EDITOR'S TABLE.

SANITARIAN, SEPTEMBER NUMBER, 1897.

ALL correspondence and exchanges and all publications for review should be addressed to the Editor, DR. A. N. BELL, Brooklyn, N. Y.

BATHS UNDER THE BRIDGE ARCHES.

Brooklyn's Civil Authorities have been singularly negligent of the legislative enactment of April 19, 1895, requiring the establishment of Free Public Baths, and there seems to be no power behind the law to effect its enforcement. In default of the execution of this mandate of the State, Vice President Henriques of the Bridge Trustees, suggests the utilization of the Archways of the Brooklyn Bridge terminals for Free Public Baths. "The property is now absolutely going to waste," he says, "and the bridge has really no use for it that could not be dispensed with. There has been some talk of a public market there, but that is all it has amounted to, and I think the City of Brooklyn could well afford to erect public baths on the property. I do not mean that the city should use all of the property for free baths. One could be built first and then if that is a success others could follow. A pipe could be conected with the East River and nice fresh salt water might be used in the baths and taken when the tide is high. We have plenty of power that could be utilized for that purpose, and free baths, especially in the summer time, are the best kind of charity. It would not cost a great deal of money to erect a bath and I think one would be more appreciated and would even be a better use for the property than a public market."

Yet-but by no means to detract force from Mr. Henrique's suggestion-it is difficult to conceive anything of which the people of Brooklyn are in greater need than a clean public market-or rather markets, for like public baths, they should be sufficiently numerous and accessible to serve the public welfare. Nor is there anything, as viewed by the SANITARIAN, to which the people are so purblind as they are to the

FILTHY DUST AND DIRT

with which the fruit and vegetables are covered that are daily served to them. Nevertheless, throughout the city, the sidewalks

of the streets, and particularly of those streets which are the most traveled and the most dusty, are used for the display of fruits and vegetables of all sorts, regardless of the dust and dirt from what

ever source.

That food thus contaminated is a fruitful source of sickness is beyond question to any intelligent observer. Yet, like the filthy horse-stables and vaults and the manner of disposing of the manure-with the odor of which the whole atmosphere of the city is now tainted-this means of propagating disease appears to be the special privilege of the venders, between whom and the Health Department there seems to be a bond of sympathy based upon reciprocal ignorance and inattention respectively. Not the least, by any means, of the benefits anticipated by the consolidation of Brooklyn with New York, is the extension and efficiency of the sanitary service in regard to these and many other nuisances which have been assiduously cultivated in Brooklyn because of the chronic purblindness and scentlessness with which the health authorities are afflicted.

Closely allied to Mr. Henrique's suggestion for salt water baths, and with particular reference to more effectually laying the dust, since it appears to be the inalienable right of grocers and others to use the sidewalks for the display of their wares, and considering the scarcity of fresh water and the needful means of its conservation, why not also introduce Salt Water Street Sprinkling? Even as a means of public economy under existing circumstances it appears to the SANITARIAN commendable. But it has other commendable qualities besides. Salt water lays the dust far more effectually than does fresh water, and it does not dry up so quickly. The salt which would be deposited by its use during the day would condense moisture during the night, and in the early morning the streets would probably be as moist as though they had had a slight sprinkling, insomuch as to prevent the dust raising by the wind or the street sweepers before the sprinkling carts are out.

Moreover, it could and should be freely used to flush the sewers, for which purpose it is infinitely superior to fresh water on account of its antiseptic and deodorant properties.

THE MEDICAL INSPECTION of the Public and Parochial Schools of New York City, under the direction of the Health Department, as summed up by Dr. Blauvelt, Chief of the Division, for the quarter ended June 30, gives the result as follows:

The total number of pupils examined was 63,812, and the total number excluded 4,183.

Among those excluded were found to be 51 true cases of measles, 91 of diphtheria, 20 of scarlet fever, II of croup, 26 of whooping cough, 117 of mumps, 702 of contagious eye diseases, 2,735 parasitic diseases of the head and body, 93 of chickenpox, and 175 skin diseases.

The total daily average attendance for all the schools during the three months and three days was 149,520. The number of visits made to the schools by the corps of Inspectors was 14,346, and the number of schools visited daily was 217.

The report shows that, in the primary department of grammar schools 36,012 children were examined, and 2,249 excluded.

In the primary schools 13,170 were examined, and 1,021 were excluded.

In the parochial schools 9,774 were examined and 340 excluded, In the American Female Guardian Society 2,131 were examined and 145 excluded.

In the Children's Aid Society 2,725 were examined and 428 excluded.

This report shows beyond question the importance of this bureau in its protective value to the public in general and to school children in particular.

