The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-17
Find One Out OF Every q Persons
Unable To Pursue Duties On Average
Winters Day, In National Survey
Inadequate Food, Shelter,
Disease and Accidents
Among Causes

WASHINGTON, Jan. II. (UP).
One out of every 81 persons IN
this country is unable to work, at
tend school or pursue other usuai
activities on an average winters
day because of injury or illness
resulting from disease or accident
the U. S. public health service
said last night.
A preliminary report, based Oh
national health survey made by
the department, said that out OF a
total population of lSO,ooo'ooo
there were 100000 persons thus
disabled during the winter
months, of which $50, 100 were
suffering from some chronic o'S-
ease.
At the same time the report
showed that chronic disabling III
nesses among persons on rellei
occur at an annual rate 81 per
cent higher than among 1am'i'eS
in the highest income class. -,
Only one per cent OF the III
nesses in relief families receive
beside care from a private nurse
while IL per cent receive sucn
care in families with incomes Oh
5000 or more, the report said. >
On a per capita basis, accord
ing to the survey, every man, wo-
man and child suffers at least III
days of incapacity annually from
, illness lasting one week or longer
Because of current attempts to
determine the extent and causes
of unemployment and its relation
to inadequate food, shelter and
medical care, further revelations
Of the survey should be OF "eX.
IRENE" Importance, officials OF
the department said.
The annual days of disability
per capita in the relief group was
| found to be three times as great
as among upper income families.
The non-relief population with in
comes of $1,000 or less showed a
volume of disability over twice
that of the highest income group.
However, the upper income famil-
les received 46 per cent more care
from a physician per case Of i'll
ness than persons in the relief
group. -
The report found it apparent"
that inadequate diet, poor hous-
ing, abe hazards of occupation
and the instability of the labor
market definitely create imme-
date. health problems for families
in the lower income groups.
| During a year, for every
death reported there occur an
average Of l6 cases Of illness dis
abling for a week or longer, the
report said. Two persons on re-
lief in 1885 were disabled for
one week or longer for every per-
son disabled in both the middle
and highest income classes.
The survey, decribed as "na-
tion-wide family canvass of sick
ness in relation to its social and
economic setting" was made in
the fall and winter Of 1935-36
with the aid of grants from the
WPA.
The report showed that 10 per-
sons out of every 1000 sustained
/ lost arms, legs, hands, feet, toes
or fingers. Between three and
four persons were blind in one
eye out of every 1000 population,
while slightly less than one per-
son was totally blind, with two
persons partially blind. Partial
deafness per 1000 persons was
found in II cases, deaf and dumb
in slightly less than one case and
total deafness prevailed in one
case out of 1000 persons examin-
ed. :, .-..
Leading in infectious diseases
was measles, followed by humps,
chickenpox, whooping cough, scar
let fever, German measles, ma
laria, blood poishoning, diphth-
eria, erysipelas, typhoid fever
and smallpox.
Respiratory diseases disabling
for one week or longer were led
by Influenza and grippe, with IS
cases out of every 1000 persons
examined, followed by tonsilitis,
head and other colds, pneumonia,
bronchitis and chest colds, throat
affections other than tonsils, and
pleurisy.
Digestive diseases were led by
appendicitis, followed by indiges-
ton, diarrhea, and diseases of the
mouth, teeth and gums.
Ordinary childbirth led the list
of puerperal diseases, followed by
still births and abortions. and
complications of childbirth and
pregnancy.
Automobile accidents that dis
abled for one week or more oc-
CURED to three persons out of
1000, while other accidents in.
capacitated II persons out of
1000.
Chronic disabling diseases were