Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-22
HOUSING METHODS ARE
BLAMED FOR PNEUMONIA
DR.. Alice Hamilton Says Death Rate
in u. S. Area Is Greater Than
From tuberculosis.

Need for active work in the preNen-
ton of pneumonia. just as is being
done for the diminution of tuberculosis
and cancer. is cited in an article by
DIR. Alice Hamilton in the Survey Press
Service today. She points out the in
creasing mortality from pneumonia
and the fact that the death rate from
this disease in the registration area of
the United States is greater than that
from tuberculosis. Present methods of
housing. the writer believes, may be
one of the causes for its prevalence.
Here is the article:
For years word has gone out con-
corning the ravages of tuberculosis un-
til now every intelligent person knows
how important is this disease rot only
humanity but economically. OF late
years the public has been aroused to
see the increasing inroads made by
cancer. Societies for the prevention of
tuberculosis are found eve: ywhere and
sanatoria for the treatment of the tu-
berculous. Laboratories for research
INTO the cause of cancer are being
founded each year and hospital facili-
ties for cancer patients increased.
Now. third great and increasingly
strong enemy of civilized man is being
heard of-pneumonia-and though there
with pneumonia. very little is known
about the prevention of the disease
Pneumonia Fatalities Growing.
For many years past there has been
was on the increase. and statistics bear
this out. The death rate now surpasses
that of tuberculosis. for while The lat
ter in 1913 caused 1871 deaths per I00,-
900 of the population in the registra-
tit-n area or the tinted States, pncu-
monia caused 1924 deaths per 100, 600.
Or. Cross of Minneapolis. writing in the
journal of the American Medical AS
| sociation, says that there is evidence
that in certain outbreaks pneumonia
is actually more fatal than formerly
! Analysing 369 cases in that city. DR..
cross hnds that the mortality is about
~ per cent for those under five years:
then it drops between five and ten
years, to rise after that steadily till it
reaches 80 per cent for the age group
between forty and fifty years. and 40
per cent for that between sixty and
seventy years. Certainly. far greater
strides have been made in the preven-
ton and treatment of tuberculosis tina n
of pneumonia.
The causation of pneumonia ebidem-
les and of their increase in recent years
will have to he studied much more
trolled. Dr. Hamilton says.
African Epidemic Traced to Housing
In this connection, reference may be
made to the work of DR. GorGas in con-
trolling pneumonia in the South Afri-
can mines of the Rand. DR. Gorgas
was appealed to by the mine owners to
come to Africa and find out the reason
for the appalling mortality from pneu-
monia among the native miners He
found the cause in the housing condi-
tons. Natives from the interior, acccs-
toned to living in separate houses with
their families and TO work in the open
air. had been brought to the mines and
housed in barracks with double deck r
beds placed as close together as pos
sihle
Their work was underground and
their rest was in these overcrowded
lodgings. He advised scattering them
over the countryside in small individ =
ual huts and said that this had been
tried on the Panama canal with entire
success.
" may be that the increasing pneu-
monia death rate may prove to be one
OF the many results OF present methods
of housing, especially in large cities.
Distinctive Floral Effects for All
social occasions, Shaffer, 800 1Ith NV