458 ' [ASSEMPLY 



Such, was the condition of the ship, when at the latter part of July, 

 during the calm, sultry, rainy weather, a sudden increase of disease 

 took place; it commenced with a sense of great debility, particularly 

 of the limbs, aversion to all exertion, pains in the head, loins, and 

 bones, anxiety and nausea — the skin generally moist and hot, tongue 

 loaded with a yellow coat, bowels rather loose. In some it assumed 

 a typhoid character in its progress, while its more ordinary type was 

 that of bilious remittent. There was a daily succession of cases, and 

 from the 20th of July to the 15th of August, the average number 

 was thirty. 



Capt. Biddle did not concur in opinion, with the surgeon, that local 

 causes had the princijial agency in producing the disease, but seeing no 

 prospect of realizing the expectation of getting to sea, obtained from 

 Colonel Haidman, the commanding officer, a spacious and airy 

 building, on the south side of Governor's Island, to which at the 

 date above mentioned, the sick were removed. On the 17th, there 

 were three new cases j on the iSth, twoj on the 19th, none; oo the 

 20th, two; on that evening the wind came from the north, the air 

 was cool, 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 weather, which continued comfortably cool, with 

 fresh breezes, the fever gradually disappeared, no new cases occur- 

 ing 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 he 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 govern- 

 ment, 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 