It shows how easily the contagious diseases of children may be and are disseminated, and how indifferent parents and guardians are to the protection of their own children or others from infectious and contagious diseases in school or at home.

It is a good beginning and will doubtless lead to even more exact and far-reaching methods. The sytem thus far meets with the approbation of all school teachers, and such parents and guardians as take an interest in the health of their children.

Drs. Charles S. Bull, Henry D. Noyes and A. Grunig, have been appointed expert oculists for the examination of public school chil

dren.

PLAYGROUNDS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.-At the last meeting of the Board of Education for the season, held July 14th, the report of the Mayor's Commission on Small Parks was presented. After caliing attention to the great importance of the work for which it was appointed, the report stated that in the opinion of the committee one of the most practical ways of obtaining playgrounds for

children in the congested tenement districts of the city was to secure the co-operation of the board in throwing open for public playgrounds the grounds around schoolhouses, and that there were seventeen schoolhouses in the district referred to with grounds available for the purpose. In planning new schools the board was asked to select sites with reference to the suggestion made by the committee. It was also suggested that roof-gardens on the schoolbuildings might help to solve the difficult question of providing the tenement districts with sufficient breathing-places, than which nothing was more important for health and character of the children.

THE SEATING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.-At this same meeting of the Board of Education the seating capacity of school-rooms was limited by the adoption of an amendment to the by-laws providing that in all buildings hereafter erected, primary rooms shall seat only fifty pupils each, and grammar grades only forty pupils; moreover, that in the primary rooms there shall be at least ten square feet of floor space for each pupil, and in the grammar grades, at least twelve square feet.

APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEYS FOR STATE LUNATIC HOSPITALS. -Up to the present time all the legal work in connection with the New York State Hospitals for the Insane has been carried on by the Attorney-General's Department, but at the last session of the Legislature a bill was passed providing for the appointment of a special attorney for each hospital in the State, at an annual salary of $1,200; and something of a scandal has now been created by the announcement that the State Commission in Lunacy in making their new appointments have selected members of the Legislature who were chiefly instrumental in securing the passage of the bill.

Pure Milk foR BABIES.-The Rochester Health Department has very praiseworthily adopted a plan for the supply of pure milk to babies, similar to that of the philanthropist, Nathan Strauss, of New York, who maintains milk depots where the milk is prepared with particular reference to the needs of the babes, and where it is given to the poor. The Health Department follows the plan as far as preparing the food is concerned, and secured a large store which is used as a hygienic milk depot. While nothing is given away, the charges are only about what it costs the department to furnish the milk-two cents a pint. It is not intended to encourage pauperism, and this slight cost, it is thought, will bring the baby food within the reach of all.

The milk is supplied by a farmer at Rush, from cows that are daily curried and brushed or groomed like horses, and the udders washed daily in soap and water. The cows are kept out at pasture and have pure water to drink. They are inspected weekly by the Health Department, and the milk standardized daily by the chemist in the milk department of the health office. He also makes a daily bacteriologcal examination. The milk is put in thoroughly cleansed and sterilized bottles, and made as nearly like mother's milk as possible, by adding a certain percentage of sugar, cream and water. The bottles are securely corked and sealed, and the only things left for the mothers to look after is the rubber nipples of the nursing bottles.

The trustees of the City Hospital, through the efforts of Miss Palmer, have donated the services of a trained nurse who attends at the depot all the morning, and gives any information to those who wish it on the proper care of the babies. She takes the names of people who get milk there, and if they wish it, she calls at their homes and instructs them on how to treat the infants and the proper times to feed them. There are scales at the depot where the babies can be weighed, or they can be weighed at home, and the necessary amount of daily food determined from the weight. The depot is fitted up with a gas stove, counters, etc. Hygienic beds are supplied at small cost, and mothers are taught the manner of making them for themselves of excelsior and cheese cloth. It is purposed to make it an educational institution entirely, and it is intended as much for people of means, as for the poor, and people from any part of the city may secure milk for their babies there; indeed the demand for the milk thus supplied is far from being limited to the poorer classes. It includes some of the best families of the city, and from such a distance, that a second depot has already been rendered necessary.

A little pamphlet has been published in four different languages, English, German, Italian and Hebrew telling "How to Take Care of Babies," and these are distributed free among the people who patronize the depot. In large letters on the outside cover of this book is the important advice: "Give the baby water," and "Don't feed bannnas, candy, sausage, pop-corn, crackers or anything but milk and water."

Among other things it says: Bathe the baby twice a day in a tub during the hot weather, keep it in a room with plenty of fresh air, have very little clothing on it, and do not handle it unnecessar