Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-03-30
THE WORLD ITS FIELD.
Record Of tho Ravages OF tho Most
Dreaded of Diseases.

Dreaded of Diseases.
So far Us anybody can discover now,
says the Now York Times, consumption
has existed in all ages and in all coun-
tries. AS far back as tho records of
civilized people can be traced they tell
of the existence of the disease and of
its character. In coast lands and
plateaus, valleys and hillsides, marshes
and mountains, the bacillus has been
carrying of its thousands ever since
mankind has been on earth. German
statisticians have figured it out that in
any population on the average the pro-
portion of deaths by consumption is to
the deaths by all other diseases as one
to seven.
Here are some figures showing what
the death rate from consumption has
been in some Of the principal cities of
the world From 1877 to 1880 all the
German cities having over $1,000 in
habitants showed yearly 3.6 deaths
from consumption for every thousand
of population. From 1869 to 1882
Berlin's rate was 3.s per thousand per
annum. Hamburg's record was 3.4.
In Frankfort-on-the-Ma the fatal
cases each year were 3.5 for every thou
sand inhabitants. From 1865 to 1874
the rate in Vienna was very high, reach
ing no less percentage than TT.
London does not make so poor a
showing as might be expected from q
city having a bad climate From 1S48
to 1855 it's rate for consumption was 81.
In the ten years from 1859 to 1869, how
ever, the rate went down to 32. Edin-
burgh's record for four years about 1850
was fatal cases for each thousand in
habitants. In the four years up to and
including 1855 Belgium made 4 showing
of 3.5. For the Netherlands, from 1869
to 1874, the figure was 2.46. Switzer-
land, from 1865 to 1869, showed 1.S6. In
Dcrnc the rate was far higher than
this, reaching 80. Among the cities of
Europe the rate was lowest in Geneva,
where it was 2.i. The country districts
brought down the average for the con-
federation. In Paris, from 1915 to 1851,
the showing was Al; from 1872 to 1877
it was AZ. Italian records give varia-
tons from 3.73 to 4.O4. The rate in Rome
is given as 3.52.
In Rio Janciro there is n rate which is
rather surprising to persons who have
looked upon that town as enjoying a
very warm climate. The city, accord
thousand of it's residents each year
through the ravages of consumption.
Pcrnambuco makes even n more unfa-
vorable record, for there the figures run
to SO. The rate for Australia is given
as 2.G2.
In this city, from 1905 to 1887, the rate
was 5.3. by 1870 it was down to Al.
Albany in that year showed 30 and
Buffalo IA. between 1907 and 1910 the
rate in Philadelphia was Sc. In 1870 it
stood ut the comparatively low figure of
81. Chicago in the same year was re-
turned ut 1.G, Richmond, Va. ut SO and
ST. Louis ut II. In Charleston, s. c.,
the rate for the whites was 81, and for
the blacks a. The rate in Memphis
was 2.S3 and in New Orleans 80.
These figures give one an idea of the
prevalence of the disease which is said
to sweep away about 100000 of the
earth's inhabitants every year. Con
sumption very often lasts from two to
three years, and frequently it covers O
greater period. A record is given of
| one patient who had tho disease for
forty years, finally succumbing to it.
| OF course to all consumptivcs the Koch
treatment is a matter of the greatest
Importance. Naturally they watch with
eagcrness for the results of the expert
mcnts with the German professors
lymph.
Some writers on the subject of con-
sumption declare that the fatal termln-
alton of most cases leads to an under
estimate of the number of instances in
which recovery takes place. Tho popu-
lar notion of its universally fatal char
acter, they say, is q mistake. Traces of
an old tubcrculous affection arc not
very uncommon in bodies examined
after death from other and various
diseases, showing that tho progress OF
the old ailmont had been arrested.
Changes of climate and improved
methods of treatment havo all done
much to rctard the progress of the dis
case, but any thing like generally eff.
fective cure has never been within the
reach of the consumptivc. Sanguine
advocates of the lymph prophesy much