West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-08
Where tuberculosis ThrIyes.

Poverty and tuberculosis -tubercu-
losis and poverty! These are the es-
sential facts which force themselves 10
the attention OF every investigator
who faces the problem OF that disease.
The tenement house district OF Gin
cinnau yields tuberculosis morbidity
just three times as great as the areas
where better housing prevails. In 1877
families In which tuberculosis existed
the average monthly income for a fam
lily or four was approximately S57.
After paying the pro rata share for
food and rent, balance OF $5l3 re-
mained for each individual to meet
all other expenses. Such a low sub
sistence level works like black magic
In the spread OF tuberculosis. More
over, and this Is point over which
the public should ponder, the home OF
the average wage Garner was found 10
be far less sanitary than the average
factory and workshop. In regard 10
all the factors which make for health
ful living, ventilation. sufficient light.
proper temperature aud freedom from
overcrowding. the score was I'm favor
OF the factory in nearly every instance.
The city of Cincinnati realized that
her tuberculosis death rate was 90 per
cent above the average and that II had
failed TO manifest tendency to de-
cline She felt no Qualms I'm making
this admission. Rather she deter
mined that she would learn why. with
an efficient health department and fav-
orable climatic influences. she was
suffering from twice the mortality
from that disease as her neighbor.
Pittsburgh. Accordingly the United
States Public Health Service was re-
quested to make thorough study of
the situation and submit n report. To
show that something more than mere
academic interest obtained 1892
workers I'm l54 factories OF the city
voluntarily submitted TO n physical ex-
animation.
The conclusions reached point di
rectly to the close connection between
poverty and tuberculosis. The great
factor underlying the entire problem
was seemingly that OF economic condi-
tions. One-siXth OF all tuberculosis
cases came from cheap lodging houses.
Alcoholism was n prominent cause.
and often accelerated the course OF
the disease. Occupational hazards and
bad working conditions were appar-
emily responsible for about 20 per
cent OF the cases, but I'm the majority
or instances these hazards were not
necessarily inherent I'm the occupation.
Previous tuberculosis in the family
occurred In practically third OF all
the cases investigated Dissipation,
over-crowding, bad housing, and in
nate lack OF personal responsibility,
were also listed as causes.
An interesting feature OF the report.
and one which has not previously
been dwelt upon i'm studies OF this
character, relates to the effect OF i'm
migration and the rate OF growth OF
the population OF n city upon the tu-
bercuiosis death rate. II is shown
that cities with a population compos-
ed largely Of racial stock having a
limited resistance to tuberculosis are
subject TO high mortality rate from
that disease, while centers having a
slow rate OF population increase are
likewise subject to a high tuberculosis
rate. The evidence Is submitted I'm a
comparative table covering sixteen
American cities. Almost without ex-
ception those with a high percentage
or Irish, Scandinavian and German
stock, and those I'm which the negro
population Is relatively large, have a
correspondingly high mortality, while
those where the italian and Jewish
element Is proportionately great have
low tuberculosis death rate. Simi-
larly, such cities as Detroit and CIeve-
land. with high rates OF population in
crease. show low tuberculosis NOR
tality. while Cincinnati and Baltimore
with relatively small population IN
crease, have high tuberculosis rate
Doubtless the true explanation OF this
discrepancy is that advanced by the
authors namely, that where the Don
ulation increase is rapid new build
ings are erected to take the place OF
old insanitary structures and better
housing conditions prevail