Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-02


UNION AND AMERICAN has outlived the
puerili:ies OF journalism, is unconcerned
about editors, whether genuine or for the
occasion; is thankful to- the Avaldnche for
the space given the editorial, but asks no
such favors snd does not obligate itself to
graft any such; leaves the ApdlGnche to
follow its own line of argument, and viii
take the same liberty, holding ourselves at
all times ready if we should mistake or mis-
state The argument or position Of an sdver-
| sary TO correct promptly.
- .E II
WHAT SHALL BE DONE TO PRO-
@ MOTE HEALTHf
The first step in an earnest effort to re-
move the cause Of sickness in any city, is
to satisfy its inhabitants that such cause
really exists. Men viii. not Willingly give
their time nor money to abate an evil
which they regard imaginary in the minds
of others The truth must be made SC
plain that those who run may read and
understand Che facts of the case.
Calcutta, the capital of Bengal, has the
bad nre-eminence of being very sickly
city. 1t is IN a tropical clamate, at the sea-
lsvel, with an exceedingly damp atmosphere,
when it is not raining, and not far upstream
from the mouth of the Garages. In treating
of the origin of cholera, DR.. Peters tells US
that "cholera is always presentin Calcutta,
which we have already cbarac erized as
one Of the filthiest cities in the world.
There is rot q month 10 the year in which
deaths do not occur from it, both European
and native. It is the cause Of one third of
the Total deaths, which vary from eleven
thousand to sixteen Thousand per year, out
of a native population of four hcndred
thousand. The deaths from cholera, from
1910 TO 1880 were forty-six thousand six
hundred and ninety seven; from $3.50 to
1850 forty-fve Thousand eight hundred and
tWeniy-three. The smallest mortality in
any one month was forty six in July, 1913;
the largest is generally in April" II we
knew the European population in that
large commercial town under British rule,
we could state the per cent Of deaths very
plainly; as it is, we can only approximate
the truth, being careful 10 underesti-
MAZE the facts, rather than exaggerAte them.
Ii we call the European population one
tenth Of tina. of the native, It is 10000,
and the totL 100000. In the health
lest, or least sickly years,it seem. Incredible
that only IL 900 should die in 100000 in
one of The ''ilLhist cities in the world" The
death rate is two and half per cent. The
most sickly year gives 10000, which is less
than fur per cent. The deaths from
cholera for 20 years Q840 to 1860 averaged
small fraction over one per cent per
annum.
lie us compare these figures with the
mortuary records of Nashville. For full
statement of hese the reader is referred to
the UNION AND AMERICAN of June 90.
Before cholera visited the city, the death
rate from 1922 to 1929 was 2.43 per cent; 1
and more than twice as large as that of
Calcutta from cholera. From 1888 to 1913,
after the advent Of cholera, the death rate
rose to 3.58 per cent. The increase, appa-
rently from cholera, was greater than
the cholera deaths 10 the
ithtest city on the GaDges.
During the ten years from 1913 to 1853 the
death rate was 4.56 PSF cent; being double
that of the average number of Lesths in
Calcutta for twenty years. In the nine
succeeding years in Nashville, from 1858 to
1862, in which there was no cholera, The
death late was 3,72 per cent. We have
shown that the deaths from cholera from1S50
TO 1850 in Calcutta we're Al, 1913. This gives
sn average ot4, 5S2.3 in each yearin pop
ulation of 100000. Suppose, for compari-
son, we make their mortality lcih cholera
what that f Nashville was 1cittout cholera,
or g. Y per cent, the deaths from cholera in
ten years would rise in Calcutta from
1913 to $4,000! II a high death
rate is any evidence of a sicky
place and defective sanitary arrange
men's, our city presents such evidence.
In 1856 the recorded deaths number 2,073.
We will not say what was the population
Of Nashville that year. In the sickly sea-
son it was probably below 10000. But
call the number $1,000, and the death rate
rises TO nearly six per cent. We will not
cite cur recent mortuary experience and
statistics. If there is any error in this mat
ter it IS not because persons have bought
coffins wi h no use for them; but because
poor families have asked u carpenter or
Deighbor to make box in which TO bury
the remains Of child or an adult.
The record is too sEnall, not too large. In |
our view of all the local advantages, and
disadvantages of n sshville, nothing would
be easier, and nothing so profitable in a
business view Of the subject, as 10 make it
healthier than any other city OF the globe.
In no city could this be more cbeaply or
more effectively done. II is simply needed
that our sewerage be better, as we have
heretofore shown, and this can be accom-
piished al comparatively small cost. And
Ineh Ine springs iTom WHICH uOW HqWu | I
Death, should be closed up. Let US in the !
future pay more attention 20 the purifca-
ton of the city in all its parts, and then we
shall make It what Lature intended it should !
be, the heaithiest place in the country. In
not one city in the whole world, are the
laws of human life and comfort duly con-
sidered, or half understood. Not one city ,
has decent regard FOR the primary duty of
feeding the soil that feeds its inhabitants. ]
Il is the wicked neglect of this plain duty !
that kills the people Of Nashville in extra
hunters. Man cannot ann.hilate an atom
of matter that makes a part of his daily
bread; but be can do two things with il:
he can throw II inln the Gnmha rlanh rirer | :