landscapes, but not informed as to the sanitary necessity. This does not at all apply specially to this locality, but is a warning needed not only along the coast, but at many points inland. We have found that the engineer here is intent upon thorough work. The emptying of the sewage into Shark river is not advisable, except under a closely supervised method. Ocean Grove has a local Board desirous of the most thorough sanitary administration; while for a time defective in realizing or enforcing necessary changes, it has done a great deal of excellent service for the two past years. The artesian wells seem to be a suc cess, and the supply of water is abundant. Important repairs have been made at the ocean end of the sewer system. The plan is that of constant discharge into the ocean, arranged at a depth and at a distance under water to prevent any return. Other resorts, such as Asbury Park, which trust to the ocean as the great reservoir, have intermediate close tanks near the shore to receive the fouled liquids from the sewers, and then at night, or at proper intervals, empty into the sea with the outgoing tide. The question, Shall the sewage enter the sea, and, if so, how? is still under trial. It is a relative question. It is surprising to see how the practical answer, thus far, seems to vary along the coast. We know of one point where all garbage and floating material was carried on the beach of an inlet three miles or more from a city. Yet, a severe storm, which washed up the inlet and over its shore, brought down to the sea-beach of the city enough of cut lemons and other floating material to convince observers that at that point it would not do to conduct the foul materials into the sea. At other points, for years the liquids from hotels have gone into the sea without the least ground of complaint. It is found, too, on sounding, measuring, or by other examinations, that while at one point the undertow is always out enough to carry everything away, at other points it is not. The same place changes somewhat in the course of years. With such facts before us, the determination of whether any given place shall send its sewage to the sea, and, if so, whether directly by constant flow, or indirectly by intermittent or flush tank discharge, is a matter of close expert testing and careful local observation. We have had under careful inspection Ocean Grove and Asbury Park, and a few other places. We believe at these two places, and in the case of one hotel at Long Branch, the outflow thus far has been fully successful. As these outlets into the sea are usually tide or water-locked, and as there are other reasons, also, great care should be exercised as to the ventilation of sewers. While water-flushing is valuable as a mechanical motor, and to some extent as a pneumatic process, we need, also, the introduction of flowing currents of air at frequent intervals. Whether this shall be done by alternate openings high in the air, or just at the top of chimneys, or by street openings, is also a varying question. If sewers are well ventilated and are kept clean, and the houses or house connections are in good order, there is no reason, save an aesthetic one, why all sewers should not be built with a continuous open grating. But if sewers do become fouled, of course there will be odors from them. To this Mr. Simon has repliedif so, all the better, since such a warning odor is not likely to harm any one, if accepted as a proper and timely notice served on the proprietors to remedy the evil. Both Ocean Grove and Asbury Park have signal advantage in that the ownership of land is such as to give the association of the former and the chief proprietor of the latter great facility in enforcing the laws, as well as great power of personal advice. In Asbury Park, Mr. Joseph Bradley has, with wise foresight and intelligent appreciation, co-operated with Dr. Henry Mitchell, with the Health Inspector, and with other members of the Health Board, in measures for securing thorough sanitary construction and administration. Local separating methods, ventilation, flushing, etc., have been applied to the sewer system, and where questionable plans have been tried they are watched and abandoned or modified as skill and experience may indicate. The rapid ingress of population and a summer invasion as of an army in fatigue suit, make it necessary to adopt a discipline like the sanitary police of a camp. While no place on the coast requires more of wide-awake, portable and adjustable sanitary service, we believe that it is and will be found equal to the necessity. Long Branch, with all its sanitary delays, shows some marked improvements. While some of the large hotels have still rows of cesspools, they are kept in better condition than formerly. Still it must be claimed that this large and growing constituency has not equaled expectation in its efforts to provide a system of sewerage, which is very much needed. The Board of Health is faithful, and with intelligent oversight will finally convince the people of the policy of more complete sanitary construction. An important conference of shore Health Boards was held in December, at Long Branch, which showed how ready the various Boards are to co-operate in the health care of our sea-side resorts. The series of towns stretching from Long Branch to Sandy Hook are among the most attractive along the coast. Not only is the frontage along the sea capable of great attraction, but such rides as that from Sea Bright to Red Bank, and by the main road to Long Branch, afford a picturesque variety and a beauty of landscape, and of artistic adornment, which gives new charms to all that section. Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright, and several prominent hotels between these, or nearer to Sandy Hook, are but examples of a still widening future population. The Heights of the Navesink, Atlantic Highlands, etc., add to the other an extended and charming view over the New York bay. The sail from New York City, these delightful coast views and sea fronts, and the excellent attraction of the homes and residences will ere long lead to a population of wealth, of influence and of permanency which will add much to the resources of the county and State. The time has already come when 'there should be a full response to plans for wide-extended improvement. A careful survey of the whole section by the Board, convinces us that it is highly politic to protect all this region from any possible nuisances, and so appreciate and protect its health interests as to secure for it that perfection of rural homestead and elegant mansion, for which it is so eminently fitted. But, unfortunately, the Upper Shrewsbury river is itself fast becoming a nuisance. It is so convenient a receptacle for sewage, and is so valued as such by each individual proprietor, that most of such seem incapable of conceiving that just the little that they pour in can do any harm. It is forgotten that the aggregate is large, and that rivers differ greatly as to their capacity of disposing of sewage. Given a river with stony or gravel bottom, of deep water, of rapid current and of wide expanse, and with speedy entrance to the sea, and the water, the air and the sunlight will work wonders in clarification and purification in the distance of a few miles. But substitute in its place a shallow, sluggish, outspread stream, where every steamboat stirs the bottom mud, where the water is just brackish enough to precipitate the sewage in part, and where an abundant growth of some aquatic plant is able to detain within its meshes the organic matter, and you have conditions just the opposite. Indeed, you get not only results from the sewage, but the aquatic growth also undergoes its forced and unnatural changes and becomes a factor in disease. A degraded type of malarial complication often appears with the class of fevers and ailments more directly resulting from household debris, and so there is not only confusion of diagnosis or of treatment, but the system seems unable to cope with the hybrid diversity of attack. It is true that so far but few evil consequences have been felt, although close observers who have been in that section for years, agree in noting a change. We beg to counsel those who have chosen this delightful section that they spoil not their own nests, but with an intelligent appreciation of present and future needs, they enter upon some comprehensive plan for the removal of all sewage and for a general improvement. For this the country might wisely contribute its aid so far as the river is concerned, since its own incomes therefrom would fully repay the expenditure. It may be asked whether in defense of the general interests of the State and in the promotion of its development by inducement for those from adjacent cities to resort hither, it would not be wise to enact a law requiring all hotels and boarding-houses advertising for and receiving over a certain number of guests, to have a yearly spring examination made of their sanitary condition, for which a small consideration should be paid to the borough, town or city in which it is located. The principle of thus protecting or providing for the traveling public or transient guests, has been fully recognized in previous legislation. It is impossible for the State to provide for yearly and minute inspection of all these buildings. But what has already been revealed, both as to the great evils found and improvements made, as also the fact that all such large resorts need special supervision, would, in the opinion of this Board, fully justify the requirement of a system of skilled sanitary circumspection and certification each year. Thus all would be more fully assured and a new impulse be given to that wonderful growth which has already taken place, and which the attractions of the sea and of the various localities would render rapidly progressive. SUMMARIES OF LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH. BY THE SECRETARY. Our correspondence this year with local Boards has been more thorough than ever before. They are becoming more informed as to their duties and as to their possibilities of usefulness. Even those that have occasion to meet rarely accept the fact of their organization, and have a better readiness to meet any sudden outbreak. Here and there a township has but little appreciation of what could be done to increase its healthfulness, and so pays for its neglect by having some extra cases of avoidable sickness. As an introduction to the report of the year, we place a special report for Camden. Its Board of Health is imperfectly organized, and cases of death from manufactured diseases are not infrequent. The report will be found moderate in statement, exact as to facts and such as should lead to a most vigorous sanitary policy in the interests of that important and growing city. It will also be found in many respects a model for sanitary method and study in other localities. From other reports we give various selections. Those having nothing of special interest, and not needing to be quoted from, are valuable to us as records of health conditions and as guides for sanitary suggestions. We commend this series of local reports to the careful attention of all Health Boards and Health Officers. REPORT OF SPECIAL SANITARY INSPECTOR FOR CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, AS MADE TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE BOARD OF HEALTH BY ONAN B. GROSS, M.D. In compliance with the request of the State Board of Health, I herewith present, as Sanitary Inspector, the following report: |