OCR Text |
Show CONSUMPTION- IN NEGROES. According to Dr. Thomas J. Maya of Philadelphia, pulmonary consumption was comparatively unknown among the plantation slaves of the South before the war, while in the large cities of the South It was no more prevalent among them than It was among the whites. In Charleston, S. C, the negro death rate of consumption In 1860 waa the same as among the whites vis., 1.75; In 1876, white 2.00, negroes 6.95; in 1890, whites, 3.65, negroes, 6.S6; In 1902, whites. L43; negroes 5.74. Before the Civil war. Insanity, like consumption, was comparatively rare among tha negroe slaves. According to Dr. T. O. Powell this disease Increased 705 per cent among these people from 1870 to 1830 In Georgia. The same Is true of North Carolina, for Dr. J. F. Miller, superintendent of the Eastern Insane hospital of that State, declares that from 1885 to 1896 Insanity increased 256 per cent among" the colored people In that State. The conclusion ' of Dr. Mays, which was presented to a recent medicaj congress, con-gress, was that slaves as property were better cared for than free negroes care for themselves. As to the future, a "campaign of education" Is suggested. |