The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-07-16
1870

/
Maine, 255; New Hampshire 900
Massachusetts, 221; Rhode Island, 221
Connecticut, 201 d; New York, 175; New
jersey 1870; Pennsylvania, 1853 Delaware
1911 Maryland 1853; Virginia, 81 Nortl
Carolina,66; South Carolina, 40; Georgia
So; Florida, 50.
No one endowed with reason can fai
to read the lesson contained h these sta
tistics They point unerringly to a law
and that law may be expressed as follows
OTHER things being equal, consumption an
creases aofth latit1de, at least for our owl
country
! But the human constitution is very
complex affair and numerous causes oper
ate upon it from without. Let us see il
we can detect any other cause that is con
slant in its operation to either increase or
diminish the ratio of mortality from con
sumption. Let us note if any difference
is diicoverable in our progress along in
stead of across parallels of latitude In
order to do this let us compare the cor
responding sections, giving as before the
ratio of mortality from consumption to
each one thousand deaths.
1850.
Atlantic, 129. Central, 7S. Western, So.
1860.
Atlantic, 142. Central. 1o6. Western, 81
Here we find difference quite as plain
ly marked, though not so great as that be-
tween North and South. Nor can it be
due to difference of temperature, since
this is not material between the eastern
and western borders of the area here dis
cussed, And it can be shown by compar-
ison of States that this obtains with quite
as uniform a scale of difference along diff
ferent parallels Although along some
parallels there are more disturbing causes
than along the Meridians. But the differ
ence is due to Typographical conditions
And now can we deduce a law from the
tabular results;
1t is observable that, in general, the ra-
ito of mortality from consumption de-
.creases as we 5recede from the Atlantic.
The same rule holds as we recede from
the Pacific The same is true as we get
beyond the influence of the great lakes.
The vicinity of large bodies of water has
been found in other countries and various
latitudes to be attended with an increased
mortality from consumption. We hazard
nothing therefore, in assuming that the
presence of large bodies of water is I'M
favora BILE in its relation to consumption.
And we may lay down the following rule
OTHER things being equal, consumption in
creaseS nth the dampl5aSs Of the atmosphere.
Numerous illustrations of this rule, can
be gived which will also aid to- explain
some apparent anomalies.
Northeastern Ohio presented during
I 4 oI
the means of computing for sections of
States) ratio for consumption of 1871,
while northwestern gave but 80 North
eastern Ohio is subject to the full influence
of Lake Erie-N orthwestern but par
TALLY So
The ratio for Minnesota and isconsin
for 1860 was about 1870 each THAT Of Min
nesota being little higher than that of
Wisconsin, while that of Michigan was
about 100. 1t is very well known the at
mosphere of Michigan is much more af.
fected by the la kes than either Minnesota
or Wisconsin.
These illustrations could be greatly
multiplied. But / will not burden the
reader with their multiplicity
Let us proceed to a region presenting
new and peculiar features, to the great
plateau extending from the Rocky Noun
tains to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade
range. This plateau is elevated about
mile above tidewater 1t is region of
great aridness, consequently of rapid ra-
diation and great extremes of temperature
1t is a region where steel instruments will
hardly rust, where fresh meat dries in
stead of gutrefying, where extremes of
temperature are great and the changes
violent, where it is not uncommon to see
the mercury at 500 or upwards at noon
and frost at night. Nowhere else in the
United States are the daily changes so
great. And yet the ratio for Utah and
New Mexico (tbe only portions from
which statistics of any value are yet OBJ
tainable) is only 81. But here as in the
contrasted regions that lie at lower
level or near great waters, we observe the
influence of latitude; Utah giving a ratio
OF AZ, while New Mexico presents only
80; post surgeons, indeed in the latter
territory asserting that no cases of con-
originate there at all 1t is
doubtful W neither any region is entirely
exempt; or if any, probably the highlands
of the tropics only. And this statement
brings us to our third law. ffl.s4
OTHER things being equal, consumption d.
ninishes Nth attitude
So influential is this cause that it is said
that some of the regions lying near the
equator at an altitude of 5000 fcet-re-
gions where great uniformity, mildness,
dryness and altitude all combine, are not
only entirely exempt from indigenous
cases, but prove absolutely remedial to
all cases that can reach them. This lat
ter statement, of course, is to be taken
with some allowance But SO efficacious
are these regions, that it is said consump-
tive soldiers from Lima, sent there by the
Peruvian Government, invariably recover.
Leaving many details especially those
that pertain to the discussion of various
localities in our own country for future |
article, / briefly sum up the conclusions
thus far established in the proposition
mildness and dryness Of atmosphere COM
bi,aed aoith attitude Of location are most ia
00ra6le to exemption from Pulnaonary con-
sumption |