A word as to the heating of the mansion may not be out of place. This is effected to the entire satisfaction of its occupants, in the most complete manner, by the appliances of the Harrisburg Steam Heating and Power Company. The steam is generated at the company's works and carried in iron pipes encased in thick wooden conduits, under the streets of the city to the public buildings, private residences and manufactories. There are seventy-three radiators in the cellars. These are enclosed in double wooden chambers, into which fresh air is introduced from out of doors. This air becomes rapidly heated, and then passes up to be distributed throughout the house. No more perfect or heathful system of heating a large house in our severe climate could be imagined. Harrisburg is to be congratulated in having fore stalled most large cities in the DRAINAGE SYSTEM, EXECUTIVE MANSION, HARRISBURG, PA. country in this important advance in one of the essential arts of life. The lighting is done by electricity, under the auspices of the Harrisburg Edison Incandescent Electric Light Company, perhaps the most successful company of the kind in the United States. Two of the great problems of housekeeping are here thus most sat isfactory solved. So far as the house itself is concerned, therefore, there is every reason to congratulate our worthy chief executive on having a home void of offence. There still remains, however, the condition of the river bank to constitute a menace to the health of all whose residences face it or are in close proximity to it. For, while the drainage of this particular house is carried out to a point in the river, whence the water can always be relied upon to remove it, and in a perfectly secure airtight conductor, the same cannot be said of that of all, or, it is feared, of most, of the houses which use the river as a sewer. Many of the drain pipes are broken and leaking. Others do not continue sufficiently far into the river. Hence the bank is constantly kept soaked with sewage. One of the first complaints received by the Board was of the dumping of night soil into the river by the cart load, directly in front of some of the finest residences on this beautiful street. The natural advantages of this side are un surpassed. The views, whether looking up to the towering and rug ged ramparts of the gap, across to the charming islands and the wooded slopes of Cumberland, or down through the labyrinth of bridges to the softened outlines of the foot-hills, are beyond description beautiful. "Every prospect pleases and only man is vile." The crying need of the city is a grand trunk, intercepting sewer which shall carry the filth which its seventeen public sewers and numerous private drains are pouring out immediately in its face to a point far below the town and discharge it a long distance out under water where it shall be innocuous. It is a question whether the State does not owe it to itself and to its public servants, who are forced to make Harrisburg their residence, to unite with the municipal authorities in making this important improvement. This done, a comparatively small outlay would convert the shores, which are now simply an ash and garbage dump, offensive to more than one sense, into a public garden of such entrancing beauty that lovers of the picturesque would come from all parts of the Union to enjoy it, and its blooms would exhale health where now rises the miasm of disease. Plantations of the various members of the sunflower family, judiciously disposed, would add brilliancy to the scene while they interposed an obstacle to the stealthy approach of the natural malarial vapors which still cling to the stream at certain seasons. If Harrisburg is to continue to be the capital of the State, and there are many good and sufficient reasons why it should so continue, some such step is inevitable in the not distant future. II. REPORT OF AN INSPECTION AT THE NORRISTOWN INSANE ASYLUM. November 25, 1887. Dr. BENJAMIN LEE, Secretary and Executive Officer State Board of Health: DEAR SIR: In accordance with your instructions on November 16, I went to the Insane Asylum at Norristown and made a thorough investigation of the entire place, in the endeavor to determine the cause of the prevalence of fever in that institution. I was informed by the superintendent that there had been but two cases in the male department, the balance, thirty in number, having occurred in the department for females. The two males recovered from the disease, but have both since died of other diseases. Both were of a very mild type. One occurred in July and the other in October. The first case in the female department occurred August 3d. This patient was removed to her home and and died on the 10th. The next was on the 6th and died from certain complications. The cases now occurred on the 9th, 20th, 23d, 25th, 27th, 28th, 29th, September 1st. 2d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, two on 14th, 21st, 26th, October 4th, two, 9th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 20th, November 14th. Two attendants were taken sick September 3d and 4th. One additional case died evidently from epileptic convulsions. Almost every case was of a mild form, and both cases that died were only recognized as real typhoid by the evidences in the autopsy. The epidemic seemed to have ceased. Up to this writing I have learned of no additional cases. The authorities of the institution were early on the alert to learn the cause of the disease. Of course, as in the vast majority of insane people, the cases attacked were already in an enfeebled condition, requiring but little to induce the disease. The water, ice and milk used by those who were subjects of the fever were each examined by competent authorities and all these articles were pronounced to be free from any cause of disease. By the most careful examination we are reduced to two possible factors for the causation of the fever. First, the evil effects of overcrowding acting upon people already of enfeebled system; second, contamination of the air by the reservoir for the separation of the solid from fluid portions of the excreta. The dormitories contain 14,580 cubic feet, and usually are occupied by twenty-two patients nightly; deducting the usual allowance for space occupied by patient, bed and bedding, leaves about 650 cubic feet of air for each. The single rooms contain 1,188 cubic feet, with frequently two patients in a room. Added to this, the air of the corridors is vitiated by 15 to 30 patients sleeping in them at night. These were only intended to be occupied in the daytime. When we reflect upon the fact that the lowest amount given by any authority as necessary is much in excess of this, we are compelled to regard the excessive number of patients in each dormitory a prominent factor in lowering the standard of health and predisposing these already enfeebled people to attacks of disease from slighter causes than usually are needed. By the accompanying map will be seen the location of the above mentioned reservoir. This is at all times open, and is about two hundred feet from the windows of the wards of the female department. The excreta from all the wards, etc., runs directly to this "flush tank," as it is called, to allow the solid matters to settle, while the fluid parts run off, and act to fertilize the ground over which they flow as occasion may demand. No other portion of the sewage sys tem could be found in any way objectionable, and it is regarded as nearly perfect as may be. No way was found by which the drinking water could have been contaminated from leakage. That this tank was most likely to have been the cause by direct contamination of the air drank in by the inmates is shown by the following facts: With the exception of but two cases, all those suffering from fever were in the wards (vide plan) directly exposed. In proof of this I submit also brief report from Dr. Bennett, showing location of cases. Again with a belief that this "flush tank" might have been the spark which started the fire, the authorities opened the pipe by which to direct the flow of sewage away from the tank and permit it to flow through the discharge pipe to the irrigation field. Since this time no new cases have occurred. In conclusion, I deem it wise for the authorities in charge to be extremely guarded in again using this "flush tank," and to do all in their power to bring to the notice of those empowered to order cases into this institution, the already crowded condition of their wards. Respectfully submitted. WM. В. ATKINSON, (a.) Communication from Dr. R. H. Chase, Resident Physician, State Hospital for the Insane. BENJAMIN LEE, M. D., NORRISTOWN, PA. November 14, 1887. Secretary State Board of Health: DEAR DOCTOR: Yours of the 11th instant respecting the disposition of the discharge of typhoid fever patients is received. You can assure all those interested that the excreta of these cases under my care are treated with solution corrosive sublimate and buried away from any source of contamination. As the epidemic has been almost entirely confined to the women's department I have referred your letter to Dr. Bennett. Yours respectfully, R. H. CHASE, Resident Physician. (b.) Communication from Dr. Alice Bennett, Resident Physician, State Hospital for the Insane. Dr. BENJAMIN LEE, NORRISTOWN, PA., November 13, 1887. Secretary State Board of Health: DEAR DOCTOR: We have no case of typhoid fever now; all are convalescent and I hardly think there will be any new cases. It has been a rule strictly carried out that the excretions should be disinfected and buried. All the cases have been under the supervision of one intelligent nurse and I have no fear that the instructions were evaded. Our |