The broad ax., 1908-01-18
Eoter.d Vt the Post Office a. Chicago
q. As Seeond-clas Matter.
HOW TO KEEP WELL.
Some Helpful Hints from the Health
Department.
CONSUMPTION,

CONSUMPTION.
The death rate from consumption
among marble workers and stone cut
ters is six times greater than that OF
bankers, brokers and officials OF COM
panies.
The statistician of one of the big
insurance companies says that over
80 per cent of all deaths among stone
workers, printers, glass workers, brass
workers, bookkeepers. plumbers, sales
men, matters, silk weavers, and cigar
makers were due to consumption.
Among stone cutters, between the
ages of 25 and So. the deaths from
consumption ran nearly 65 per cent
of the deaths from all causes; and for
glass workers, between the same ages,
the consumption death rate was 5S.t
per cent of the deaths from all caus-
es
Now, the fact that certain occupa-
tons shows a much higher death rate
from consumption than do other
trades and callings, is due not so much
to the trades themselves as to the
conditions which surround those who
work IN them. This would be the
rule. There are. however, a few &C.
equations where inherent features OF
the trades tend to predispose those
who work in them to consumption. In
this class may be mentioned stone
cutters and other dust producing cal
lings. But as a rule. the conditions
under which people are compelled to
work, rather than the calling itself,
are the causes that produce a high
consumption death rate. For exam
pie, those working in certain trades,
such as hat and cap makers, garment
workers, cigar makers. printers, ETC.,
are as a rule, compelled to work und-
er conditions and surroundings that
tend to weaken their vitality and in
ute disease. Take hat and cap max
ers. In this trade IL out Of 10000 die
from consumption due to the over
crowded, i'll ventilated rooms. long
hours and other conditions that seri-
ously affect their bodily health and
vigor. So the same may be said of
the other occupations mentioned, all
OF which show a high death rate from
consumption.
But summing it all I'D in a few
words, bad air, dark rooms. poor food
and cverwork are the causes. One
writer has said that consumption is a
bedroom disease. In a sense he is
right; but any room, and especially a
work room, may be made a breeding
spot for consumption.
One of the encouraging signs of the
times, however, is the work the labor
unions are dong to force employers to
prov'oe bette quarters for those who
tell in shops and mills. So too, there
are many employers who are finding
out that it pays to give their work
people plenty of fresh air and sun
light They are discovering that I'M
der these conditions their help viii
do better work and more Of It than
when compelled to work in dark
rooms and stinted in their supply Of
good air and sunhine. which are Nat
ure's aid to bodily health and vigor.
Chicago has an excellent ordinance
defining and regulating workshops,
and providing for the maintenance of
sanitary conditions in places of this
kind. Among other things, It pro-
cides that they shall be kept clean
and that when conducted in such q
manner as TO endangsr the health o.
those employed In them, It shall be
the duty Of the mayor to revoke the
. license Of any shop so conducted.
Section 1867 of the City Code also
says, THAT no person being the own
er, proprietor, lessee, manager, or su.
perintendent Of any store, factory,
Workshop, or other structure or place
Of employment where worlmen or
WorkWomen are employed for wages.
shall cause, permit or allow the same
or any portion or apartment Of, or
any room In such store. factory, work
shop, or other structure or place of
employment to be overcroWded or In
adequate, faulty or insufficient in res
pet to light. ventilation. heat ana
eseanIlnsss: and In every such build
ms or apartment, or room in any
sueh building where one or more
persons are employed therein, at least
aEs hundred cubic feet Of air space