The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-18

VI. 4hotuab 0dFln8tOn n. D.s CofuInts~
 sioner of Health. New York City. Tn
 During the past decade one of the most important points which has thrust itself forward, compelling the attention of health officials. recorders of vital statistics and the medical profession at large has been the persistent increase in the mortality rate from disease of the heart. I have advisedly used the term compelling" as descriptive of the manner fin which this important mat ter has forced itself upon our notice.
 The situation in regard to the in- crease In mortality from heart disease urgently deamnds attention. In my ad- dress as President before the Medical Association at It's last annual meeting. stated in detail the conditions as they then existed in various cities of the United States. These statistics showed an increase in mortality from diseases of the heart which apparently had little bearing on the question of locality. A few cities showed no increase, and q limited minority gave a slight decrease. In order to ascertain exact conditions and a statement of opinion from those officials in each locality who might Do assumed to speak with authority in re- gard to the situation within his own domain, I sent a set of questions to tho health officers of prominent cities in this country. The territory covered from California In the West to Maine in the East, and from Montreal, Canada. In the North to Louisiana in the South.
 consider the answers received of sufficient importance to warrant the taking up of the inquiries in order, and have endeavored to so group the replies that they may be productive of the greatest value.
 Tn answer to the questions, we first find the increased mortality from heart disease to be quite general in its dis tribution.
 The mortality statistics of the Gen. sus Bereau for the ive-year period from 1901 to 1905, inclusive. covering the States of Connecticut. Indiana, Maine. Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire. New Jersey. New York. Rhode Island and Vermont. show an average general increase in the death rate from heart disease of POS per i0,- 900 population. and an average general increase in the death rate from Bright's disease of 1.31 per 10000 population. The increase has been general through out all of these States, New Hampshire showing the greatest combined in- crease. with Massachusetts, a close second. The highest death rate from heart disease is shown by Massachu- eetts, with a rate of fs.47. while New Hampshire has a rate of 1925. Indiana has the lowest rate from both diseases ---10.26 in heart disease and 5.7s in Bright's.
 The temperamental strain which makes up what Is called the "Ameri. can Spirit of Progress" has resulted in achievements incompatible in the his- tory of the world. During the early years of our national life physical labor was the rule and essential in the upbuilding Of the country. but with it, hand in hand. went the normal and wholesome conditions of living imposed by the limitations of a young country and the virile qualifications inherent in the hardy settler. A Century ago our methods of living had changed little except in the addition of the comforts and uxuries which national and indi- viduaI prosperity afforded. Life was still wholesome and normal in its larg. CT outlook. Then with the advent of what we are pleased to call the coneo. nnitant attributes Of civilization, came the age of social and mental unrest, vast commercial opportunities and corn- petition.
 Z We are paying ouf. prices of our social and material advancement. Phy. sieaIly we indeed need rugged consit- tutions to hold us up in the pace we are travelling. Individually we have undermined the vigorous health which was characteristic of our forefathers, and we are bringing into the world children whose physical status is even less hardy than our own. Out of 2T5.. 900 children examined in the public schools Of New York City, over 70 per cent were found to be suffering from sonne physical abnofmality, all handi. capped at the very beginning of their life struggle. and of these children nearly $500 had heart disease in some form. feel confident that such con. ditions is no execution in this regard
 Tn this connection we must take ac. count of the modern tendency to over. indulgence in athletic sports. It is well known that overactivity in this direction, with the physical strain, re. sulting from keefily contested games leaves it's imprint on the physical status of the immature or underdevei- oped youth. Insurance companies con- slider athletes "poor risks" and this attitude IS we'll grounded. It would seem that the medical profession might we'll take cognizance of this matter to ascertain what bearing it has. If any. upon this question of the increase in the prevalence of and death rate from deArt disease
 According to our statistics in New York City. which may be taken as rep resentativs of the larger cities of this country, the rise in the death rate con. tinues steadily to increase during the succeeding years of life until 1t reaches it's maximum, at sixty years.
 Rheumatism and a1coh oIism must not be overlooked in our study of this sub- feet. They are cited with consistent regularity as the immediate cause of heart disease. Are we not however, unthinkinE and careless in our search for Fundamental facts when we allow ourselves to limit our investigation at this point? May. we not go further back and consider the causes which lead to these conditions? DiscardinS the connecting set of theories which are advocated as the primal root of rheumatic affections we are safe in assuming that exposure to the ele4 niefts, lack of proper nourishr1ient ana rich foods are contrihilfdrv caiIaAn arA