The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-16
THE WORLD IRIS FIELD.
Record Of tho Ravnges OF the nrese
Dreaded OF Diseases.

Accoro OF tnc HavnEes OF the Nest
Dreaded OF Diseases.
So far as anybody can discover now,
says the New York Times, consumption
has existed in all ages and In all coun-
tries AS far back as the 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 off 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 $4,000 in
habitants showed yearly SO deaths
from consumption for every thousand
OF population. From 1869 to 1889
Berlin's rate was 3,s per. thousand per
annum. Hamburgs record was S.4.
In Frankfort-on-the-M 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 ~.
London does not make 80 poor o
showing as might be expected from a
city having bad climate. From 1s4S
to 1855 Its ratio for consumption was 81.
In the ten years from 1850 to- 1860, how
ever, the rate went down to S3.\ Rlin-
ourgh's record for four years about 1860
was fatal cases for each thousand in
haoltants. In the four years up to and
including 1855 Belgium made showing
OF S5. For the Netherlands, from 1869
to 1874, the figure was $40. Switzer-
land, from 1865 to 1860, showed / so. In
Berne the rate was fur higher than
this, reaching 80. Among the cities of
Europe the rate was lowest in Geneva,
where it was 80. The country districts
brought down the average for the con-
federation. In Paris, from lS45 to 1851,
the showing was Al; from 1872 to 1877
it was 40. Italian records give varia-
tions from 1913 to 4.Oa. The rate in Rome
is given as 3.53.
In Rio Janeiro there is n rate which is
rather surprising to persons who have
looked upon that town as enjoying
very warm climate. The city, accord
ing to the statisticians, loses five of each
thousand of its residents each year
through the ravagcs of consumption.
Pernambuco makes even a more unfa.
vorable record, for there the figures run
to SO. The rate for Australia is given
as 3.22.
In this city, from 1905 to 1887, the rate
was 5.3. By 1870 it was down to Al.
Albany in that year showed 80 and
Buffalo Ia. Between 1907 and 1870 the
rate in Philadelphia was SO. In 1870 It
stood at the comparatively low figure of
81. Chicago in the same year was re-
turned Mt 1.0, Richmond, Va, at 80 and
ST. Louis at IT. In Charleston, S. c.,
the rate for the whites was 81, and for
the blacks a. Tho 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 $1,000 900 of the
earth's inhabitants every year. Con-
sumption very often lasts from two to
three years, and frequently it covers a
greater period. A record is given of
one patient who had tho disease for
forty years, finally succumbing to it.
OF course to all consumptives the Koch
treatment is matter CT the greatest
Importance. Naturally they watch with
eagcrness for the results of the expert
ments with the German professors
lymph.
Some writers on the subject of con-
sumption declare that the fatal terInin-
alton of most cases leads to an under
estimate of the number of instances in
which recovery takes place. The popu-
lar notion of its universally fatal char
acter, they say, is mistake. Traces of
an old tuberculous affection are not
very uncommon in bodies examined
after death from other and various
diseases, showing that the progress of
the old ailment had been arrested.
Changes Of climate and improved
methods of treatment have MI done
much to retard the progress Of the dis
ease, but any thing like generally eff
fective cure has never been within the
reach of the consumptive. Sanguine
advocates of the lymph prophcsy much
for 1t. Their greatest hope is that it
will supply just this long sought de-
sideratum.
a Few " Briticisms."