The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
SAVING IN SANITATION.
Financial Loss to Communities From Sic
ness and Death.


Financial Loss to Communities From siesk' |
ness and Death.
This is a hard, practical age that de- |
mands money value for every progress.
i've step, and efforts to improve sani- |
tary conditions are too often retarded
by this mercenary claim. As argu-
ments sanitarians present some re-
markable statistics, showing financial
loss. individually and as whole, to
communities when an epidemic pre-
walls. A number of very interesting
tables and diagrams have been COM
piled by Mr.. G. E. Willetts, OF Mich
igan, showing mortality from general
and specific causes covering period OF
two hundred and fifty years His
search of the records of England has
been very thorough, resulting princi'
pally In estimates of London and En-
glish counties
From tables simply arranged with
| heavy black columns varying in length
according to the percentage of mortal
| itv. it is shown that in London from
| 1860 to 1879 the rate of mortality from
fevers alone was SIS per 100, 900 persons
| In 1888 it was but II, more than Sc
times less. The reduction shows great.
est between 1901 and 1910, after which
it remains about stationary through
1s41 10 1871, showing slight change to
1888. Similar progress is indicated Tor
consumption, but greater for small.
pox. The latter disease killed 500 per-
sons in every 100, 900 just previous to
Jenner's discovery, in 1880. In 1885
there were only deaths from small
box to 100, 900. A remarkable decrease
is indicated also for all general causes.
In 1879 the rate stands at 30 dea tbs Tor
every !, 900 inhabitants, and diminishes
to 1874 in 1883 in London.
The greatest progress has been made
of course, since sanitation became
science, and increasing advancement,
is shown when people have learned
that the adoption of its measures saves
money. In most states the maximum
value of a mans life is put at IS, 600
and the minimum 81, 900 for damages
William Farr, In his cold calculations
of mortality and loss, estimated thu
life of an English farm laborer a
, g.. 200 and a woman's about $500 less.
These figures are too low for Ameri
can labor, and decidedly low for larg'
portion of the middle class. For illus
tration, however, the conservative hg
8 ure $1,000 is generally used. Thi
. amount multiplied by the death rat
I of a given place gives the approximat
loss to that community. This doe
not include loss from sickness, whicl
some statisticians estimate on basi
of ten or twelve cases to every death
In small towns, where sanitar
measures have not been general
, adopted, and proper sewerage sys
tenn is unknown, barring epidemic'
the number of deaths yearly has ger
orally averaged four to seven pc
10, 600 population. Taking the none
value of each life at $1,000. the amour
of loss 10 the town is obvious
Pettcnkoffer calculated after yea
: of accounting that every German so
1 der lost per cent. of his time by sicl
+ ness. II this is true OF well fet
! equipped and watered soldiers, W
must expect larger rate in cities Lib
New York, where conditions are
manv places detrimental to health ar
the stress OF lie WcanShS PnJ CIV
, stamina. 1t is proved beyond questlt
by carefully kept records that prop
sanitation relieves the discomfort
u the poorer classes, reduces pauperisr
prevents famine and increases capa
10 ity for labor production. 1t is es'
-, mated that in London FAC, 900 lives
!. saved annually by modern sanitatio
10 Proceeding with the calculation tn
=. there are ten cases of sickness to eve
20 death. and that the individual cost
ne not less than 81 day for subsisten
90 and medicine, for max.num peri
In of ten days. and the amount saved I
&c, ures g., 400, 600 Going further, and I
no timating the annual earnings OF t
lives saved at $500 each, and SO, oo0,'
ng accrues, which, after cost OF keep
ub the individuals is subtracted, leaves
nd large saving. Hard and practical
these statistics appear, they prove
nut yond question that sanitary scien
on vet in its infancy, is pecuniary benz
sat to community. and undoubtedly "
achieve even more remarkable resu
Law in the future.-N. Y. Times.
icy Reasonable Dress
IL h.s honu said that a wOma