The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-10-29
SAVING IN SANITATION.
Financial Loss to Communities From sfch
ness and Death.

Financial Loss to Communities From sfch.
| ness and Death.
This is . hard, practical age that de-
mands money value for every progress
i've step, and efforts to improve sani-
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
ity, 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 IL, more than so
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
1sss. Similar progress is indicated for
consumption, but greater for small
pox. The latter disease killed 502 per-
sous in every 100, 600 just previous to
Jenner's discovery, in 1850. In 1855
there were only Q deaths from small
pox to 100, 900. A remarkable decrease
is indicated also for all general causes
In 1879 the rate stands at so des tbs for
every 1000 inhabitants. and diminishes
to 1874 in 1855 in London
The greatest progress has been made.
OF course, since sanitation became q
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 35. 900,
and the minimum 81. 900 for damages
William Farr, in his cold calculations
of mortality and loss, estimated the
life of an English farm laborer at
81, 200 and a woman's about $500 less
These figures are too low for Ameri-
can labor. and decidedly low for a large
portion of the middle class. For illus
tration, however, the conservative fg-
ure $1,000 is generally used This
amount multiplied by the death rate
of given place gives the approximate
loss TO that community. This does
not include loss from sickness, which
some statisticians estimate on a basis
Of ten or twelve cases to every death |
In small towns, where sanitary |
measures have not been generally |
adopted, and u proper sewerage sys
tenn is unknown. barring epidemics.
the number of deaths yearly has gen
orally averaged four 20 seven per
10 900 population Taking the money |
value of each life at 81. 600, the amount /
of loss TO the town is obvious
Pettenkofer calculated after years
Of accounting that every German SOL
der lost per cent of his time By sick
ness II this is true of well fed, \
equipped and watered soldiers, we
must expect larger rate in cities like
New York. where conditions are in
many places detrimental 20 health and
the stress of life weakens physical
stamina Il is proved beyond question
by carefully kept records that proper
sanitation relieves the discomfort Of
the poorer classes reduces psuperisua-
prevents famine and inereAses capac-
ity for labor production II 10 esti-
mated that in London 2$o, 90 lives are
saved annually by modern sanitation
Proceeding with the calculation that
there are ten cases of sicksess TO every
death. and that the individual cost -
not less than s. day FOR subsistence
and medicine. for . raximun period
OF ten days. and the amount saved fg-
ures s. 800 ooo Going further. and e.
tiuatirg the annual earnings Of ths
lives saved a. $500 each. and 81, ,ooo. ooc
socrues. which. after cost Of keeping
,be individuals is subtrsesed. leaves .
large saving Hard and practical ~
these statistics appear. they prove Be
yond question that sanitary scsence.
yet IN It's intsncy. "a p-cnriA-y bere1t
20 a Community. sno unSou 5.edly VIII
schie-e even more renzrkable rssEifs
ir he sutu-e--N. Y. Ti-ss