Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-08
Health OF savannah-An Imp

E0cts
Editor Morninq NsDs An article appeared
day or two ago in the NEWS, iu which it
was asserted that. savannsh was one among
the six Of the most unhealthy cities In the
United States. Such damaging record is
blow to our future prosperity, for the
health of city is its wealth. According to
the mOrtuary reports as published, there
NAV be q show OF truth 10 the assertion, but
at the same time, there may be and is, in
our case, q very true and plausible showing
10 our favor.
Diseases produced By climate or water
may be considered q primary or principal
cause, and one that cannot well be RENE
died. Diseases may then be put down TO
natural causes. But when there are diseases
produced by had habits and violation OF
all hygienic laws, then under such circum-
stances thew cannot be attributable to loea-
ton or climate.
Self abuse will produce disease aud death
upon the most healthy spot on earth. No
one can ill his system daily with alcohol,
be Indifferent SIS TO what be eats and where
be sleeps, withor becoming diseased 1t
has been said ct II half the world dig IL
graves with III teeth" and in this, :
day, it can wi truth be said, Thousand
nay, milions are digging their graves
the excessiy use of liquor.
Now, a word as to facts In our case, as
civ have been q careful reader OF the
weekly mortuary reports as published.
From The last before me ses the deaths in
the city Of whites were 4, co'ored %;
total 81 Population of whi'es 10 ia, COL
ored Is 765, animal ratio per | O00-whites
10 SO. colored IS 81; total 40 25 Such is
the last statement; those p evious would
average about to s whites, and IL TO Is
T. AhaA 4
nearly double the whites IN the death rate
In all Southern cities.
There is a cause for 1t, and we see the
effect in the heavy death rate. 1t is a
physiological, and | my say, sn eth
biological fact, that the negro, with his
coarse organic alton, has not that fexibility
of constitution characteristic of the white
man. There is not that spriOg In his vital.
ty by which be can IspidlY rteuperate from
excuses, nor is there that resistive force 10
his mentality by which he can as success
fully fight disease. L. is brain force and
elasticity In men which give them their
greatest vitality, and the highest strung Or
ganiz atoms have the greatest resistive
power. Il was seen in the late war as be
tween the city man and the countryman. 1t
was fact that the city "bOysn stood the
campaigns and disease better than the
country "bOYs." l. was the elasticity Of
The savage aud the negro cannot ir dulge
10 the vices OF the whites without dying off
two to one. The Indian, as soon az be be-
gan to drink, died rapidly. Alcohol disin-
tegraies the nervous system and opens it
readily to disease, especially coarse organi-
cations. The negroes who In the cities are
now abusing themselves by excessive drunk
enness, are falling victims rapidly to dis
ease. Their habits of life are careless; they
eat any a. everything, regardless of its
edibleness; they sleep any aud everywhere,
regardless of location or surroundings.
Hence the great mortality among tbs m in
cities. AS slaves they were notably healthy,
because they were not permitted to indulge
In vice. To kill of savsges or an inferior
race give them as much liquor as they want
aud disease will s0on do its work among
them. In the Federal army the negroes
could not begin to stand the fatigue endured
BY the white man, and the hospitals were
filed with them,
Thus, Mr.. Editor, the death rate of the
negro should not be counted as against US
In our mortuary report. Take the white
record, aud make that the basis OF ratio,
aud 1t will be seen that Savannah Is one of
the heslthiest cities IN the Union.
R NJ o