The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30
TUBERCULOSIS
MORE MENAC|NG BY
FAR THAN TYPHOID
Dr. Eaves Cites Figures to
Show Steady Toll of
This Disease
MANY CARELESS IN
REPORTING CASES
Especially Fatal Among Negroes and
SO Widespread as to Be
Menace to Whole
City

DR.. George Eaves, secretary OF the
Alabama Anti tuberculosis association
issued statement yesterday calling at
tention to the serious tuberculosis stu
alton as compared with the typhoid cpl
demic.
He cites figures to show That Whlle
there is so much disturbance and unrest
over typhoid there is far more tuber-
culosis and many times more deaths
here each month from this cause than
from typhoid. His statement, which
will be read with interest by every one
interested in solution of the city
health problems is as follows:
1.-THE publication just made in The
Age-Herald of DIR. Carol Foxs views
and figures on tuberculosis, is distinct
advantage. Good patriotism is never
afraid of facts. Those who object tc
the facts and think that their publica-
ton will do harm are like the blind
leading the blind 1t must not be for
gotten however, that bad as the tuoer-
culosis situation is now, 1t shows q
marked improvement over the condl-
lions six years ago. According to Dr.
r. NJ Cunningham the tuberculosis
death rate has fallen among negroes
by two-ffths and more among the
whites From this we should draw en-
couragement for further effort. The
danger is that instead of encourage
ment many will conclude that we are
in a good condition and need not be-
stir ourselves Now comes DR.. Fox and
shows us how little ground for self
satisfaction we have.
1.-THE Red mountain sanatorium has
too often been regarded the last great
shot in the battle. Having done this,
what else was there to wish for?
ONLY A BEGINNING
"But the Red mountain sanatorium Is
only the beginning. 1t ought to be
used only for incipient cases, as already
again and again reiterated by us. Its
purpose was to prove that tuberculosis
could be cured without being carried
to some western climate.
ut has proved this. Not only have
incipient cases generally been cured.
but large numbers of moderately ad-
yanced cases been arrested. 1t ought,
however, to be perfectly clear to every
intelligent citizen taht hospital TO
deal with advanced cases is an impera-
tive necessity. You cannot mix dying
people with those who are winning
back their health
II am indeed delighted to know that
the whole of our health problem is thai
on which DR.. Fox insists that Biz
mingham shall concentrate its atten-
ton.
For purposes of interest. compare
our excited stir over typhoid with our
neglect of tuberculosis. take the fol-
lowing figures from the city record.
First. we have deaths from tuberculosis
and typhoid, month by month, January
to June;
January, tuberculosis deaths, 2S; ty-
phoid deaths, .. February, tuberculosis.
"a; typhoid /. March, tuberculosis, 80;
typhoid, ! April, tuberculosis, 80; ty-
phoid, l. May, tuberculosis 80; ty-
phoid, l. June, tuberculosis, 81; ty-
phod.
Total tuberculosis deaths for six
months 1913; average per month, 3D.
average per annual. 396; rate per loo,-
600 of population (Chamber of Com
merce estimate 100000, 200 average
rate for United States (year 191D, 1888:
excess rate, 81 per 100000. In actual
deaths on estimated population, the eX-
cess numbers 1876. That is to say,
there were 81 persons killed by tuber-
culosis in Birmingham in the past six
months more than we had any right to
expect OF the total number killed, TAT
were negroes or. nearly rs per cent. If
our negro population is one-third and
out of one third, three-fourths of the
tuberculosis deaths occur, the disease Is
evidently six times as fatal to that race
as to the white population.
MURDEROUS SITUATION