Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-09-10
SOUTHERN MEDICAL REPORTS.

SOUTHERN MEDICAL REPORTS.
A copy of this work, for the year 1850, has cen
laid npon our table. It is edited by DR.. E. D.Fen-
ner of New Orleans, and is highly useful work Of
its kind.
The volume for 1850 contains number of General
and Special Reports on the Medical Topography,
prevalent Diseases ofmost of the Southern States
and among the Special Reports notice with pleas.
two interesting and able articles from the pen of
Dr.. William H. Mckee, Of this City-one on the
" Topography, prevailing diseases &c. of Raleigh,
and the other on the &c Vital Statistics Of North Ca
rolina.'' From the latter we make the following
tract:
"The population of Wake is as follows FIRST,
showing the number of whites second. that of the
free negroes; third that of the slaves. The number
Of white deaths with their ratio. and that of the free
negroes and slaves with their deaths per cent, and
the total population of the county with the aggregate
per cent Whites, 236; free negroes 1850 slaves
94l9; deaths of whites, ll3 per cent, 1873 free ne
Iation of the county, including all classes, 24,9i5;
deaths per cent, l.139. The mu!atoes are included
with the blacks.''
[Here follows table exhibiting the number who
died within the last ten years, under ten years of
age, and ten to that of hundred as per the
recent census returns Of these, 145 were under 10
years of age. There were, also, 20 deaths from
known causes.1
"hs report shows over fifty pei cent. of the deaths
be under years Of age while the list of diseases
exhibits very large per cent. of the deaths from dis
ease of the respiratory organs and dropses appearing
as the next highest in order, with the exception of
those reported unknown and chronic. 1t is to be
regretted that so large number Of unknown cases
should have occurred, but from the large per cent in
favor of the infante diseases it may be fairly pre-
| thnv, NI.I
The only way in which accuracy in these cases is to
be at is through strict registration of the
riages, births and deaths.
l will now present the five other counties, with
their population and per cent. of deaths, which are
comprised as Middle North Carolina.
The white population of
Franklin is 6,2O6-slaves 1907; total 1l,7l3. Deaths
| 1872; per cent. 1.O4l.
Orange is ,s7l-slaves 255 total IL, 1876. Deaths
1873; per cent. O.776.
Chatham is l2,479-slaves $500; total 1881.
| Deaths 1874 ; per cent. l.00l.
Cumberland is IL, ,393-slaves 1911; total 20,6l0.
| Deaths 234; per cent. l.l35.
johnson is 9,O53-slaves 4720; total 1928. Deaths
| 1874; per cent. O9O0.
The total number of deaths in the above five coun-
ties is 797 the population is ,6O3 per centof the
whole O,976. Add that of Wake, 24,9l5, and we
have within the six central counties population of
LOG, ,5l8, and whole number Of deaths l.O6l per
cent. of deaths, lob.
see from an article published in the New Orleans
Medical Journal, by Dr.. Pendleton, Of Sparta Ga,
that from the OF six counties in Middle
Georgia, he reports the total population of these
counties to be 72,94l whole number of deaths, >
lO7 per cent of deaths, Isl and he further states
that it is doutess fair indication for the whole OF
Middle Georgia, and will compare favourably with any
other portion of the civilized world.
BY consulting the above returns, it vii! be seen at
once that the six Counties in Middle North Carolina
have population of SIT than that of the six
counties Of Middle Georgia, while the whole number
of deaths in Georgia exceeds that of North Carolina
by 26 per cents
| This last exhibit Of statistical data clearly shows a
large per in favor of Middle North Carolina
all other places and while have been prompted to
submit the above statistical information, it is with
desire to detract from any other section of the coun-
try but to aid in contributing to the limited stock of
that it may add interest to the vital data of the
South.
In taking the per cent. of Middle Georgia as the
most favorable, and comparing it with that Of Mid
die North Carolina, have not done with the wish
or intention deract from the healthy character of
Georgia. but to show that in Middle North Carolina
we have health, if more, at least equal to any
country in the civilized world The reports made
by Dr.. Pendleton and myself go to prove conclusive
ly that the long conceived opinion that the South dur
ing the summer months in particular, is more un-
healthy than other sections of the country. errone
Gus. Indeed, far from being true this opinion is
entirely the of it, and if the census returns
all to be relied upon, they hold outthe districts
comprised in Middle Georgia and Middle North Ca
rona as among the healt6iest regions in the world.
Raleigh, " c., Feb. 20th, 1850.
#Dr. Mckee here inserts tabular statement from
the statistics Of Drs. Pendleon and Smonds, which
may be found in Dr.. Pendletons report for Georgia
! We omit it to avoid repetion.-ED.