The sanitary condition of the labouring population of New York. With suggestions for its improvement. A discourse (with additions) delivered on the 30th December, 1844, at the Repository of the American Institute / [John H. Griscom].
- Griscom, John H., 1809-1874.
- Date:
- 1845
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The sanitary condition of the labouring population of New York. With suggestions for its improvement. A discourse (with additions) delivered on the 30th December, 1844, at the Repository of the American Institute / [John H. Griscom]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Colonel Haidman, the commanding officer, a spacious and airy building on the south side of Governor’s Island, to which at the date above men¬ tioned, the sick were removed. On the 17th there were three new cases ; on the 18th, two ; on the 19th, none ; on the 20th, two ; on that evening the wind came from the north, the air was coo], and three more sickened, preceded by a chill. These cases were transferred in succession to the hospital on the Island. With the change in the wea¬ ther, which continued comfortably cool, with fresh breezes, the fever gradually disappeared, no new cases occurring after the 24th. I would add that in the course of the voyage, when all on board were healthy, the first Lieutenant, who occupied the forward state room, sickened with symptoms of fever. On searching for the cause, some rotten potatoes were found in a locker adjoining his room, from which it was separated only by a board partition. The state of health in the city was good during that season. None of the men died. I am, sir, yours truly, Richard K. Hoffman. The subject of sewerage is destined to be one, which of necessity must ere long occupy the attention of the people and the government, and upon which an intelligent and judicious officer of health may throw much light. It will, I am satisfied, be found not only the most economical, but the only mode, in which the immense mass of filth daily generated in this large city, can be effectually removed. In some foreign cities, under¬ ground sewerage on a regular uniform plan throughout, the sewers con¬ structed on the most scientific and substantial plans, has been carried out in the completest manner, with the most decidedly beneficial results upon the general health and comfort. We are annually giving proofs of our belief in their necessity, by the construction of single sewers in various places, as they are demanded by circumstances, but it is done without reference to any uniform plan, and it is feared that thus much confusion and great additional expense, will fall upon the treasury when ever it shall be deemed proper to project and carry out over the whole city a complete and uniform system ; and I believe, “ to this complex¬ ion must we come at last.” One thing especially brings this conviction; since the introduction of the Croton, the rain water cisterns being use¬ less, the bottoms of them have in many instances been taken out, and they have been converted into cispools, into which the refuse matter of the houses is thrown. Great trouble is thus saved to families and do¬ mestics, but it needs no prophetic vision to perceive, that an immense mass of offensive material, will thus be soon collected, its decomposi¬ tion polluting the air, in the immediate precincts of our chambers and sitting rooms, and generating an amount of miasmatic effluvia, incalcu¬ lably great and injurious. Discharge all the contents of our sinks and cispools, through sewers into the rivers, and we will avoid two of the most powerful causes of sickness and early death. The great quantity of wrnter from the sky, the hydrants , the un¬ used wells, &c., now accumulating beneath the surface, must find its way into many basements and cellars, rendering them](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30351765_0056.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
