South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-04
PATHOLOGIC ASPECTS OF
XAGRANCY.

NAGRANCY
The acting superintendent OF the
New York municipal lodging house
has made study of about two thou
sand Migrants. His examination shows
that the immediate cause of vagrancy
is not, in the great majority of in
stances economic, but pathOlogic. The
common impression is that q great
many of the Migrants of large cities
are men whose advancing years have
thrown them oct of employment 1t
was found, on the contrary. that the
majority of the men who applied to
the New York municipal lodging house
were young indeed, in the very prime
of life. OF the two thousand men ex-
amined-five per cent were under p,
while only SIS per cent were over so.
1t is also generally assumed that
the majority of the Migrants are for
eigners. There is an idea, too. that a
great many Of the Migrants in large
cities are not city-born. but have been
attracted TO the centers of population
because of the ease with which an I'M
earned livelihood may be obtained
there.
The report, however contradicts all
these a priori impressions. OF the
two thousand men examined. only two
per cent had been in this country less
than three years, while only nine per
cent had been in New York less than
one year The average time of resi-
dence in the metropolis proved TO be
thirty-two years and four months; as
thirty-six was the average age of the
men altogether. they had lived prac-
tically all of their lives in the city
and the superintendent adds that
practically all of these two thousand
were our own native sons"
About 80 per cent of the homeless
men who seek the shelter of the mu-
nicipal lodging house are unemploy-
able. Twelve per cent OF them show
ed definite evidences of defective men
tally. The infrm from age and those
handicapped by the loss Of a member
represent about as many more. About
10 per cent are habitual loafers and
confirmed beggars. who have lost the
habit Of work. Sixty-five per cent are
willing and able to work but are ham
pered partly by lack of skill and
partly by the fact that they are vic
Tins Of the seasonal trades which en-
ploy a great many men at certain
times of the year and very few at
others. leaving men without any def
mite occupation for months every
year
Alcohol played an important role.
About so per cent of these men proved
TO be excessive drinkers. a fact which
Is not nearly so significant as the ad-
mission OF over so per cent that in
toxicating liquors were the sole cause
Of their dependency and wretchedness.
When out OF work great many Of
the men become discouraged and de-
pressed and then are unable to rouse
themselves to take up their labor
again. The actual study of condi-
lions in New York emphasizes the
need for the physicians interest in
social problems. says The Journal of
the American Medical association. Va
grancy among us is distinctly an
American and not an immigrant prob
lem IL is our own people who need
care 10 prevent the occurrence OF
social breakdowns that are as serious
i'm their way for the individual and
the community as physical break
downs. This is the day of prevention
rather than cure. and knowledge IS
the best possible element in proven
ton Undoubtedly social work in
connection with dispensaries can do
much TO relieve this condition and
with the decrease of infectious disease
social service becomes the physicians
next duty.