The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-14
A HEALTHY OLD AGE.
The Longevity OF the Human Race Is
Everywhere Increasing.


Everywhere Increasing.
What are my views Of longevity" re-
pcat,d Health Officer Wight to a reporter as
h. sat in his Office smoking his pipe. 1t is a
fact that longevity has greatly increased
within the last quarter of century because
OF the increased sanitation all over the coun-
try. England led off several years ago; then
the United States followed, and now Ger
many j. next The effective government of
Germany i, introducing sanitation in a scien-
titir manner, and is strictly enforcing it. II
Is n fact that the mortality i'll the German
army l. less than one half rs much as in the
Russian, ami it is owing solely TO better sani-
tatiou There has also been a great decrease
in the mortality rate of sailors, owing TO the
better sanitation of ships. Owing to santa
ton The average death rate of London is
about - in 1000 per annum, while in st.
Petersburg it is H. In New York it is nearly
80. owing To the most densely populated tene-
mcnt quarter. where the proprietors of the
houses have resisted sanitation. In New York
n part OF the city Is more densely populated
than anywhere else in the world
In what portion of the United States is
longevity the most noticeable
Longevity is most noticeable in the noun
famous regions If North Carolina and Tennes-
see How do | account for it, BY the extreme
OF habitat.ons There is a certain ratio between
the population pcr square mile and mortality.
Other things being equal, where habitation Is
dcns,~f there Is the heaviest death rate. Not
only ,,,.s, the public sanitation of the health
department gradually decrease the death rate,
but the great diffusion of sanitary knowledge
among the people has tendency in the same
direction \ wise AMI conscientious Sanitar-
ian never misses the opportunity to teach the
~ 4. ~
and it i a most interesting fact that the secu-
lar press everywhere in this country IS glad
To receive and publish rational sanitary dis
cIlSSion~. The number Of journals devoted to
the discussion Of public health is increasing,
and the medical profession IS paying more
and NOR attention to the prevention of dis
eases as well rs their cure
What race, a a rule, ! the longest lived"
The Hebrews"
In the United States do the white or black
live the longest
The mortality Is very much heavier
among the blacks than the whites in all the
southern cities. Sometimes it is double
The colored people are more prolific, end die
earlier"
TO what 10 You i.elieve Is due the longcy-
ity of the Hebrews
They Use greater care in the consumption
Of meat. All animals killed for food among
them must be examined by an expert rabbi,
and If any OF the vital organs of the animal
appear diseased the meat is condemned, and
it is not used by Hebrews for food.
The majority Of cases wherein colored peo-
pie arc often said to be so old are untrue
continued the doctor They undoubtedly
think they are as old as they claim, but it Is
because they have not the facts upon which
to base their age But even if they were as
old as they claim, it would not make the
longevity Of the race longer. The fact is, il
i short."-Detroit Tribune.