Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-05-26
DISEASE TAKES
AWAY MANY IN
MEXICAN HOMES
TUBERCULOSIS VICTIMS IN THE
MEXICAN QUARTERS OF CITIES
ARE SUBJECT OF REPORT.
SAN ANTONIO AND e. PASO SITUA-
TONS DETAILED AFTER GEN
ERAL INVESTIGATION.

Austin. Tex, May &-ln tine last in
stallmcnt II his report ON tuberculosis
in the Southwest. Dr. Ernest \. Sweet,
the surgeon of the United States public
health service. assigned to study this
subject. calls attention 10 the fact that
the death rate among the MeXican pop
~ulation is even higher han among the
negroes. DIR. Sweet found that the death
rate during a period of ten wears and
based upon the Mexican born popula-
tion of san Antonio Of 1910 was 6Ei. :
per loo 000 living and that the death
rate ii Ia PaSo WAS 5Ji.J per 100000 liv-
ing. lie attributes this high death rate
primarily. 10 bad housing conditions.
although he states that some physicians
in the southwest attribute this enormous
rate Ia infection derived from health
seekers. DIR. Sweet admits that il this
theory is correct that all of his conclu-
sions relating to indigenous tuberculo-
sis will require modification. In his
opinion there il no connection between
the coming Of tuberculosis invalids 10
the Southwest and the greatly increased
prevalence Of the disease among the
Mexicans. although. strange 10 say. they
were practically synchronous.
He saws. whoever il familiar with
the situation can not but he impressed
with the fearful toll which disease ex-
tracts from these primitive people and
their utter helplessneSs before the IN
slaughts of this infection. Living as
they do in a region which mi
mical To- the development of this scourge
where climatic conditions are conducive
IA. .4nitart lix,nr apl xrhae., .l.... - ~.
tie excuse for improper housing. the
spectacle is all the more striking"
DIR. Sweet calls attention 10 the fact
that there are two elements of the Mex
lean poulation. The first are descend
ants Of the early Spanish settlers and
there are no "a prone 10 tuberculosis
~ are the peon class. with a large and a
recent "dmiXturc of Indian blood and a
standard of living extremely low. Thir.
~ years ago tuberculosis was an I'M
common disease among the Mexican pop.
~ulation and il has been found that il il
now very prevalent in Old Mexico. In
support of his theory that the presence
of conSumptive strangers has nothing
Ia do with the infection Of the Mexican
population DIR. Sweet calls attention to
the fact that all primitive people have
i. very low resistance Ia the disease and
that il has been found To he very prev.
alent in houses whi-h have not been in
very close contact with white people.
Recoveries If Mexican consumptives
are exceedingly rare and il one member
Of the family becomes infected il results
generally in the entire family Succumb-
ing to the disease.
DR.. Sweet calls special attention "a
the ''frightful housing conditions which
prevail and these are sufficient in them
selves Ia fully explain the high death
rate recorded" lie describes the adobe
house and the frame structure or shack
generally occupied by Mexican people
He is particularly strong in his denun-
citation Of the corrals rs he found them
in'San Antonio. Herefcrs 10 one in par
%ticnlar which occupied ground l50x465
feet. I'm this corral he found Sc families
with n total Of 336 people. He calls at
~tention 10 the fact that these being only
one-story structures. the congestion is
apparent. il being even greater than
that of most city tencments.
Within such tenements filth and squa-
Tor prevail. One bed is often sufficient
for six or eight people and o~ccasianlly
one finds non nj all. Charcoal pals are
used for cooking purposes. There are
no facilities for washing other than tubs
and pals. He adds, "the %unhygieniC