Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-03-17

} HEALTH AND DIsEAsE.-Ihe idea that ell
mate and soil affect the physical development OF
mankind is as old as Hippocrates and Is conhrhed
nv constant experience Statistical tables especially
place this great fact in striking light he chances
of longevity for instance, are proved by the tables
of mortality to be greatly IN favor oftemperate and
even irigid countries, distinguished from those
living within the torrid Batavia, the West In
dies and even Sicily, far less healthy than Nor
way, Sweden, the United States generally, though
the former lie under sky that is almost ever bright
while the latter almost continually vexed with
storms or darkeued by couded heaven 1t is where
endemic feyers prevail in short, that life is more
uncertain. Our Southern States, the West Indies,
the lower part Of Italy, the ionan Islands, the west
coast of Africa, and generally all low and marshy
districts IN warm climates, are particularly Tavaged
by these acute diseases and at such places the
ito of human life is at the lowest. The Indictment
skies of Canada or New England and the incessant
rains of Great Britain are less hurfu to longevity,
strange as it may seem. Even consumption, the
dire foe OF man in northern climates, fails TO swell
the mortality in such places to that OF the torrd
zone
1t is curious, as connected with this subject, to
trace the prevalence of certain disorders in particu
lar regions of the globe Thus, diseases of the di-
sestve organs prevail most in India, Africa, Eng
land and Guiana. Diseases Of the liver hold almost
undisputed sway in the East Indies Dropsy pre-
walls In Great Britain, Guiana and West Africa
Consumption is most fatal in Great Britain, Canada,
the United States, and strange to say, Jamaica in
this latter place, especially it makes terrible havoc
among the European troops. In all cases cities
less healthy than the country. In the mortality of
towns, great change, however, has taken place
during the last century, owing TO the improvements
in ventiation in the general mode of living and in
cleanliness. Fevers are less prevalent now but ner-
vous disorders have increased or the cities of Eu-
rope 1t is remarkable that London, the largest and
most crowded of all, is the healthiest while Wen
ma, which of the most rural in many respects,
is also the least favorable 10 longevity but this DIFF
ference Is to be attributed in measure to the in
land climate of the latter, and, in part, likewise TO
the gross habits of the Fennese. A cool climate
near the appears to be the most favorable of all
localities for health Thus, the coasts of New Eng
land exposed as they are in many respects, are not
so apt to breed disease the shores of Mississippi
or even the balmy valleys of the interior
! The effect of climate can never be properly un-
derstood until the relative mortality among natives
and strangers is compared for the natives are ac-
customed to the climate while aliens are not. We
lind that, in India, the mortality among European
troops nearly TIRES times as great as among ma
tives. This holds good even of epidemics, two Eu-
ropeans having died by cholera to native out of
every hundred of each. In Barbados the morta-
/ ty among the troops is eighteen out of every thou
i
sand. Another curious fact is, that the method Of
living exercises great influence on health Thus in
the United States, from the rapid manner in which
the people eat, and from other causes, diseases of
the digestive organs are more prevalent than any
where on the globe for in every thousand persons,
at least one half have disorders of these organs
while in England, the number is but nnety-fy to a
thousand.
Science is slowly increasing the average Of human
lie A century ago, one out of every thirty of the
population died each year now theaverage is about
one In lorty-fve. In England the chances have
nearly doubled within hundred years, and the same
Is true of all the older settled portions of The United
States. If we go on at this rate, for few centu-
turtles improving with each generation lettering not
only the podes of ligne r. - o0'',,a''oh WIN
golden age again and though Methuselahs may be
rare ever, old chaps of hundred and fifty, like
Parr, may become common crows in a corn
field Philadelphia Bulletin.