- tem isa humbug; with few exceptions the present ofliviais aro entirely ignorant of all mattera relative to health and sanitary science. The Board have plenty of power and all the law they want to improve our present condition, but they do not know anything aboytthe matter, Thore should be one Commissioner of Health responsible to the Mayor and having abso- luto control of the public health. A bureau should be established at the head of which should be placed 9 good sanitary engineer to inspect all sewerasé plans, house drainage, &e., in the city, particularly tho tene- nent houses, In this way and ina short time and by tho strict enforcement of the sanitary code the public health would be matorially improved. To show tho workings 6f the present system, In the bogint of the your an attempt was made by some of tho Com missioners of Health to adopt the plan of emptying tho cessvoula aad wator closets by passing @ long tube Into the vaults and by exhaustion emptying the con- tents and carry all tho stuff into air 1 on wagons; in this way doing away with the and disgusting slop jar plain that certainly productive of disease. All tho scavengers in immediately up in arms, of rather st this plan. They went ina body to the Mayor and some of the Commissioners and threatened all sorts of political vengeance against the party if their work was taken from them. The result of the entire affair was, the scavengers were victorious, This entirely inoffensive ptan was dropped, as its adoption would seriously hurt the demoerati¢ party and vote on election day, tor this department. our sewerage system and house drainage, and the beneficial effect on the public health will soon be seen, Wishing the Doctor good day and thanking him for | his interesting review of the question the reporter left, DR, STEPHEN SMITH, ex-Health Commissioner, was the noxt party applied to for information on the’ subject. Revorr' Or, Smith, what is your opinion as to the present sanitary condition of the city? Dr, Swira-—I think our present sanitary condition is decidediy bad, but some sections of the city are much worse than others, The death rate in the Fifteenth ward 15 but half that in the First and Sixth wards, and is less than two-thirds that of the Eighth, Fourteenth and | Soventeengt: wards. in tho ‘FMcenth ward, occupies a separate dweilin house contains any num Revoxter—-Thon you consider the tenoment house system the printipai source of discaso? Dr. Sait1—Yes, the returns of the Health Depart- mont show that from 60 to 70 per eent of the total inor- tality is in tenement houses, and that the highest mor & gonoral rule, cach fami tality is in those containing the largest number of | families. Ono-third of tho mortality is caused by dis- eases origina Dor aggra contagion, zymotic diveaso: Hi These facts prove that in certain sections of the city, Whore the people live in their own dwellings, tho publ asthat ofa country town. where the peo} ealth ts a3 good In certain other seetiona, are massed togethor, the mortality 13 $ it should be. yhat are the principal sources of disease In the poorer class of dwollings ? Dr, Swrit—It we exclude street filth, imperfoot pavements and defective sewers, we flnd within the house conditions which create all’ tho elements of un- healthtulnesa, First—Thero is no ventilation maintained, the house | is a sealed box. Second—The house drains are so imperfect that they serve as conduits for tho distribution of deadly sewer | gases to every room, Tiird—One hundred persons living in a tightly closod | house, story above story, soon infect the air by excretions mal po sons ‘ourth he unhealthy habits of the poor lead to the saturation of clothing, furniture, walis, floors, &e., with animal avd organic matters dangerous to life. Finally—The poor live in such familiar contact that contagious and infectious diseases spread without the slightest hindrance. Faulty a#are our sewers, defective he rom their bodes with the most fatal ani- As are our methods of street paving and the removal of | filth, and extensive as are or sources for the produc- tion and propagation of malaria, these sources of un- healthfulness are of small amount compared with those whieh are generated in the houses of the poor. Rkrorrsr—To what extent can or tended to the present condition of the te Dr. Synti-~These evils cau to a large extont be reme- died and in all cases mitigated by Intelligent and persist- ent oiforts of the sanitary wuthorities, In the frst placo, house drains can be so constructed that neither sewer gases nor gases from the house filth enter dwel+ Tings. Competent sanitary engineers