South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20

a background of nearly FIVE million
men and figured out on a percentage
basis. they show only about the fig
urc which might be expected Of
men Of these ages in civil life in
time OF peace.
Even the larger estimate would
figure out only about one and one
half percent, while the frequency Of
tuberculosis in industrial life at mill
itary ages is believed 10 be between
two and three percent The main
reason why tuberculosis in the army
attracts attention is that all soldiers
have been kept under constant medi-
cal observation for three years and
every case reported and death with;
either by discharge or by treatment
in sanatorium, so that the whole
world is made aware of II.
A similar study Of the same num-
Der OF men in peaceful pursuits in
any one of the neutral countries, for
instance, would probably have I'M
covered quite as many cases Of tu-
berculosis, only, as the old proverb
has it: What you don't know
doesn't worry you"
An excellent and well arranged
system of special hospitals and sana-
toria for tubercular soldiers has been
planned out by the French govern
ment. and an important division Of
the American Red Cross, backed by
the Rockefeller institute, is 10 coop
crate in seeing that these stricken
defenders of their country are given
every possible attention and chance
Of cure.
Another more genuine exception
to the general rule is that of the
French prisoners in the German
prison camps, who appear TO be
showing a very high rate Of tuber-
culosis, from vile food and over
crowding and also of the unfortu-
nate inhabitants Of some of the war
zones just behind the western fronts
BY the steady and ruthless policy
OF constant and indiscriminate bonn
bardment of everything that their
guns can reach, particularly with
gas shells. the Germans have driven
tens Of thousand OF these unfortu-
nate people to live a considera BILE
part Of their days and the whole Of
the night in cellars and caves and
underground shelters. With the re-
suit which need surprise no one.
that examinations made by various
civilian relief organizations OF the
women and children Of these regions,
show an appalling amount of tuber-
culosis ranging in some instances
from 40 percent to so percent of
thUsS examined.
But this, of course. is only part
of the general policy, openly avowed
by the German commanders, that
they are making war. not only upon
the French army, but upon the en-
tire French nation, men, women.
and children.
Curiously enough. such civil sta
tistics as are avails BILE in France
would seem to show that in the mass
of the country, taking Paris as an
example. there has been little mark
ed increase in deaths from con-
sumption. but even an apparent de-
crease. In Paris, for instance, &C
cording TO the reports, there has
been a diminution in both the total
number, and the proportion per
thousand living Of nearly 10 per-
cent between 1913 and 1916.
While. of course. too much con-
fdence cannot be attached 10 these
figures on account of the tremen-
dous fluctuations of both population
and proportions Of various age
classes. yet il is also in keeping
with the general death rate. which
of about six percent.
One Of the most consoling fea-
lures Of this terrible war. has been
the way in which. on account of it,
being waged chiefly by munitions,
machinery. and elaborate mechanical
cOntrivances, it has, instead of di-
minishing industrial activity and
output. increased it. Thus it has
provided abundant occupation and
higher wages than ever before
known for practically every man,
woman. or child of the civil popu-
lation who has been able 10 take ad-
vantage of il. So that the masses
of the peOple-and this is true not
only of England but of France and
Italy-have far more money 20
spend, and are consequently better
fed. better housed and better cloth
ed than ever before in history.
After rather careful and fairly
extensive observation. I can only
say that I have seen no signs Of
genuine food scarcity or of under
feeding in any part or in any class
Of England, France or Italy. Food
is high, but wages are higher
NtAaat A4N@A .,-