The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-26
Our Negro Population.

Memphis Board of Health, in paper read at
the late meeting of the American Public
Health Association, and published In the
Sanitary Engineer. 1t is that OF negro NOR
tally, out of whose consideration springs n
suggestive reference to larger questions
bearing on the future Of the colored race in
the United States.
In round numbers, the population Of Mem
phis In 1880 was 81 900, of whom 1898 were
whites and 16,707 blacks The total number
OF deaths in 1881 was 1,477; white, 6G5; black,
BOG. II will be scen therefore, that the pro-
portionate mortality among the blacks was
much the greater For the whole popula-
ton the death rate was 1926; but calculated
upon their respective numbers, the rate was
only 81 A for the whites, against 1924 for the
negroes. During 1881 Memphis suffered
from no epidemic, the city having been COM
paratively healthy since the yellow fever
pestilence Of 1870 Scarlet fever, measles.
and dphthcria carried off some of the chill
drcn, but at no time were those zymotic dis
cases seriously prevalent. That is, Memphis
was in n normal condition as to mortality in
1881, considering its hygicnic situation.
The chief causes of tho mortality were
those common to our climatc-consumption
pneumonia. diarrhUa, and dyscntery. The
negroes suffered from all these diseases
much more than the whites Lung affections
were more fatal to them than to the others,
though formerly the negroes were little liable
to them. Tubcrcuar consumption, from
which they were once almost exempt, has
developed rapidly among the colored popu-
lation. The reason OF that, DIR. THORNTON
thinks, is the radical change which has taken
place in their mode OF life. They have not
only crowded into the city after an agricul-
tural life conducive to health and longevity,
but they have also adopted irregular habits
OF living under freedom, and are more UNI
restrained in their indulgence Of their vicious
propcnsitics. Thus their constitutions arc
undermined, and a depraved bodily inher
itance is transmitted to their offspring
But in considering such statistics as those
given by Dr. THORNTON, we must bear in
mind that tho negroes Of Memphis and Of all
other communities in the United States con-
stitute poor class Of the population, and
one which is therefore more liable to disease
than people in better circumstances. We
should expect them, us matter of course,
to show higher death rate than that which
obtains among the Memphis whites, whose
average condition as to heathful surround
ings is much better, and who are better cared
for and better instructed in hygiene. In
every crowded community the mortality is
much greater in the squalid districts and
among the poor and indiffereutly housed
than it is among the well to do. Our expert
ence in New York teaches us that very forci
bly,. Poverty is more liable to disease than
comfort, in cities, at least, and is far less able
to withstand it.
We therefore cannot regard DR.. THORN
TONS statistics showing a greater death rate
among the Memphis negroes than among
the Memphis whites as establishing any
thing important with reference to the black
race. Nor is 1t surprising to hear that the
chances of life among negro children under
five years are less than those among white
children. Here in New York the infants OF
the poor, white as we'll as black are inore
likely to be cut off than those of parents in
better circumstances, and living in more
healthful districts, and under better hygenc
regulations. But that under the more I'M
restrained life of freedom in city the black
children of Memphis are greater sufferers
from the vices of their parents than those
born under slavery were, is suggestive
though easily explained fact.
negro birth rate in Memphis, where the col
ored population would decrease to marked
extent within period of ten years II it we're
not for its gains from the neghboiing coun-
try, which is exclusively agricultural, and
therefore better adapted to negro health and
Increase than the city.
However it may be in Memphis, the statls-
tics OF the last census show that the natural
increase among the colorcd people is still
remarkably great, and that all the old proph-
ecies about their dying off under freedom
are utterly failing OF fulfinent. The per
cent of increase in the total population of the
United States from 1870 to 1880 was 3OOs.
Among the whites it was 1920; among the
colorcd 34.G7. In the three Southern States
OF Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi it
was 1880 for the whites and 80 for the ne
grocs. And in South Carolina, which is much
less affected by EMANCIPATION han othcr States,
and where therefore we can get at the nat
ural increase more accurately than else
where, the rate was 1913 for the white popu-
lation, and IS per cent. for the negro. Doubts
have been thrown on the truStworthincss of
the census of 1880 so far as the Southern
States were concerned, and therefore we may
perhaps be compelled to regard such com
parsons with caution; but the probable dis
crepanCics are not likely to be great enough
to overcome the very remarkable apparent
superiority Of the negro race in tho matter Of
natural increase.
The negro children have also one decided
advantage over those OF white ancestry in
the South. They are less susceptible to the
endemic malaria fevers Of the region, and
when attacked are more amcnablc to treat
mcnt being of n more obtu5e nervous or
ganization," adds Dir. TuoRNroN, "thcy arc
less susceptible to impressions through their
nervous system, and are less liable TO ner-
vou3 complications. This want OF acute ner-
vous susceptibility is perhaps more mani
fest in negro women than children" Negroes
are seldom the subjects of chorcR and cpl
lepsy, and insanity is not so frequent and
not so varied among them as among the
whites; the only types of 81 a mental disease
DIR, THOESToN has observed in ncgruns bein.,
Of "A passive character, such a. idiocy and dc
mcntla. They are, however, the frequent
yiIt inns Of guf r,.st ion Cnrri1l ia tho r,,iu