away.

old cessvaults taken The works have been erected at a very heavy cost, but it is believed by us that they have solved the question of an outlet for the sewage which shall be in accord both with the laws of taste and health. Our maps are so constructed that all under-ground work, all pipes and the contour of surface, is easily understood and determined. These sewers comprehend the more populated parts of the Grove, and are being extended with the extension of the population.

A number of plans are being considered by which the entrance of sewage above the lake can be prevented, and also by which the lake can be more effectually cleansed, but none have as yet been adopted.

Many of the water-closets are connected with the sewers, and it is the policy of the Association to have them all connected at as early a day as may be found possible.

The

A plan has been devised, and partly carried out during the past year, to inspect the sanitary condition of every house in the Grove. It is intended to complete the plan during the coming season. hotels, with a very few exceptions, have all been inspected from garret to cellar, with all the surroundings, by the Secretary personally, and reports kept in a book of minutes. All private houses, where there has been any suspicion or complaint, have been officially inspected by the same officer, and where any offensive or unhealthy condition has been found to exist, the evil has been remedied at once, and, in the owner's absence, charged to the property. In almost every case the property owners have been found to be anxious to coöperate with the Board of Health.

Garbage is collected every day during the warm season, and two to three times during the week in the winter, from tight barrels, and carried away in tight wagons to a distance of four miles and buried, at a contract cost of $1,200. The grounds are carefully raked every day and the refuse carted away.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP.

Report from GEO. W. BROWN, M.D. There is nothing of special interest to report this year, as a "city Board of Health" has been organized since our last report, and most of the sanitary work has been within the city limits.

We are still well organized, however, and have at times found work to do. Since our last report we have adopted a sanitary code similar to the one governing the city of Trenton.

SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP. Report from JOHN S. THROCKMORTON. One sewer, extending from Mechanic street, Red Bank, to the river, twelve-inch pipe. Cesspools built now are all cemented; the old ones are emptied with steam force-pump into tight barrels and carted

away:

No prevalent disease. Some malaria in a few localities.

The Board of Red Bank inspect the slaughter-houses, and have had them kept in order to the best of their abtlity. Still some complaints arise, which are immediately attended to.

UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

Report from H. G. NORTON, M.D.

We would report Cat-tail brook as opened, and an extensive meadow drained, under the direction of Mr. Geo. Vanderbeck, Assessor. After draining the lowlands around Sharon, which were much of the time overflowed by this brook, much of the sickness in the vicinity disappeared as by magic, especially diphtheria and malaria, which had been rife during the early spring and preceding winter.

There are, in our township, several cesspools with open bottoms, bricked sides, which are irregularly cleaned, generally not until they become full of offensive matter.

Three years ago malaria became very prevalent across our southern line in Ocean county, in a section of pine country always, until then, free from anything like malaria; not until the present fall and summer has it seemed to spread from its origin-in and about Prospertown-while, at this writing, chills is the almost universal complaint in the southern portion of the township.

This summer, disease has shown itself among the hogs; wherever it has appeared the farmers have lost all, or nearly all, of their hogs and pigs. Six farmers have been heavy losers, having lost their entire lot of hogs. As our township produces probably the heaviest pork yield of any in the State, the disease, as it has appeared among us, causes much apprehension, and deserves careful study.

This fall has been characterized by a more than usual amount of typhoid fever, but it seems extremely hard to convince people that there is any connection between poor drainage, cesspools and shallow wells and the fever.

There was an extensive epidemic of measles last spring, but not one case terminated fatally.

MORRISTOWN.

MORRIS COUNTY.

Report from C. F. AXTELL.

The water-supply of Morristown is excellent, pure spring-water, furnished by the Morris Aqueduct Company. The supply is not only pure and good, but believed to be adequate.

The natural drainage of Morristown is fairly good, but we need now a system of sewerage. The cesspool business ought to go forever. Refuse is deposited on a public dumping ground in trenches, and these covered with fresh earth.

There are no slaughter houses or abattoirs in the city limits.

There is no regular quarantine or care over contagious diseases, except as necessity demands. If aggravated cases appear, they are isolated as far as possible from outside communication, under the direction of the Board of Health and City Physician.

MT. OLIVE TOWNSHIP.

Report from JOHN D. BUDD.

The health of the township has been fair, and, we think, an improvement on former years. Those who were affected, by cleaning their wells properly have improved the conditions of their families and surroundings.

