Evening star., 1940-07-09
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henry.

| oH IHOUtuS ~. f7GHTU.
Approximately 100000 persons are too
sick to work, go to school or attend
household duties every winter day in
the United States
Such is the finding of the United
States Public Health Service from a
sample survey of 2,50O,3s1 persons, con-
stituting almost per cent of the urban
population of the Nation.
The illnesses ranged all the way from
bad colds to permanently disabling
chronic diseases. Altogether, it was
found, nearly 18 per cent of the persons
included in the survey-a total for the
whole country of more than $4,000, ,000-
had some sort of sickness or disability
each day. In most cases they were able
to keep up their customary activities.
In the sample population were included
groups from all parts of the United
States.
The average person, it was found,
loses 10 days year frem work or school
because of sickness. One per cent of
the total were found to be unemployable
In any way because of permanent illness
or mutilation.
The respiratory diseases-colds, pneu-
monia and influenza-were the chief
maladies which kept persons from work
for week or more. Second in rank
were common communicable diseases of
childhood. There was a striking age
gradation. Out of each 1000 children
u-,dc- 10, 214 were found to have had
during the year sicknesses which kept
them from school an average of about
six days. From Is to "a were the health
lest years of life, with only 131 persons
per 1000 sick enough to keep them con-
fined for an average of five days
From the 25th to the 64th year the
frequency of illnesses increased only
slightly to 153 cases per 1000, but
the average length of disability in
creased to 10 days. After 65 the rate
took big jump to 279 per 1000 and
the average duration to SO days. This
included elderly persons who were dis
aDled all the time.
Even more strikingly than in previous
surveys, this one shows that the burden
Of illness falls far heavier on the poor
than on any other class in society. The
average frequency of illness disabling
for week or more was much higher In
the relief and low income groups than
among those with incomes above 81 500.
In terms Of volume of disability the con-
trast was even greater. The excess over
the highest income group-those receiv-
ing $1,000 or more a year-was 1872 per
cent
The change with income was most
marked in the productive period of life"
the report Of the survey says. Chronic
illnesses showed the most striking diff
ferences between the low and high in
come groups, particularly hernia, tuber-
culosis, varicose veins blindness and
deafness. The unemployed workers had
much higher illness rates than the en-
ployed. Between the ages of Is and 64
IL per cent of the employed were dis
abled on the day of the visit, as against
3.6 for the unemployed.
There was marked concentration in
the low-income group of persons who
were reported to be unemployable by
reason of disability. In relief families
the percentage of workers so classified
was 2.9 per cent, while in non-relief
families with incomes below $1,000 a
year 1t was IA per cent. The proportion
continued to decrease with rising family
income, reaching only % of per cent
in the group with incomes of $1,000 or
more.
Six and half days per person per
year were lost from work or other usual
pursuits by reason of illnesses due to
chronic diseases which disabled for
week or longer. This was two-thirds of
the amount of disability of this minimum
duration. The annual frequency of such
illnesses was Is per 1000 persons.
Chronic disease Is not merely a prob
lem of old age. Half of the persons with
chronic disease or impairment were
below As years of age. In the case of in
valids-persons disabled for 12 months
or more before the visit-half were be-
low the age of IS. The major diagnosis
in the invalid group were cardio-valvu
and kidney diseases, nervous and mental
diseases, rheumatism and allied effec-
tions, permanent results of accidents,
and tuberculosis.
About 2 per cent of the population
enumerated were reported to have a
permanent orthopedic impairment of
such serious nature that they were con-
sidered partially or completely crippled,
deformed or paralyzed. About 20 per
cent of this group were incapacitated
throughout practically the whole year.
Sixty-three per cent were due to acci-
dents and 81 per cent to disease. A rate
Of SO per 100000 was obtained for total
or practically total blindness, half of the
cases being below the age of 65 The
annual frequency of accidents disabling
for week or more was 16 per 1000 per-
sons. Falls were the most common cause
of injury, being responsible for At per
cent of all cases with known causes.
TWenty-siX per cent of the accidents dis
abling for week or longer were auto
mobile accidents"
Clark Criticism Is
Held Unwarranted.
To the Editor Of The Star: