Unrecognized Pioneers--A Constructive Reformer--Character of Previous Agitation--Incompetent Health Officers--Reform Movement Born--The Right Man--A Board with Extraordinary Powers--The Fight for the Bill--A Law Enacted and Sustained-- The Regeneration of New York--Epidemics Checked--Sanitation in Other Cities--Reorganization of the Fire Department--Creation of a Dock Department--Reform of the Police Judiciary--Mental Traits of Dorman B. Eaton VII THE OCCULT POWER OF FILTH Filth Diseases--The Scheme of Sanitation Changed--The Mystery of Infection--How Infection Works--What the Germ Is--The Function of Bacteria--Bacteria for Every Condition--The Deadly Tubercle Bacillus--How Bacteria Affect the Body--The Toxin Secreted-- Bacteria Aim to Destroy the Body--Man’s Defenses--Destroy the Bacteria--The Value of Germicides VIII A CLOSING WORD Cleanliness Next to Godliness--Invisible Agencies in Filth--A Higher Civilization ILLUSTRATIONS PUBLIC SCHOOL ADJOINING SLAUGHTER-PEN, 1865 _Frontispiece_ PLAN OF ROOKERY HOLDING 1000 PERSONS 60 A CROWDED SECTION OF THE CITY 61 A TENANT-HOUSE CUL-DE-SAC NEAR CITY HALL 70 CUL-DE-SAC NEAR SLAUGHTER-HOUSE AND STABLES 71 PLAN OF CELLAR--“WORSE THAN A STYGIAN PIT” 73 SLAUGHTER-PENS IN REAR OF TENANT-HOUSES 77 SIXTH STREET CATTLE MARKET, 1865 78 REGION OF HIDE-CURING, FAT-GATHERING, ETC. 79 REGION OF BONE-BOILING AND SWILL-MILK NUISANCES 80 PLAN OF ROOKERY BETWEEN BROADWAY AND BOWERY 83 PLAN OF CELLAR OCCUPIED BY TWO FAMILIES 85 PLAN SHOWING REAR TENANT-HOUSES NEAR A STABLE 89 RIVINGTON PLACE, 1865 92 GOTHAM COURT, CHERRY STREET, 1865 95 TRANSVERSE SECTIONAL ELEVATION OF GOTHAM COURT 96 “THE GREAT EASTERN” 98 A PERPETUAL FEVER-NEST 106 REGION OF SMALLPOX AND TYPHUS FEVER 111 PLAN OF FEVER-NEST, EAST 17TH STREET 114 BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF FEVER-NEST NEAR FIFTH AVENUE 115 PLAN OF MONROE STREET FEVER-NEST 117 A SIXTH WARD FEVER-NEST 126 PLAN OF TYPICAL FEVER-NEST, 1865 130 PLAN OF REAR CUL-DE-SAC 134 FEVER-BREEDING STRUCTURE NEAR CENTRAL PARK 139