We are decidedly against any further centralizing of power in law to county physicians; as aside from the inconveniences and costs of calling on him as to the cause of sudden death, it is unjust to local physicians and acting coroners, who, as a general thing, are far better posted in their duties as to the cause of death than any doctor appointed Ly any Board of Freeholders or otherwise, and we shall strenuously use our influence politically, as representatives of both the great political parties, against county centralization of the powers of the Board of Health. We are willing to receive the authority of the State Board, but claim our own township rights.

ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP.

Report from ELIAS B. MOTT. Very few changes, affecting the sanitary condition of our township, have occurred since our last report, October, 1880.

Much might be said in regard to our supply of water for drinking and cooking purposes. It is very much to be regretted that no adequate provision has been made for obtaining an analysis of the water

in some parts of our township, obtained from wells, and which I believe to be unhealthful. This would necessitate a knowledge of the structure of the soil, with its effect on the purity or impurity of the water. A thorough knowledge of this subject in all its relations to health would, I believe, cause the abandonment of some of the present sources of supply, and cause other means to be adopted for its obtainment. Although a hilly country, with many fine natural springs and consequent streams of clear water, the greater number of our population depend almost entirely on wells and cisterns for supply. In some parts of the township the wells contain an undiminished supply of pure water throughout the year, regardless of climatic changes. In other parts both the quantity and quality change with the change of seasons, and in some instances are unfit for use during the latter part of the summer months. This is true as regards some parts of the village of Rockaway, and also some of the mining villages. As regards the mining villages, the proximity of mines, many of which are far deeper than the wells, may explain one of the causes; in the other case, perhaps, the geological structure of the earth, or not being sunk to a proper depth, may explain the cause. Quicksand underlies a portion of the surface in our village (Rockaway), rendering it a very difficult feat to obtain water by means of wells. A resort to cisterns is the result. These are constructed in the usual manner, and many of them contain filters, usually a cemented brick partition through which the water must filter. Many are provided with turnoffs, to prevent the first rain-fall from carrying impurities, deposited on the roof, into the cisterns.

But many others are not in good condition, some are built under the houses and the air completely excluded, seldom cleaned, and no means to prevent roof-washings from being deposited into the cisterns. A few have iron pipes. Lead is in general use.

The natural drainage is good, but in some instances artificial drainage is absolutely necessary to prevent disease. This is the case at Mount Hope. On each side of the ridge, containing the ore, is a swamp. The people residing in the vicinity of this swampy land had been afflicted with malaria in its many forms for several years. The present superintendent, Mr. Matson Williams, has caused these swamps to be drained, and malaria is now no more prevalent than elsewhere. Other instances of the beneficial effects of artificial drainage could be mentioned, but still more instances where benefit would accrue from having it done.

There is probably not a brook or stream in the township used to carry off sewage. Cesspools and out-of-doors water-closets are not usually planned and arranged with a due regard for healthfulness. There is not, probably, a cemented cesspool in the township. A trap, inserted somewhere between the kitchen sink and the cesspool, is usually considered a perfect safeguard against any noxious gases or odors arising from this depository of nastiness.

The refuse and excreta from stables, in the villages, are readily disposed of to neighboring farmers, but not so with contents of privy vaults, which remain (in some instances) uncleaned for years. In many instances the closet is removed to a new vault, and the old one covered with earth, as the easiest method of disposing of the matter.

OCEAN COUNTY.

EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP. Report from WM. P. HAYWOOD. Nothing favorable. School houses in a tumble-down condition, and too small and badly warmed and ventilated for cow-houses; too small for the children in attendance. Trustees mostly have no children, and do not urge that their neighbors' children get an education.

LACEY TOWNSHIP.

Report from MARCUS KENYON, M.D. No contagious diseases, but five cases of typhoid fever; the customary precautions taken to prevent spreading. Vaccination not well kept up.

PASSAIC CITY.

PASSAIC COUNTY.

Report from F. H. RICE, M.D.

The open-bottom cesspools are in use, and usually emptied by pump. We have had less malaria this year than ever before.

PATERSON.

POMPTON TOWNSHIP.

See page 172.

Report from CLARK W. MILLS.

Drainage and sewerage is of the most primitive kind. There are many small swamps whose outlets are natural, which cause more or less malaria in their immediate vicinity.