Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
HOUSING CONDITIONS,
DR.. STERNBERG'S TOPIC
Subject Elaborated Before Society
for the Prevention Of
tuberculosis.
Argument for the Elimination of
Alley Homes-Causes for Prev
alence of Disease.
BY GEORGE M. sTERNBERG.

(Read before Association for the Prevention Of
Tuberculosis March 80
Sanitary statistics show that where
bad housing conditions exist the NOR
tally from all infectious diseases is
excessive. The reasons for this are ap-
parent. Insufficient ventilation and in
sanitary surroundings reduce the vital
resisting power of individuals exposed
to such conditions and make them es-
pecially liable to infection; over
crowding causes closer contact with
infected individuals: absence of sun
light prevents the destruction of dis
ease germs by natures principal disin-
fecting agent. The tubercle bacillus is
quickly killed by exposure to direct
sunlight, but may survive Indefinitely
in dark and damp places
When we consider the results of bad
housing conditions as shown by sani
tary statistics we must not lose sight
of other factors relating to the indi-
viduals who occupy the most insani
tary houses in our cities. Poverty, sick
ness. ignorance and vice are all among
the causes which lead to the develop
ment of slums. Many who live in in
sanitary and overcrowded houses
would gladly move into well ventilated
and sunlighted apartments. having a
supply of running water and sewer
II.
Others are no doubt satisfied with the
conditions under which they live,
having never known anything better.
All Comparatively Helpless.
But all are comparatively helpless
as regards the condition of their en-
vironment and it becomes the duty of
the municipality and of public spirited
citizens to seek remedy for these con-
ditions Much can be done by social
workers who devote themselves to the
relief of poverty by the well tried
methods of social science; much by
visiting nurses who point out the dan
gers of ill-ventilated rooms. impure
milk, etc: and much depends upon
the intelligent activities of the health
department. supported by proper san-
tary regulations and an ample corps of
inspectors. If we had a sanitary code
enforced with vigor. which prevented
overcrowding and promptly closed all
houses not up to a high sanitary stand
ard. we would soon reduce mortality
rates among the occupants of this class
of houses
But what is to become of the people
who are turned out of their insanitary
homes for the benefit of the rest of the
community? No doubt most of them
would gladly move into better houses
at the same rent But in the city of
Washington experience shows the sup
ply of such houses is inadequate and
there is little inducement for private
enterprise to attempt to supply the
demand With the existing scale of
wages for unskilled laborers those who
are Industrious and able to work can
i'll afford to pay the rents asked for
alley houses, and. when disabled by
sickness or old age overcrowding in
the poorest of these houses becomes a
necessity.
Sanitary Homes at low Rental.
1t is therefore evident that to re-
lieve insanitary housing conditions. and
thus reduce our tuberculosis death rate,
a fundamental requirement is supply
of sanitary homes at rental within
the reach of the unskilled laborers re-
siding in our city, whose services are
required for a variety of purposes--mu-
nicipal. commercial and domestic
The relation of housing conditions to
tuberculosis mortality in the city of
Washington is indicated by the fact that
the tuberculosis mortality is more than
| three times as great among the colored
ulation. As our alley houses are largely
| cupy a large proportion. of the poorer
be no doubt of the Importance of this
| by legislation to eliminate our alley
| evils of 1cyercrowdinS will only be trans