Cheyenne record., 1914-07-09
Copyright. 1914. BY A. S. Grzy)
BRIGHT's DISEASE.

Last year approximately 100000
Americans died from Bright's and
other diseases of the kidneys.
Had a railroad wreck or a. Titanic
disaster killed one-hundredth this num-
Der the world would gasp in horror
and the newspapers Of the country
would be taxed to issue special
editions in sufficient number to meet
the public demand for information on
the subject, and senatorial or con-
,gressional committees would be ap-
pointed to Investigate the cause and
formulate laws for the prevention of
like disasters in the future.
But because we are used to 1t and
because they are snufIed out only a
few at . time we ignore this appalling
sacrifice Of 100000 human lives and
take 1t as matter of course. And
the absurdity of this position is the
more startling when we know that
fully so per cent of these deaths. or
10000 could be prevented or at least
postponed for many years with greater
ease and certainty than a Titanic dis
aster can be prevented.
Our stupidity becomes still more
amazing in the face of the fact that
deaths from these diseases are stead
lily increasing at an enormous rate. In
the vital statistics registration area,
now covering approximately GO per
cent of our population. deaths from
kidney diseases have increased 70 per
cent In 20 years and 23 per cent in
last ten years. In the city OF Chicago
the Increase has been At per cent in
the last ten years.
Bright's and the allied diseases are
clearly diseases of civilization; they
advance together. They are the dis
eases Of highly seasoned food. or drink.
Of indolent habits of body and mind.
and Of mental "strain." commonly
called worry.
The 1910 census gave the United
States a population increase OF Fl per
cent in the ten-year period between
1900 and 1910 and showed the rural
population to number 54 per cent and
the urban population 46 per cent Of
the whole.
Within this ten-year period the rural
population increased only II per cent
while the urban population increased
81 per cent and this very material
change in the ratio between the pro-
ducers and the consumers Of the neces-
stiles of life must become a powerful
factor in the health of our people for
two reasons; first, because Of the
change in proximity to food supplies.
Less fresh food is being consumed by
hn H0Sufno into
our cities, and 1t Is a self evident fact
that the longer food Is held the greater
Is the danger Of contamination. Sec
ond, the increase in the ratio Of con-
sumer to producer Of the necessities OF
life means a perfectly logical increase
In the cost Of the production, hence an
Inevitable increase in the cost of liv-
ing and the worries incident thereto.
The subject Of the preservation and
transportation Of food Is Of vast i'm
portance and ia now receiving the at.
!ention Of the federal and state au-
thorities. but it is q subject on which
the individual citizen must seek en-
ughtenment II we are to make any
progress towards 4 happier humanity.
The very prevalent summer com.
plants" and other digestive troubles
Of childhood and Of humanity in gen.
eral are traceable directly to a COM
mon cause-filth. High infant NOR.
tality goes hand in hard with filth.
Food may be easily contaminated by
washing dishes and other containers
with polluted water, and fresh vege-
tables, such as are eaten raw, are open
to the same danger frcm the use OF
Impure water on them. Dirty hands
and the general ignorant indifference
Of those handling and preparing food
materials; partly decomposed fruit.
vegetables and meat; flies on the but
ter, on the bread and in the milk, d.
rect from the stable or gutter: dust
from the street composed of finely
ground horse manure-all contribute
their quota Of filth, and 1t Is this ele-
ment Of things too small to be seen
that is allowed to accumulate on the
surface Of foods, rather than the foods
themselves, that is the cause OF many
Of our troubles immediate and remote.
Undoubtedly in the near future it
will be conclusively demonstrated that
Bright's disease and the degenerative
diseases Of the kidneys, heart. arteries
and brain in general, including apo
plexy, now assumed to be caused by
deranged metabolism, the diseases
now responsible for our heaviest and