The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-31
THE VITALITY OF HEBREWS.
Do They Live Longer Than Other Peo
ple?-rhe Jewish Hygienic Rules.

10 O0WlSu 6ykl6n1C Rules.
From the Jelrish Messenger.
In his article in the Nineteenth Centu,.u
on Diseases Caught from Butchers Meat
DR.. II. Behrend cites evidence. which he
has collected with care and industry, in
answering in the affirmative the question;
Are there grounds for the belief that the
jewish race is especially endowed with
privileges tending to insure a degree of
protection against unhealthtul influences
ana to prolong life. The comparative i'm
munity of the Jewish race from the tuber-
culosls, says DR.. Behrend, has been
recognized by all physicians whose
special experience entities them to
express an opinion; and is the
more remarkable when the adverse condi-
tons under which the vast majority live are
taken into consideration. The medical
officers of health in some of the poorest
quarters OF London, where the bulk of the
Hebrew population dwell, have repeatedly
commented upon this fact in their official
reports. DIR. Loane, the medical officer of
Wh1techapel, states: 81. am sure from
personal knowledge that phthisis exists
among the Jewish inhabitants of nv dis
tricb to a much less extent than it does
ong the remainder of the popu-
ol.' DR.. Gibbon, the medical
Ger of H3lborn. has horne
1
dale, the senior physician to the Metropoli-
tan Free Hospital, which contains wards for
Jewish patients, writes that they very
rarely die of phthisis, and their immunity
from its attacks is very striking. "He adds
that they are, as all know, very particular
about the kind of meat supplied to them for
| food. | think it but right to state that in a
practice OF thirty years, largely among
Hebrew patients, l myself have not yet
met with single case of phthisis in the
members of that faith.
1t is, of course, not asserted that any
specific cause is sufficient to bring about
constant and invariable biological results;
all that l claim is that it is an important
factor, and that operating during countless
series of generations and acquiring in
creased force by constant hereditary trans
mission, it exercises an important influence
in building up the physical toughness, and
thereby the mental acuteness, so markedly
characteristic of the Jewish race. As Prof.
Hosmer said:
Throughout the entire history of Israel
the wisdom of che ancient law-givers in
these respects has been remarkably shown.
In times of pestilence the Hebrews have
suffered far less than the others; as regards
longevity and general health, they have in
every age been noteworthy, and at the
present day. in the life insurance offices, the
jew is said to be worth much more tn an
men of other stock"
A storehouse of information on the sub
ject exists in the encyclopedia work of Neu-
mann, OF which the first volume, published
in 1883, is devoted by its author, Eugene
Won Bergman, to the history of the devel-
opment of the German, Polish. and Jewish
population Of the province of Posen. The
large number of Jews in this province af-
fords ample basis for comparison in all vital
statistics, which have been carefully reg
lstered for fifty years; and compare them
how we may-from period before birth to
extreme old age-the results are, without
exception, favorable to their claims
to special biostatic privileges.
say a period before birth advisedly,
because in no other phase is
vitality so well marked as in the compare
tive rarity of stillborn children. Now.
Won Bergman shows that in the district of
Marienwerier, from 1919 to 1873, the per-
centage of stubborn children among
christians was 200, among Jews 0.63; in
that of Danzig 1888 and 0.99, in Oppeln
293 and 069. In the whole of the eastern
provinces of Prussia the proportions were
as 3. 76 to 172; in Westphalia g. to .SS.
and in the entire province of Posen, from
1S49 to 1878, 3.32 to Los per cent. or less
than one-third. Legoyt confirms those
results. and states that in the kingdom of
Prussia whereas among christians one child
is but enc in 9775
From the first co the fifth year of age the
percentage of deaths in the province of
Posen from 1919 to 1868 was, among
christians. BIAS; among Jews, 1850; in the
district of Bromberg. 3772 and 26.47; in
that of Marienwerder, 1857 and 81. %; In
that Of Danzig, 37.14 and %. "a; in Berlin.
50. Al and 1888; in all the eastern provinces
of Prussia, 36.4l and 1865, and In West
phalia, Is. 80 and 1885. In Furth, MAYER
shows that Jewish children under years of
age die at the rate OF 10 per cent, christians
at that Of IA; and in Frankfort, Neufyille
finds the proportions 1919 and "a. Won
Bergman says that throughout the jew
ish mortality is less in the first year Of life.
aud this favorable condition increases with
each succeeding year; and even In the rare
exceptions in which Jewish mortality is in
excess during the first year, its diminution
between the first and the fifth year be-
comes very striking.
We meet with similar results 10 the more
mature periods OF life Thus the annual
death rae at all ages In tie province Of
Posen from 1924 10 1873 was, among Jews.
Tor every 10000, 2.22; among christians
ABS. Ia the district II Posen, 3 2s aud X. 90.
" that u Bromberg, zoo aad $50: M
Mhrienwerder. Is aud 800, la the district
of Danzig, Les aud 34f. aud Id thai "a
Dppein, A02 a a8s. Ia PomeraalB. dur.
iug tue same porloa n nifty years. he pro.
portions were Les and Z 6s. h Easiern
Prussia, i.b3 and 8a3i in Westphaiia. "a
nta @NY ln the hisenish provinces. Gsland
- fHi NJ Lae - hu8u N Prussia / ~ and a l4.