The times., 1898-08-01
THE NEGRO DEATH RATE.
Dr. Shadd's Conclusions Given nj
the Hampton Conference

most profound impression al the animal
coiored conference at Hampton Institute
hampton. Va, recently. was presented bv
LIT. urInan j. Shadd of this city. A grad
uate OF the collegiate and medical de-
partments of Howard University who
has had fourteen years in the practice
of medicine in the District of Columbia
much of the time as consulting physi-
clan In the Freedman's Hospital His
subject was "A Remedy for the Excessive
Mortality of the Negro" AS a basis of
his thesis he said:
In considering this important subject
l shall not occupy your time and atten-
tion by giving data to prove the fact that
the negro is dying more rapidly than the
whites. In fact. under the best sanitary
conditions Of our largest citfes-Washing-
ton. New York. Chicago, San Francisco
and New Orleans-his death rate is more
than double that of the whites. Such a
condition is alarming TO all thoughtful
persons. and this conference must take
its part in correcting the malady By
which the negro is carried off at 50 rapid
rate. Not only to the physician is the
study of vital statistics fascina ting and
instructive. but to the student of sociolo-
ey the subject affords a field replete in
facts and deduction. nation IS an ac-
cumulation of individuals: summing up
of the peculiarities of each makes the his
tory of the people. stating their strength
or weakness, their growth or decline Our
profession has known for some time that
the death rate of the negro has been in
creasing. and in some places showing less
births than deaths. condition forebOd-
ing results of serious gravity to the race.
Mr. l.. NJ. Hershow has collected valuable
data bearing directly upon this subject.
and TIE time has come in our race his
tory when We cannot shut our eyes 10 the
common scenes and incidents surrounding
us.
Prof Kelly Miller has written an. able
and ingenious paper reviewing Hof-
mans Race Traits and Tendencies of the
American Negro. To the literary por-
tion of our race, the deductions and con-
clusions reached by the scholarly pro-
fessor may be quite convincing, but 10
any physician who has had extensive
practice among the race the facts and
statistical data cannot be brushed away
with the rejoinder that the data were
collected by white agents, and hence the
worst phases in our life and death are
mentioned against us; for We know that
the negro does die much faster than the
whites and the causes of his death are
generally in keeping with Hoffman's
idea. 1 have read Hofrman's book with
care. and most of the facts therein con-
tanned are in accord with my profess
SiOU9i eynaFienap u
years / have come in contact with thou
sands of the poor. afflicted members of
the race. Do not understand me 10 affirm
that all of his deductions are approved,
but my experience teaches me that the
book struck the keynote. and il is our
duty TO stop quibbling over the criticism
and set 10 work 10 correct the alarming
causes which are so graphically de-
picted by this statistician. Honman's
book has been of great value 10 the
negro. II has caused him 10 look in upon
himself. Seif-inspection is always good
for the individual
Negro mortality must be reduced. is
the watchword of every intelligent per-
son. While We deplore the PRONUNCIATION
of facts which are detrimental to us yet
the end will justify the means We must
have results. not sentimental specula-
ton Among the mos fruitful causes
lowing: Infant mortality tuberculosis.
scrofuIosis. specific infection. gastro-in-
testinal diseases, heredity and environ
ment. Mos of these conditions can be
changed by the negro himself without
the aid of outside influences. Only those
persons who come into intimate contact
with the colored people can fully ap-
preciJe their racial traits and char
acteristics. Only after very careful in
spection should we attempt TO answer
as to the social problems affecting the
vital conditions of the negro of today
and his conditions in the future. My OBJ
servation leads me TO believe that more
factors inimical 10 the race are found
within than without. In medical Ian
guage we call such conditions auto-in-
fection. i believe that racial strength
and progress depend upon individualiza-
tion. The Jews are an example for Us 20
initiate; they have retained their racial
traits all over the world even though
for 50 many years
THE care of children is pivotal facsor
in the national life and prosperity. The
prolifcness of the negro woman today
is net as great as in former times. The
reasons are many, but chief among them
is a complete change of environment
She is assimilating the tastes. habits
and conditions which she observes
around her. She does not pride herself
as did her mother and grandmother. over
the large family she has raised Modern
ideas have filled her head. and she. like
the new woman, wants freedom from
home cares The very women who are
best fitted by education, social condi-
tions and physical health are the ones
who remain single. and. if married. shun
the cares of motherhood.
"A large part of infant mortality is due
to hereditary tendencies causing tnbercu-
los!s, which proves fatal in most cases.
Hence, to control such conditions. We
must restrict marriages where one or
both parties are in the last stages of coa-
sumption. This brings me TO consider
the subject of tuberculosis as a potent
factor in negro mortality. Consumption
is the greatest enemy the negro has. ex-
cept his vices. The mortality is very
great. From 10 to 90 per cent are carried
off annually. Health reports give increas-
ed mortality in this respect every year
because the profession is learning more
about il Some claim that one-third of
the people who live to middle age have
some form of tuberculosis. Care, good
diet and sanitary conditions often hold
tuberculosis in allegiance preventing the
spread TO the lungs. My experience teach
es me that the negro cannot stand local
tubercular infection without running
great risk of pulmonary complications,
and, furthermore, / think the mulatto is
more susceptible than the blacks Being
very careless about himself the negro
often contracts colds, and his unsanitary
surroundings make him an easy prey for
the ravages of tuberculosis.
Starting out with the hypothesis that |
the negro is susceptible TO tuberculosis. |
the question naturally follows: How can |