Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-10
DREAD PNEUMONIA.
Most Terrible Of Diseases and Least
Understood.

Pneumonia is now the most deadly
disease of the cities Of the United
States. The two largest centres OF
population, New York and Chicago. are
striking examples Of the truth Of this
statement.
In these cities in the last few years
pneumonia has increased by leaps and
bounds, until it has displaced con-
sumption as the Captain Of the Men
Of Death" Consumption, by reason
Of rational treatment in the way OF
hygienic improvements, good santa
tion, better houses, fresh air and diet,
has steadily decreased throughout
America and especially in the cities,
but statistics show that pneumonia
year after year claims far more VIC
tins.
The figures for New York and Chi
cago during the last decade supply
convincing evidences that the outcry
as to the prevalence Of pneumonia Is
no alarmist tale, but Is founded upon
sober facts. In the first six months OF
1904 there were 42,700 deaths from all
causes in New York city, and Of this
number $3.50, or nearly 20 per cent
were due to pneumonia.
In 1903, 9,714 persons died In New
York from pneumonia. The total death
rate has risen from 1873 per 1000 In
1908 to 22.23 per 1000 for the first six
months Of 1904, acute lung affections
being mainly responsible for the in
crease.
In 1900, 105,971 persons died In the
United States Of pneumonia, 10.15 pei
cent Of all deaths being due to the dis
ease. In the same period the mortality
from consumption decreased from 12.2s
per cent to 1899 per cent.
Comparing city with country the
census Of 1900 shows that the mortal
ity from pneumonia per 100000 inhab-
itants of cities was 1881; for rural
districts, 1859. From consumption
for cities, 204S; for rural districts,
1341.
The mortality from pneumonia
among negroes was $40 per 100000 and
anong whites 1S4.S per 100000. Whites
of foreign birth were shown to be
much more susceptible to pneumonia
than those of native birth.
In Chicago in 1908 there were 4.62s
deaths from pneumonia, exceeding the
deaths from consumption by more than
1900. The present Chicago proportion
of pneumonia deaths to deaths from
all causes is 1875 per cent, from con-
sumption, 11.3 per cent. Corresponding
figures for New York are II per cent
for pneumonia and lis for consump-
ton.
In New York, while the tuberculosis
leath rate has decreased In thirty
years from 4.27. to 2.41, the pneumonia
rate has risen from 1.s5 to 2.Ss per
thousand.
The greatest number Of deaths from
pneumonia ever recorded in a single
week In New York was s64, In the be-
ginning Of January, 1904. Enough has
been said plainly to show that pneu-
monia holds the foremost place among
deadly diseases in this country.
"The cause Of pneumonia has only
been known for a comparatively short
time" said New York physician in
commenting upon these figures
Twenty years ago 1t was not believed
to be caused by germ. Now 1t Is 9
matter of common knowledge among
the medical profession that the dis
ease has its origin in a germ termed
the pneumococcus or rather the diplo-
coccus pneumoni.
"There are other germs, too, which
play a part In the causation Of the
malady. According to a great author
ity, pneumonia Is not disease OF the
lungs, but a general fever with local
manifestations caused by an infective
microbe. Some of the germs which
cause pneumonia are present In the
body Of perhaps so per cent OF the
community at large, and these gain
the upper hand and multiply on ac-
count Of the systems being In a low
and debilitated state and thus open to
the inroads of the enemy.
Influenza Is one of the most potent
Of all factors in the spread Of pneu-
monia on a wide scale. No affection
leaves the body in a more depressed
and susceptible condition than does the
grip. Measles Is perhaps the mos'
fruitful cause Of pneumonia In chill
dren.
Exposure to cold is, Of course, Of
ten the exciting element In an at
tack of pneumonia, while the abuse oi
alcohol is an important indirect cause.
with regard to the infectivity oi
pneumonia there is much yet to oe
learned. However 1t Is known thai
the bacteria Of this disease resemble ir
many respects those Of tuberculosis
Both are of a relatively low order ol
infectivity, and both are conveyed
through the air by means Of dust.
"A large number Of medical author
tiles believe that the prevalence o1
pneumonia in the large cities Of the
United States and especially In Ne"
York and Chicago, is due to the over
heating Of houses, apartments, public
buildings and Offices, and to the lack
of moisture in the indoor atmosphere
On this subject little has been writ
ten.
"Notter says that the best ratio OF
moisture has not been scientifically
determined. but it is supposed 1t should
be from IS to 10 per cent. Dr. Henry
Mitchell Smith Of Brooklyn recently
wrote a paper on Indoor Humidity
embodying the results Of years OF
study and observation Of the harmful
effects of an overheated and overdry
indoor atmosphere upon the health.
He pointed out that the neglect OF
the element Of watery vapor IN the
air is the greatest cause Of overhead
ing our houses. A low humidity is
the great cause of discomfort, the
source of much i'll health, catarrhs
colds and other diseases Of the skin
mucous membranes. etc.
TESTS conclusively Prov. that a
percentage Of moisture above 30, with
a temperature Of about 65 degrees