OF Mortality from Pulmonary Phthisis UNITED STATES AND IN EUROPE. COMPILED FROM OFFICHE PROPERTY OF THE ORK HOSPITAL. HEAUDY REPORTS AND NE BY ALONZO CLARK, M. DRANIES. WM. GLEITSMANN, M. D. 55 875 STATISTICS OF Mortality from Pulmonary Phthisis IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN EUROPE. Compiled from Official Health Reports and from Data obtained from By WM. GLEITSMANN, M. D. OF BALTIMORE, MD. It is an innate propensity of the human mind to examine into the primary causes of phenomena occurring around it. The scientific researches originating in this desire for information, to be valuable, must be based upon close and careful observation; and as far as the empirical sciences are concerned, consist in discussing accumulated observations and the careful comparison of facts, to warrant a logical deduction of laws. The science more especially devoting itself to this task is that of Statistics, whose value is yearly being more and more appreciated and called into requisition. In medicine, statistics have attained a vast importance. Thirty years ago our knowledge of the frequency of certain diseases, their causes and their mortality, and the results of particular modes of treatment, was but meagre. Only when comparative tables, the results of observation, came to our aid, can we claim to have advanced towards trustworthy facts. The objections raised against statistics are the often seemingly unreliable and frequently even contradictory results by different investigators, and the dryness of columns of figures. Neither of these objections can truthfully be raised against this science as such; the first of these objections being valid only as to the in vestigator himself, who has either drawn from incorrect sources, or made hasty deductions from insufficient data, which cannot stand a comparison with materials of a wider and more comprehensive range. Now, as far as numbers are concerned, their value lies not in themselves alone, but in their supplying a foundation for the laws that are deduced from them. But before we can proceed to deduce laws, we must at first be amply provided with facts of experience, and a vast amount of correct comparative data; and it is this invaluable material that statistics supply. One of the most difficult, but at the same time also the most beneficial and interesting problems which statistical science is called upon to solve in the department of medicine, is the investigation of laws which determine the lifeand death-rate of individuals and entire communities, and consequently their condition of health and disease. Before we can successfully wage war against any disease, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of its primary causes, and for this reason statistics are the surest aid to hygiene. In how great a measure the want of this understanding is felt by all who have the public welfare in this respect at heart, may be seen from the numerous efforts, not alone of private corporations, but also of City and State authorities. Throughout the whole country we observe great efforts made to establish offices for keeping records of vital statistics, in order to investigate the cause and spread of disease, and to discover as well as mitigate those evil influences that enhance its progress. The greater share in this highly commendable undertaking may justly be claimed by the Boards of Health in various cities of the Union, whose reports are published with an accuracy and minuteness of detail worthy of all praise and approbation. Next in order, the State Boards of Health have deserved great credit for discovering and removing many hotbeds of disease. In collecting information for these pages, I have furthermore met with frequent intimations from various cities that a Board of Health is about to be organised. All these efforts only serve to illustrate the growing conviction of the vast importance of these objects. Of all causes of mortality, Pulmonary Phthisis takes the most prominent place, and hence an especial study as to its distribution cannot fail to be of interest. The most prominent professors of our science have given the study of the phases and character of this disease their careful attention. As far as I am acquainted, no effort has been made to make a uniform statistical compilation of the mortality from Phthisis in different cities of the United States, and the desire of obtaining as correct a view of these facts as possible has induced me to venture upon the present task. Although the second volume of the United States Census for 1870 contains, among other highly interesting data, very concise statements of the deathrate and cause of mortality throughout the Union, yet these tables only refer to entire States, not to cities, counties, or smaller political divisions. We are furthermore justified in assuming that the mortality indicated in the Census does not correspond with the actual death-rate, as indeed we may learn from the remarks preceding the respective tables. The difference resulting from this mode of calculation has been shown by E. B. Elliott, Chief Clerk of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department, to amount to 41 per cent., and the result of my studies is quite in accordance with this statement, as will be more fully shown in Table I. The value of the statistics of the United States Census arises, as the Superintendent, F. A. Walker, most appropriately says, from the consideration that its tables distribute a body of deaths approaching half a million, among the several periods of life, between the two sexes, according to cause and month of death, by race, nationality, and occupation. The reasons which prompted me to include the life insurance companies in these statistics will be explained hereafter. |