San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-24
SCOURGiI OF PHTHISlS.
APPALLING DEATH RATE IN PRlS-
ONS AND THE CAUSE.

"The effect of lack of fresh air and INSULT
cheney Of outdoor muscular exercise can be
best studied in prisons asylums, converts
and similar institutions" This Professor DIR.
H. yon Ziemssen declares. THE curtail-
ment OF freedom and the privatiOp of open
air entail a row of factors" declares the
learned doctor, 1.-THE potency of which in in
dividuals is not easy to estimate. The air in
the closed rooms, and especially ia the dor
mitories, is not pure; it contains dust and
fungi, is poor in oxygen, but rich in carbon,
dioxide and bad odorS On account of the
sedentary life, respiration is not deep enough
and the lungs are not well expanded The
absence Of outdoor movement and of'vigor-
Gus muscular work diminishes assimilation
and reduces the need of nourishment, while
the monotoQous diet impairs the appetite"
STAYING PRISONERS.
Continuing, the writer charges that the
diet is often poor, and that in jails there is
pesitence and longing for homes; lin peniten-
tiaries contact with the dregs of mankind,
and in cellular prisons there is soitariness
and absence of all Indictment Under such
weakening faculties the organism sinks into
depraved condition, and a wide door, is opened
for tuberce bacilli, which are ubiquitous in
prisons.
DR.. Won Ziemssen declarge that the huge
proportions in which inmates of prisons sue
cumb TO consumption are not sufficiently
known. He quotes from Baer to show that
mortality from that disease in prisons is three
or four times what it is on the outside In
the race generally it is computed at IA to 45
per cent, while in prisons from 40 TO SO per
cent of all deaths is due to consumption.
This rate varies greatly, however. In Aus
trian prisons during four years the mortality
from consumption was CT per cent. In the
prisons of Bavaria it was but IS, per cent. The
death rate seems to vary with the conditions
of the buildings and of discipline In Ameri-
can prisons Dr. Won ZiemssenS statements
are fully borne out.
After somewhat extended consideration of
destructive tendencies of prison life, the doc
tor asks: Nv ny are not prisoners put at out
door work? Why are they packed together
in close working rooms and impure atmos-
pherGs2 1t has been found practical to put
the insane at rural omployments and to watch
over them; why should it NOT be possible in
she case Of prisouers4 Why not allow prison
ELS to indulge in athletic and other exercises?
Surely it is not the intention of the law that
the criminal, whose removal from society is
necessary for its safety, shall become sick and
die! Tie, penal code aims to punish and i'm
prove, not to make sick and STAY"
He points out that while the condition of
prisons has been UNNECESSARILY improved,
and that in consequence those terrible cpl
denies Of tyPhus, scorbutus, dysentery, etc,
which once decimated them have disappeared,
tuberculosis remains a veritable scouErge, be-
ing three or four times greater than that
among the general population.
SAVE THE CHILDREN.
DR.. Won Iiemssen especially condemns the
cellular system, where he says the highest
mortality from tuberculosis is found He as
serts that in collective prisons and houses of
correction, where the deteriorated atmosphere
of working rooms Gfhd dormitories is breathed
in common by the prisoners although the
volume of air furnished is less than in the
cellular system. and the healthy prisoners
are associated with the diseased ones, still the
mortality from consumption is less This
fact he ascribes to the ubiquitous nature of
the tubercle bacili and to the deprivation of
outside air and outdoSr work. Under the
cellular system, as well as to psychical causes,
such as ennui, loneSOmeness, repentance, long
ing after freedom, etc. He insists that the
considerations cited deserve the attention of
law makers. The alarming evil, he repeats.
cannot be got rid of without changing the
manner of working and increasing the sup
ply OF fresh air.
By Dr.. DOherty confession is made that the
criminal classes are more liable on account
Of their disSipated and vagabond lives tocon-
sumption and other diseases, but, he adds,
that regard for the welfare oil society, If not
for the health of the convicts, should compel,
since consumption is contagious, an earnest
effort to diminish or destroy the danger from
such prolific breeding places of the disease.
He also treats at length of the health of
pupils in the public schools, suggests reform
and points out the need of it, declaring that
the case of cloiSter like seminaries, orphan
ages and educational institutions is similar to
that of all trades and avocations which bring
toge:hef number of persons i'll crowded, I'M
healthy rooms and deprive them of fresh air
and freedom, and that what has been said of
the prison applies mutatis mutandis to all of
these. He suggests a state supervision of
hygiene in seminaries and similar institutions,
especially in girls boarding schools.
He declares that it is shown in all cases that
the more the free exercise of youth is limited
III such institutions the more frequent is tu-
berculosis present. He highly Commends the
practice in English schools of the pupils de-
voting all their time out of school to outdoor
exercises, and equally condemns the German
curriculum, which compels too protracted
hours of study, leaving but little time for Ell
ercises of any kind The advantage is, he as
serts, with the English children, who show
differences for the better in color of skin,
bright glances ana active movements. Hell
thinks it is high time that school childrenl