Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-30
OCTOBER 30, 1873.


forty-four per one thousand to twenty-seven; and
in others, mortality Of thirty has been reduced
to twenty, and even as low as fifteen, to the one
Thousand living. Here by sanitary labors we
have the certainty and value Of human life nearly
doubled in a few years. which benefits are to in
crease and continue permanently
The first State Board OF Health established In
this country was that OF Massachusetts in 1869;
statistics Of which are not at hand, except those
beginning in 1875 which include only the princi-
pal cities of the state, and several Of the largest
cities Of the country, as New York, Philadelphia
and Chicago; all Of which, except Lynn, show
an average improvement in death rate compared
with the mean rate since 1868, Of three per 1000.
The recent supervision Of the tenement houses in
New York city, by the health board, shows the
great value of sanitary inspection OF private DWELL
ings. One-half the population of the city residing
in tenement houses furnished 757 per cent, or
more than three-fourths Of the total mortality Of
the city. Under the supervision Of the board
this mortality in the tenements fell seven per
cent the first year, two per cent. the next year,
and in five years had become reduced from 1857
to g. per cent.
Now any one quick in Transforming values into
dollars and cents could estimate the above benefits
so as to compare them with the requisition Of Sec
ton nine, above referred to. We know OF no one
capable az Dr. Boardman, who in the sixth report
of the Massachusetts State Board Of Health es-
Inmates the value of human life and health to the
state by showing that on good business principles
alone the state could afford to incur mmedi-
ate outlay OF $50 900 to reduce its death rate
from nineteen to fit, en- per thousand annually;
and that one death represents seven hundred and
thirty days OF illness; and that the expense OF
sickness is $40, 900 annually to the people Of
Massachusetts,.
From the imperfect statistics at hand 1t is we
think, not too much to say that sanitary work In
Massachusetts has since 1869 already, in the lar
gest cities reduced their mortality four to the one
thousand living.
The mortality in the tenement houses in New
York was in FIVE years reduced eleven per cent,
which saved over two thousand and five hundred
lives, and according to the foregoing estimate
five hundred years Of sickness. From these con-
sderations the board cannot be the debtors OF the
people.
But is it said that Vermont has no large cities,
and that its death rate is now only fourteen or
fifteen per one thousand, and consequently there
is no opportunity or necessity for a board Of
health? To this it may be replied that from fifty
to seventy-five per cent. OF the mortality in Yer
mont occurs from preventibe diseases at an
average age Of only thirty-sx thirty-seven
years; and that about one-third Of the whole
number Of deaths fifteen hundred annually, are
, children under five years OF age. Also the con-
venient opportunity for sanitary improvements In
the country render the work more easy and ef.
fectual and often the isolated nature OF diseases
afford greater facilities for discovering their causes
and proper management. Therefore we hope the
Honorable Senate and House will realize theiI
high opportunity, and the pressing need fol
sanitary work and improvement in the state, and
promptly grant the organization and means neces
sary to commence work more important and be
netcent in results when efficiently pursued thar
' any which the wisdom of the age may offer tc
: the energy and sagacty of man.