Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-01
rate In different cities which had prepared In my
ONCE from statistics at hand:
Deaths from Co,asu,nptfon tn Several Cities
Average.

This shows, you see, that washington has a
greater percentage OF deaths from consumption
IMAM the other cities named The secret or it Is,
however, that great many cases OF consumption
which terminate fatally in Washington are I'M
ported from other and more northern cities You
Know that cOnSumptiveS seek warmer climate
The winters OF Washington have a great attraction
for those who have contracted the disease further
north. and many are led to try them. They are
generally in such an advanced stage that their
death Is a question OF comparatively short time
Every conSumptive who comes here from the north,
say from Boston. and dies here increases our death
tate, While decreasing that OF Boston. Now IL we
had the statistics at hand from Jacksonville Mobile
or galveston, we would md the consumption death
rate far ahead OF ours, because conSumptives seek
In greater numbers those still milder climates and
Slccumb. thereby largely increasing their rate by
Importation / have known cases of consumption
10 originate here, but such cases are rare COMPARED
Win The imported ones. Cold, damp climates are
particularly noted for originating the disease.
UNJUST COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CLIMATE.
One of the best known practitioners in the north
west section gave the results of his experience to
Il STAR reporter as follows: 1.-The inference which
one would draw from the Republican, article Is that
Washington Is a peSt-hole for the production Of
consumption, and that is all wrong. Speaking
directly 1t Is an Internal lie. There hundreds OF
people VINO come here already predispOSed to pull
ihonary diseases, enter the departments, and pur-
sue Sedentary life under most unhygientc cOndi-
lions ihey ale taken sick through their own care
lsneSS, anu aScribe 1t to the climate OF Washing
Ton. when the climate has nothing TO do with It,
mere are congressman and others who come here
and gorge themselves on terrapin and canvas
DECK, gIZZie whisky and Wine and run around
town at all hours OF the night. and when they are
taken sick they curse the climate The climate Is
well enough, but these people don't take care Of
themselves, and blame the weather when they
themselves are to blame. Among the white resi-
dtnt population consumption is OF occurrence
he article III question Is poppy cock and rot"
THE SMALL DEATH RATE AMONG THE WHITES.
One of the Oldest and most experienced physf-
clans In the city says: There are many cases of
phthisis in Washington it is true. but they cannot
DE aScrlDed to the locality. Among the resident
white population the percentage OF pulmonary dis
eases Is very small Indeed. when we leave the col
ofcd population out OF calculations there is only
one city III the world which has a smaller death
rate than Washington, and that Is Edinburgh.
Ieopie come here from the north with the disease
already fastened upon them. and when they die we
nave 10 enter them on our records, but IL Is not
rlght 10 say the Washington climate caused their
deaths, for they would have died at home in
less time than here. The Republican article is en-
tireiy wrong in its assumptions, and the facts do
not warrant its assertions"
DIR. JAS. MORGAN.
Dr. James E. Morgan one of the oldest practi-
TONERS In the District, said that he had no doubt
Dut that the statistics would show that the climate
here was not productive of disease OF any sort The
1eaith1uineSS OF this section OF the country could
De demonstrated by reliable figures II Washing
ton has reputation for the prevalence OF con-
sumption he has yet to learn OF it. Certainly his
pracuce during all these years had not discov-
cred it,