Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-26
NAsHYILLE'S DEATH RATE.

jeH till ap1 sun, tues sat 4thP
NASHYILLE'S DEATH RATE.
The New York sanitarlan's Reply 10
our Municipal Authorities.
The 1Ieiy York Sdnitdridn for Seplem-
Der is before Us With the correspondence
relative to Nashville's death rate. After
giving all that passed between our munich
pal authorities and the editor, it continues:
ave hardly need state that we publish
the foregoing communications with much
pleasure. For nothing can be further
from us than a wish to do Nashville an in
Justice. By the accompanying tabular
statement for the 43 weeks, Oct. 8, 1874, to
July "a, 1875, giving the total Of deaths
from natural causes Exclusive Of still
births) 671-assumIng for the whole Of
that period a population Of 27,OOO-
tho ratio of deaths per annUm was 80 per
1000. Our estimate for the four weeks,
ending April 3, published in the May nuIl1-
Der Of the SdnitQriGR, was based upon the
most recent census accessible to us, 25,
SGS, and the total number Of deaths from
all causes, excluding still births, for that
four weeks, 70, gave an annual ratio Of
$3.50 per 1000. On 27,0O0, probably too
many for the time, the mortality was 36.11
exceeding all other cities for the time
from which we had reports; Charleston be-
ing the next highest, and owing 20 the
same cause, the miserable condition Of the
colOred population. But there is nothing
inherent in the two races to Justify this
difference in vitality. On the contrary,
Prof L. S. Joynes, NJ. D., Secretary Of the
Virginia State Board Of Health, has recently
eonclusive.y shown, that in regard to
Richmond at least, which city shows the
same conditions Of race as Nashville, that
he does not consider il unfair to estimate
the death rate Of the whole population as
a measure Of the general sanitary state, on
account Of large cOlOrsd populatiCn-'in-
asmuch as this is simply the forrest or
lcOTSt class Of her population, hygieRicGliy
cORSidered-the one most UnfdyOrably sit
uated with regard to those influences and
surroundings, which affect human health
for good or ill-cOrTespOndingt to the lowest
in this respect in other cities. 1t may be
argued, with reason, that We have no more
right to exclude the negroes in the CON-
putatiOn of our death rate, than New Y Ork,
London and Paris have to exclude
the degraded and destitute classes
which are chargeable with the
largest proportional share Oftheir mortality
The mortality is greater among the negroes
here, not because they are negroes, but be-
cause in respect of habitatiOns, clothing,
fuel, food, air, domestic and personal habits,
occupation, and other circumstances, in
huencing health, they are, as a general
thing, much worse of than the white pcpu-
lation around them, whether such inferior
conditions be the results Of their own i'm
providence and negligence, or Of causes be-
yOnd their control. When such palpable
and sufficient causes Of dispropOrtiOnate
sickness and mortality exist, it seems hard
" philosophical TO ascribe these to differ
ence Of race. Certainly, as far as we
have evidences, the cOlOred race, in a cOngenial
climate,lis fully equalitO the white in lon
gevity-that is, the capability Of attaining
the most advanced age-and in reproduc-
tive power. While it is not
maintained that the two races, as we find
them side by side in this country, are en-
tirely alike in their susceptibility to all The
causes of disease, or that they
are equally liable to every form of
disease it appears by no means
certain that when the account is squared,
the balance will be found much, if at all,
against the negro race, at least in a congo |
NAL climate like that of Virginia and the |
more Southern Estates. = Virginia Medical |
Monthly, June, 1921 After which DR.. |
JOynes proceeds to compare the relative |
condition of the negroes, and their relation |
to the mortality statistics Of Richmond, |
with the tenement house population Of New |
York, and the Chinese in San Francisco, |
which classes respectively occupy cores
pOnding relations. Nashville is, in short, |
in no respect singular among American |
cities, in having population whose health |
needs onstant looking after, and |
to WhiCh-unleSs this duty be /
more assiduously fuldlled-preventable
mortality will by 10 means be limited. |
The maintenance Of such a class in such
state, is not only dangerous to the whole
but bUrdensOme IS a paupeT
and criminal tax. The miserable, degTa-
ded, and sickly portion Of every community
Is weak in proportion as the highly culti-
waited Is strong. And to assist the weak in |
applying such measures for the preseTva-
lion of life, as will protect mankind at
large from the injuries which each indivi-
iual in a narrOW-minded seltishness would
nhict on his neighbOr, is the first and most
sacred duty of paternal government. Con-
act with well cleaned streets, and external
5urity generally, creates a diStaSte for in
ernal filth and degradation, and there are
lone so degraded or so impure as not 10 be
benefited aud elevated by association with
Iindness and cleanliness.
ain regard to still births, possibly our |
epOrts are sometimes irregular in this re-
pect; some include them, and some do not.
SUIT we habitually exclude them when
in reports. The prOpriety Of
lcluding them, however, we believe to be ,
,eyond question. There is no more reason
or excluding a still birth from the death
ate, than there is for excluding it from the
firth rate. As an indication Of the Unsan- {
.ary condition Of a community, the excess
{ still births among the negroes in Nash
lie is an example. With population Of
Z ,O93 whites in a good sanitary condition,
here were, according to the table Of 43
-eeks, % still births; while in population
f 9.9i1 negroes, in a very unsanitary con-
itiOn. there were Al. We are sorry not to I
ave the whole birth rate, respectively, Of
ne two, in order to show still more con-
the value Of still births as a
leasure Of the respective conditions.
uIt is a rule almost without exception,
nat the ratio Of still births to the whole
nth rate, is large in proportion to the IN
.nitary condition Of the community. De- r
rable, however, as it is, to include still
irths in the death rate, it. is not the gen.
-al practice. But 'stati5ticians are very =.
enerally of the opinion that they should
e, and it is likely that, before long, the
.9istration Of children who have died be-
re performing the act OF respiration will be
lade compulsory bylaw Until that time,fOr v
he sake of uniformity, We shall continue &
exclude still births from the estimate Of
,tals, whenever practicable" !,
Afraid OF their own Party. Z
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