The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-10-14
COST OF WHITE PLAGUE.
Prof. Fisher Says Amount Exceeds
One Billion Dollars Year

Washington. Oct. 4.--Prof. II
wing Fisher, the eminent political
economist of Yale University, who
in one of his papers before the re-
cent International tuberculosis con-
gress in Washington declared that
consumption costs the people of the
United States more than billion
dollars year, is preparing an ex-
haustive report for the National Con-
servation Commission. which will
contain not only these figures but
similar data on the economic loss to
the country from all other prevent
able diseases.
Prof Fisher is member of the
National Conservation Commission
and for many years has been carry
ling on studies along these lines. The
commission received letters from
physicians all over the country urg-
ing ii to consider the bearing of pub
lie health on the economic efficiency
of the nation in its efforts to ascer-
tain the resources of the country.
The commission from the begin
ming has contemplated reports on
the economic aspects of several phas-
es of the conservation movement
which affect the duration and effect
|iveness of human life, but Prof.
Fisher has undertaken to prepare a
comprehensive statement of the
whole subject of the relations of
public health to the general field of
conservation, and especially as to the
waste from preyentable diseases and
unnecessary deaths.
Dr.. Fisher is professor of politi-
cal economy at Yale University and
chairman of the Committee of One
Hundred" of the American Associa-
| ton for the Advancement of
Science, which has for long time
been carrying on propaganda for the
increase of national health through
the elimination of preventable dis
eases. This committee of One Hun
bred is composed of physicians and
men engaged in active sociological
| work in every part OF the country,
and the results of their Investigations
| and experience are all available to
| DR. Fisher, so that his report ought
| to be the most thorough going and
complete summary of the situation
ever made.
! At the tuberculosis Congress,
Prof Fisher declared that 1873, 600
persons die of consumption every
year. The cost of medical attendance
and the loss of earnings before
death average at least 81, 400, he
said, while if to this is added the
money that might have been earned
with health. the total loss in each
lease is about $4,000 He pointed out
also that the disease usually attacks
iyoung men and women just at the
time when they are beginning to earn
money and cuts off their earning
power for about three years on an
average, before they die.
| This subject of the economic val
ne to the country of general rails
ling of the average health came VI
| in the governors conference at the
White House in May. DR.. George M
| Kober in his speech on the 'Conser-
Walton of Life and Health by I'M
proved Water Supply at the confer
ience presented figures which showed
that the decrease in the vital as
sets" of the country through typhoid
! fever in a single year is more than
| $3.50, 900. 900. Typhoid is spread by
nolluted water largely SO that the
death rate from this disease can be
directly reduced by the publication
! of city drinking water. DR.. Kobel
quoted statistics to show that the
| increased value of the water TO the
city of Albany, where the typhoid fe-
yer rate was reduced from 104 in
100000 to 26 by an efficient filtra-
ton plant, amounts to 700 a
year. of which $350,000 may be
considered real increase to the Vi
tai assets of the city. Census bureau
| figures show that the average annual
death rate from typhoid in cities
| with contaminated water supplies
was reduced from GA per 100, 600
to 1913 by the substitution of pure
supplies.
Dr. Kober cited estimates showing
that the average length OF human
life in the sixteenth century was be-
tween Is and 20 years, and that at
| the close of the eighteenth century
it was a little more than so. while
today it is between 38 and 40--in-
deed, the span of life since 1880 has
| been heightened about six years.
A jewelers. Experience.