The morning call., 1891-01-04

Last years mortality threatens San Fran
ciseo's reputation as the healthiest city in
the United States. The rate has risen from
Is to %, which is less than the average rate
IN Eastern cities, but is above the figure to
which we have been accustomed. The total
| number of deaths is given as $780, an in
| crease of over % per cent over the deaths of
| 1855, which numbered 1854. A glance at the
monthly tables shows that la grippe is
largely responsible for the increase; the
mortality in last January was 1913.
The most deadly diseases of this city are
tuberculosis and affections of the respiratory
organs. These are classei for the most part
under three heads in the tables of the Board
OF Health TO wit: Consumption, pneumo-
MIA and bronchitis. The mortality from
each of the three was as follows in 1890:
Consumptio on .........lO 1910
Pneumonia 1922
'i' $3.50 -''''''''' <oo
Total. 2Oo5
The aggregate constitutes as nearly as
possible one-third of the total mortality
from all causes in this city. 1t may be said
that one out of every three persons who die
IN San francisco is done to death by mala-
dies which either result from a common cold
or are the work of the bacillus which Koch
processes to be able to extermnate if he gets
at him in time. Should the remedy of the
learned German professor prove efficacious,
and should people generally take proper
care OF themselves, so as to avoid taking
cold, there is every reason to believe that
the death rate of San Francisco might be
reduced.
AS to the former prospect nothing can be
said. People can only wait and watch. The
chances are that there is something IN the
Koch remedy. Whether it will perform all
that Is expected Of it is perhaps doubtful.
but that it will tend to reduce mortality
I'm I'm tuberculosis is probable. In Spain in
ocui"'.oI dlu not absolutely arrest the proq-
Iess OF eholera, but it certainly chectad r.
rayages. '''
AS to the possibility of reducing the orr
rent mortality from pneumonia and bron-
chltis, there IS every reason to believe that
much might be accomplished by the adop
ton OF sounder rules as to dress and habits.
There is no question but our people, males
and females alike, overdress in winter On
days when the air is bracing and not severe
iy cold, ladies muffle in furs and men go
about IN heavy overcoats buttuned to the
neck. The practice induces delicacy of
the throat and chest which predisposes peo-
DIE to take cold. There is no danger in ex-
posing the upper portion of the bust to the
fresh air. The skin is thick and tough, and
IL II Is well washed in cold water every
lining IL can stand exposure to a degree
- ro'u winch we rarely experience in this
FL Ian In Montreal and Quebec, where
da,,n 'oi ~ meier often registers 10 and 90
uosiees oeiow zero throughout the dav
iien ana women wear lighter and fawar
"i"ps tlah people do in San Froncisco
"lere the mercury rarely falls belo,v Ak 40
RreeS ABOVE zero at daybreak. NJ
heaVy winter garments not onIv o,,,..
deicacy OF the epidermis; thew likewise
stimulate persDiration, open the noras 81
SUBJECT the wearer to sudden and vioTar.
changes OF temperature. A man walks ~
MS Office IN heavy oyercoat. He is batbad
IN persplration on arrival. and the suddan
chill when he removes the overcoat drives
him to the close vicinity of a fire. Pres
emily business begins, and he must run into
the open air, stand in damp streets. expose
himself to draught5. He dislikes to sit in
rubber overshoes and throws them off. A
sharp call requires him to cross the street,
"nu the soles of his boots become damp, if
t hU' wet Nothing short of a miracle saves
nt I'm rom taking cold, with a fine prospect
" ptohcnitls and, if he is a man of con-
'iTiai habits, OF pneumonia.
Jehness-Miller and other drsss rofou,,
So, u'no luch 10 Improve the fashions in
eiOt"iue OF late years. Our girls
are no longer equipped for the streets IN ,ho
stSie Whlch induced cynic to declare ,b,t
everything which a woman wears 49,
Planned by husbands who desired to get rid