Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-08-04
The Public Health.

Inc present decade Is marked by wide
spsead disposition on the part Of Investigators
to collect data, rot only IS to the spread and
fatal character OF disease, but as to the local
progress. The last number of the British omar
terry RerisU has an article bristlng with figures
to show the progress made in this investi alton
in England, and the need that il should be
carried out on a national scale
Many are disposed to regard investigations of
this nature as of special and professional rather
than universal value. without actually accusing
medicine of inventing disease they hold that the
study Of these phiiOsOphic relations has a NOR
bid tendency. Our grandmO:hers, they say,
never heard OF neuralgia. The inference sug-
eested, if not actually drawn, Is that our wives
and daughters would enjoy robuster health if
our medical attendants restrained themselves
to the simple routine of old-fashoned phar-
macy.
On the other hand there are students of phys
iology who have formed the conclusion that the
human family-at least in most parts of Europe
and Americas giving unmistakable signs OF
fundamental decay. They cite that ''asthenic
irritabilty," which betrays itself in so MANY
modes; the increasing luxury of all classes; the
lCssened capacity for protracted labor; the in
Creasirg demand for change of air and of scene;
the appearance of new forms of disease, indi-
NtdhtI resistance on the part OF the
patti mt; the incr, asing use, whether cause or
consequence of debility, of tobacco, and the
almost universal need of the services of the den
tist, even among very young persons. Without
taking the most gloomy view of the sanitary sit
uatiC Afforded by the opinions of the last men
TONED class OF Observers, there can be nodoubt
that all those dangers to general health, which
are shown by statistics to increase In propor-
ton to increased density of population,
are being aggravated at an alarming rate
AS to the connection between density of popu-
lation ard prevalence of fatal disease, science
enables US to speak with considerable precision.
The tables presented by the Revielv show that
the average number Of deaths in England for
the thirty-two years from 1888 to 1869 was 22i
for every 10000 of the population. In 1869, the
latest year Of which the returns are digested,
the death rate for England and Wales was 226
Ter 10000; but in London the same year the
rate was 2i6; in Liver DOL go; in Edinburgh
sos; in Glasgow 3i3. TIE same data shows that
the difference of one-h IN between two districts
OF London, and OF two ffths between London
and Glasgow, was caused by the highly agra
vIted uLheathiness o. neglected SD { :, and
crowded uncleanly districts, which are the very
seed-plOts of fatal disease. The English NOR
tuary statistics go to show that the expec-
tation OF life, or mathematical probable
NY VI surviving lle current year, Is
twice as great in a healthy country vii
lage as in a densely crowded city neighberhood.
The same rule would probably hold true in
many of our American cities, distinguished by
crowded narrow streets and Inadequate drain
age Washington city, on the contrary, doubt
less owes its low death rate TO the great width of
the streets and alleys; the various angles at
which the streets and avenues intersect, securing
abundant ventilation in any direction of the
wind; and the diversified rolling surface over
most part of the city, supplying good drainage.
1t Il curious fact, as illustrative of the ad-
vantages of wide streets and free ventilation,
that the number OF cases of sunstroke in Wash
ington Is but a minimum, in proportion 20 popu-
lstion, of that in cities much farther north:
Philsdelphis, New York, and even Boston.
That scourle Of the Summer: cholera infantum,
a'so strikes other cities much more heavily, In
proportion to population. In estimating the
causes for the comparative healthfulness of
Washington it would be unfair not to give
credit to our Board Of Health for Jealous and
capable work. While some Of their energy has
been m.sdirected, and occasionally an undue
display Of fuss and feathers made by one or two
OF the members, there can be no doubt they
have accomplished an immense amount OF
necessary work, and laid the foundation for
very thorough and effective sanitary system.