New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-11
PHTHIsIs INCREASED, HE SAYS
More Figures Cited to Condemn Con-
sumption Crusade.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue OF June 10 appears a
letter from F. 8. Crum, OF Newark, y. j.,
which is designed as a crushing reply to
my article. The Trail of the Consump-
ton Crusade" published in yours OF Jam
uary 5, In which | take the ground, on
the strength OF a statistical inquiry, that
the present so-called crusade against con-
sumption is an aggravation rather than
an alienation. and that consequently the
mortality from this disease is greater
than It was before the Inauguration OF
the crusade.
II Is agreed that consumption has al
ways been gradually decreasing in this
country, the question at issue being
whether the decrease was more marked
before than since the advent OF the afore-
mentioned crusade which came into eX-
istence about the middle eos
Mr. Crum produces statistics OF con-
sumption deaths. collected from twenty
American cities. covering a period OF
thirty-fve years, from 1915 TO 1909, and
compares the death rate OF the five-year
period from 1875 TO 1879 with the five-year
period from 1890 to 1894. and the latter
with the ive-year period from 1905 TO 1909
Parenthetically IL may be stated that
the interval between the first and second
five-year periods practically covered the
time when no special preventive meas
ures were in vogue. and that the interval
between the second and third fve-year
periods marks the time when all possible
energies OF the crusade were i'm full sway
and when millions were prodigally spent
TO sweep the disease into oblivion.
According 10 Mr.. Crum's own calcula-
ton. the average death rate OF the
lS75-'79 period was S.l6 per thousand liy-
ing. that OF 1902 25l per thousand and
that OF 1860 l.s5 per thousand. dor
the sake of uniformity have taken the
liberty OF reducing the figures from
10000 TO 1000 basis. which does not
alter their validity) In applying the
above averages il is perfectly clear TO
most people outside OF Bedlam that the
decrease during the interval between the
first and second hve-year periods equals
the difference between 1916 and 2.5l. which
Is 0,65 per thousand living: that the de-
crease In the second interval between
the second and third fve-year periods.
equals the difference between 25l and
1875. which is 056 per thousand living.
Now, in summing up Mr. Crum reaches
the astonishing conclusion that the de-
crease In the second interval Is nearly .
per cent greater than that OF the first
BY what special pSths OF logic he arrives
at this subtle conclusion is not altogether
clear. unless one admits that black is
white. or that O56 is greater than 065 per
thousand living. IL not. then We are per-
mitted to say that the aggregate decrease
In the average death rate OF consumption
from 1916 TO 1909 Is 065 plus 056. which
equals a total OF III per thousand living
or reduction equalling the difference
between 0.65 and O.56. which is O.9 per
thousand living. or 7i3 per cent in favor
Of the first interval.
Let us submit his second table 20 a like
analysis. which is supposed to cover the
consumption statistics of Boston. New
York and Philadelphia for hundred
years, from 1912 to 1912. This table is d.
vided into ten-year periods. and. begin
ming with the ten-year period from 1872 TO
1881, II Is found that the average death
rate per thousand living was 3.S7; from
1892 to 1901, 262 and In 1912 was $50.
Therefore. In the first interval consump-
ton declined LIS per thousand living. and
only o.72 per thousand In the second,
demonstrating that there was a decrease
OF o.iS per thousand living or 224i per
cent. In favor OF the first interval.
II may come as a surprise that such
distortion OF facts and figures is resorted
to. In the place Of being rare. II is rather
frequent occurrence for we are con-