Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23

Ihe hrst few months of war. Th.
n.lest survived, and when the business
marching and fighting began i'm
earnest the death rate from Iise,..
diminished steadily. All past experi-
ehcc goes to show that we will see like
ieEehs now. and that tho health of the
n nsen VIII improve steadily and the
death rate from disease diminish ~
viously tho heaviest mortalit. from
disease In the Union armies was I'm the
preliminary training camps and the
r rl year. fourth OF the deaths were
oin tSphoid and other fevers. An
troubles, and another from maladies,o
tne lungs and respiratory organs
typhoid practically has been elm
mated. along with smallpox. which
siai'heu many victims. and we may ex-
pect confidently that the report OF the
next year will be much more favorable
Than that OF the first
VI u total enrolment OF coo. 600 men
IN the Confederate armies, as compiled
ny United States officials from the Con
iederate government records. the
deaths from disease were $4,000. nearly
ten per 1000. The Confederates had
10 onset their advantage of large
proportion Of their men bred I'm the
,ouhtry ana accustomed TO open-air life
the cruel disadvantages OF constant
lack OF medicine. appliances and eouin-
inent. with frequent lack OF proper
food Many old soldiers contend To
TINS day that the supposed superiority
OF the countryman TO the CITY man In
stamina ana power OF endurance and
resistance TO disease is a fallacy and
that In the strain of war the city men
STOOD up tho better OF the two Thew
were exempt from the home sickness.
, Is said actually TO have caused
many deaths in the Confederate armies
not only directly. but indirectly by
producing depression and sappIng
vitality.
The figures seem to demonstrate that
the young men OF the present CON
f8ry TO tho opinions OF many OF their
more pcssimistic elders, are not in
Terror an strength TO the men on either
siue or sixty years back. II compari-
son could be made by years II seems
10 be evident that the soldiers Of to-
day are capable OF resisting dis
ease and living through strange condi-
'ions and the trials OF camp and march
as their forefathcrs, even charging up
10 the present the improved conditions
ana the advances In medical science
further reason TO expect distinct i'm
prorement in the health Of soldiers
and rapid and continuing decrease OF
the death rate from disease la found
IN me returns from tho British army.
wrought to the year 1905. That. OF
course. was in peace time. when re-
cruits were selected carefully. and
only sound young men were accented.
But the disease death rate was &c
less than the rnte among men OF similar
ages In New York City. This was for
troops In the United Kingdom. Among
those serving abroad. including all the
extremes OF climate and varieties OF
conditions embraced in the British en-
pre-. the rate was 60
All the figures tend TO show that,
aside from the first shock of change
from home surroundings and routine
ana revolution In habits and manner
OF Ire, the Doldier Is subject TO no
more danger from disease than the
CIVILIAN or corresponding age and cir
cumstanccs, and probably after his
process OF breaking in has been COM
pi'len' mas bette: expectancy. az the
insurance men call It, so far as dis
ease Is concerned. than the man who
Keeps clear OF camps and cantonfnen,s
and the ranks