should visit every tenement house in the city, and where such provision is not already secured, the sary change should bo made under their supervision, A sy'stem ol ventilation 1n be devised which will be self-regulating and which i eeare change of the entire alr of any dwolling ery hour. Sanitary architects should be empowered by personal supervision to carry out this reform in every tenciwent house, The people should not be permitted to over. crowd their dwellings. Only @ certain number of human beings can safely live in a givon number of square yards of surface area and in a given number of cubte feot ot air spaco, This limit should be fixed and rigidly enforced. There should be a system of house to houso Inspec. tion among the poor by competent women, who should by personal advice, instruction and aid, securo a thor ough house cleaning at nd reform the methods of housekeeping and hiidrea, Revonten—What i8 your opinion of tho present sys- tom adopted by the Roard of Hoalth ? Dr, Switu-—Hoards of Health are generally too inod ical in their organization, and hence expensive, The general inapection of nulsances shoul be tnacde by the sanitary police. Ifthis was done the number al officers in the employ of the Board cou duced and the physicians relie . work of inspecting com'non nuisances. ‘They could de- voto their timo to the most important of all studies— the causes of sickuess and death--which require mod. ical knowledgo for thoir di and appreciation. No branch of 'y work is 80 aaary to the suc of health lawe as that which will nl as yet 8 CAUSOR ch give us exceasive mortality ra om certain Th ical oloment of a Board ot Health eqnired to perform only professional 1 in epginenris rture and thorough ets in exist siounl sof constr i tipan to Mato his views tant question of our sanitary condition PROFESSOR ALONZO CLARK, who, in answor to inquirtes on the subject, slated ag follows: t perience malaria hes been very prov: along the lino of the Fourth avenue improvoment, a L have been informod by parties employed on this work that the gorkmon sudvied a greet deal from lovermit- tight vessels | 1 ama drm believer of one-man power | Drain the swamp lands, improve | This 1s expialned by the fact that | In the other wards each | of families, from three up | tent fover, This was also the cage with people livin; along tho ling, Another considerable source’ of mi : rial poison is tho undratned lands in the upper portion of fo elty, PORTER—Professo st the Ocak bent r, what is the sanitary condition Professor CLARK—TI have boen formed that visiting the Park at night, particularly sailing on the lakes, has produced several cases of intermittent fover. This being the case, these ponds tiv Heol ne 0 ison and lakes must be produc ‘evoRTER—What effect has our the public health? sisi rofossor CLakK—Tbere can bo no doubt but that » great doal of the typhoid fever and kindred affections, iphtheria, &c., is caused in this way. These low form? of disease are also caused vy tho overcrowding of the tenement houses. RevontsR—What measures are necessary to secure a benetictal change in our present sanitary condition and | to remove all sources of malarial poisoning, Professor CLank—In the first piace a botter system of sowerage is necessary. ‘The waste lands in the uppes portion of tl city shou!d be first diked and drained, and then filled in, By dumping refuse matter and stree} cleaning on land saturated with water, you but increase the danger to the public health. In connection witk these improvements if overcrowding tenoment houses is prevented the sanitary condition of the city will w much improved. PROFESSOR ALFRED LOOMIS, of tho University Modical College, was found at Bellevua and oxpressed himse:{ willing to answer ali inquiries. RevoxteR—Doctor, what is your opinion as ‘to the Statement that malaria is the principal cause of our high doath rate? Doctor Loomia—I consider that tho opinion is por- fectly correct, there can be no doubt that malaria trouble onters into early every form of the disoase now —— in the city. Inever remember a time since have practised bere that we have had €0 much sick- ness dependent on malarial influences, Formerly @ case of intermittent fever was Lo a certain oxtent rare, but at the present time diseases that have been hitherto looked upon as not very dangerous, have become very fatal, owing to the poisonous effects of this miasm. Ruronrex—In what seeiions of the city do you find malarial diseuses chiefly provall ? Dr, Loomis—In my private practice I find disensce dependent on this trouble in every part of tho city, bub particularly on the line