Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-04-02
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SCIENTIFIC WARFARE ON CON
SUMPTION.

SCIENTIFIC WARFARE ON CON
sUMPTloN.
1.-The mortality from consumption
in dusty trades" is the subject of an
article by Frederick l.. Hoffman in
bulletin No. 20 of the bureau of Ia
Dor, department of comerce and Ia
Dor. The writer discusses. the pro-
eesses and working conditions in &C.
equations where, because of dust, the
employment is injurious to health
and leads. to the development of con-
sumption in particular. Much valu-
able material from official sources
and from insurance mortality expert
ence is also presented, showing the
excessive mortality in dusty occupa-
lions. Forty-two occupations are
considered, divided into four groups
according as they are subject to ex-
posure to metallic dust, mineral dust,
vegetable fiber dust Or animal and
mixed fiber dust.
OF the deaths from all causes
among males Is years of age and ov-
er in the registration area of the
United States, 1913 per cent were
from consumption. According to in
dustrial insurance experience the
corresponding proportions we're 1863
per cent for occupations exposed to
metallic dust, 2S.6 per cent for those
exposed to mineral dust, 24.8 per
cent for those exposed to vegetable
fiber dust, and 1921 per cent for those
exposed to animal and mixed fiber
dust. The occupations showing the
highest consumption mortality we're
grinders, among whom 1872 per cent
Of all deaths were from that disease.
IN each occupation group the high
est consumption mortality was
among persons from Is to "a years of
age, the proportion Of deaths from
consumption for that age group be-
ing 57.2 per cent in occupations ex-
posed to metallic dust, 47.6 per cent
in those exposed to mineral dust,
s39 per cent in those exposed to veg
etable fiber dust, and 1873 per cent in
those exposed to animal and mixed
fiber dust, as compared with 31.3
per cent for males in the registra-
ton area.
In conjunction with the Industrial
Insurance mortality experience, oc-
eupational mortality statistics are
presented from the reports of the
United States census, British official
reports, and the occupation mortality
statistics Of Rhode Island, which fur
nish additional evidence of the
health-injurious effects of exposure
in the occupations considered. These
Injurious effects are reflected in the
comparatively small proportion of
persons of advanced years, higher
general death rate, and very high
specific death rates from consump-
ton and other respiratory diseases.
1t is the opinion of the author that
BY Intelligent methods of ventilation
and dust removal the consumption
death rate among wage earners can
be reduced from 2.2 per 1000, the
rate based on the number of deaths
among gainfully employed persons
10 years of age and over in the reg
5stration states in 1900 to is per
1000, the average rate for 200 small
cities, as shown in the mortality
statistics of tae United census for
1901 to 1905 Such a reduction, the
author estimates, would result in an
annual saving of 22,23S human lives
and would add 1914 years of life for
every death from consumption
avoided by rational conditions Of in
dastriaI life. Such gain would rep
resent total Of 342,465 years of adj
ditionaI lifetime. and by just SO much
the Industrial efficiency of the Amer
lean nation would increase. Placing
the economic value of years life
time at only 5000, the total average
economic gain to the nation would
be $1,000 for every avoidable death Of
i, wage Garner from consumption,
representing the enormous total Of
~, ~. 900 ais the aggregate annual
aaancial value In the probable saving
+ years Of adult human life. With