of Fourth avenue, ‘Tho class of | diseases prevailing in this city has entirely changed within the past ten years. Diptheria is dependent ov our dofective sewerage, and wntil a complete change 12 mado in our ontire healti system, and tho necossary remedies applied, we will continue iu our present un healthy state. : tom ou DR. FRANK H, HAMILTON, of Bellevue Hospital, was tho next person to whom application was made for information on vhe subjec! and the following are his view: Among the reasons which may be given why Now York is less healthy than other ctties of equal size arg the following:—First, New York is uot only a large ant overcrowded city and a commercial city, but it is a new city. Ibis not paved thoroughly, its sewers, gas piper and water pipes are not perfected, but they are being constantly disturbed exposing’ the underlying soil which is tilled with decaying vogetablo niaticrs, ‘The cobble and rotten wooden pavements are receptacles for dirt, and itis impossible to keep them clean. Sec ond, a large proportion of the population are emigrant and of a class who do not know what cleanlinoss means, Third, this is an gmainently democratic country, 1 which the votce of the people is law, and where if the people want dirt they must be permittod to have it, «Whoever deprives them of this privilege by onforciny sanitary ordivances must expect to lose their votes, In short it is not to be expected that Now York wik for years to come be as bealthy ag older cities and a ties in which laws can bo more vigorously enforcod, ‘The people will have to be taught first by pestilence perhaps. ; RevortTRR—Doctor, what is the beat means of enfore, { tng the sanitary laws—by the prosent system or a on’ man power? Dr. Hami.rox—I believe oae intelligent medical man, aman of good common senso and a stiff back and whe has no favors to ask, woulil do moro to give us a cloap and healthy city than a doven men with divided re- sponsibility. Revorter—Doctor, what is tho cause of the preva- lence of diphtheria? 2 Dr. Hamivrox—All I know about it is that it comer with dirt and foul odors, and torget rid of it wo mus? remove these. After a considerable hunt PROFESSOR JAMES R, WOOD fas found, and, in answer to: inquiries, stated that although he was deeply interested in sanitary mattort still, without examining the subject carefully be woul¢ prefer not to give a full opinion onthe subject. Revorten—To what extont does mtlarial and mt asmatic trouble exist ? Professor Woov—TI believe that a great amount of our present bad condition, as regards public health, tr caused by defective drainaya, and in the upper partior of the city the swamp land increases the bad sanitary condition by producing an immenso amount eC mala rial poison. Another great source of disease {3 the condition of the tenement houses. It is_adisgrace t¢ any city, and the owners should bo held and severely punished. The emanations from defective sewerage is an immense source of disease, and. until this sys | tem of dramage is thoroughly remedied, amd the swamp lands in the upper portion of the city eMsctivels drained, the city will remain in its present anbealthy condition. Wishing the Professor good day, search. wos mad r i DR, LEWIS A. SAYRE, who was found at bis office. 2 RuvowrER—Dr, Sayre, C haye-callod upon: yon to ga your views ag tothe present coudition of the publ’ hoalth. Dr, SavRe—My views on this question arethe same now as when I was Resident Physician to-tho-city, ane | aro the same ag [ stated in my reports on this subject ) The present unhealthy condition of the city is nearly | entirely due to the wretched and defcotive system o | drainage and the choking up of all: the naweral water Without giving free vent for tho escape of ac cumulated waters. By tho present system constaw saturation of the soil is allowed and. kept up—overy pipe that is laid and sewer trench mado: allows tho os capo of malarial po gon, Revorrer—What are your viows:regarding the pres cnt condition of the swatup landa im the wpper portio | of the city? | Dr. Savke—It would be much better for tho health of the city, both present and future, if ihe officials lof this place alono or did the work properly. The presen’ | plan of filing in these wet lands 1% but forming frost sources of pestilence and disease, Every dram that ¢ opened, every pipe that 1s laid in that seetion in afte times Will cause disease and death by permitting thy | escape of deadly gases, the result of animal and vegeta | blo decomposition. Tue proper plan for this distriet is to dry tho land: | frst by dyking them in from the tide and the construc. | tron of proper drains. When this is accomplished th. lands can be filled in without any danger to the publi | health, | — Revorrer—What is your opiniom as to the tenomen! house question ? Dr, Savre—My views on this question are contained in my report of 1865, and time has only confirmed the truth of them. They are as follows:—At present most of the tenement houses im this city are absolutely un- fit for occupation, and they may bo divided into three classes—First, those which, by astight modification and improvement in ventilation, ean be made habitable second, those that by reconstrition and a limited number of tenants can be ‘made healthful, and third, those which, by ny _ possibility, could be made so except by destruction and rebuilding. As thoy are now they aro pestholes that breed typhoid | and typhus fovers, not onig destroying the inhabitanty within their walls, but becoming the sources of its propagation to other and more respectable parts of the | cours: | eity. | RuporteR—What chaugos aro necessary to izaprove the public health 2 Dr. Savee—Wo must have a complete and thorough change im our sewerage system. Tho drainage of our tevicinent houses, in fact, all classes of dwellings, myst be altered and improved. The drainage of our swat lands mast bo accomplished. No other health board inthe world has more power or authority than that charged with the public health of this city. Itis no fault of the laws, but simply in carrying tham out. DK, RRSKINK MASON was callod on in relation to this subject, and stated that | in his practicw ho found malarial disordars from the best and richost dwollings down to the toxement house, ‘That thoro was np questiou but that thy present sani- | tary condition of tho city was very bad. Our entire 5 | systom of sanitary engincering and administration of | Wealth matters was wrong, and until a complete change | was made wo could expect but litle improyeme.+ in | the public health. | PROFESSOR JOUN C. DeavER, of the New York University, was called On, and stated that as to the actual sanitary conslition of the aity he | could give no opinion, bat that a enange in tho prosent sanitary system would undoubtedly be beneficial, Tho Professor considered that one respousible man at the | head of the Health Department could do more effective work, and give better value for the money spont, than | {s accomplished under the present system. A number of other medical gentlemen were visitod in relation to this question, butdeciined to givo their views on the subject, A study of the foregoing statements establishes tho fact of the presence of malaria and miasmatic poison in this city and its destructive inflaeneo on the health of tho peoplo, notwithstanding tho efforts of our health omicials to deny the existence of this groat source of dise Woaiso find that the prosent unhealthy con- dition of tho city is dependent on threo great sources for the production of diseaso, First, tho large area of undrainod swamp lands in the upper portion of the city; second, our prosent defective and incomplete sys- tein of street and Louse sewerage; and, third, the over- crowding of the poorer classes of the’ community and consequent unhealthy and disease-producing condition of tho feneiment dwellings. An examination of the viows of these gentlemen proves that where these three | conditions fur the production of contagion are absent * the sanitary condition of the district aud condition of public health 1 good, and that in order to restore thig city toa proper sanitary condition these three great sotrecs of on and epideraie diseasa must be suppressed or removed, No othor Heaith Board in tha Mtates has more power or jaw at ita bs ry out these remedial moasures and neges. sary improvements. The unhealthy condition of the city is not dug to want of the nocessary power to remedy these evils, but either official neglect or lack of ability, Tho present system of hunting after dead cats and dogr'and passing over grave and consiont sources of disoase, with merely a mention of their oxigtenss im i It bo changed, and If i improve our san ange is made in the sation of girs the better for tho people. ly reaponsibility meaus, im a great many ine stancas, very Mite work, Aud Uh's applies with con. siderable force to our prese: wuitary system, and the | Suggestions of sowe of the medical gontiomen wise views we publish on this sulject, that the Health Da. { partment be placed undor responsible bead, with ' power to employ a competent force of physicians, givoora and architects, is, considering (ie present mans agement of health matters. worth of attentive cua? wideratione ooner f ada