Statistics of mortality from pulmonary phthisis in the United States and in Europe : compiled from official health reports and from data obtained from life insurance companies / by Wm. Gleitsmann.
- Gleitsmann, William, 1840-1914
- Date:
- 1875
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Statistics of mortality from pulmonary phthisis in the United States and in Europe : compiled from official health reports and from data obtained from life insurance companies / by Wm. Gleitsmann. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
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![vestigator himself, who has either drawn frora 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 de- duced from them. But before we can ]3roceed to deduce laws, we must at first be amply provided with facts of ex- perience, 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 medi- cine, is the investigation of laws which determine the life- and 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 o 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 hearty may be seen from the numerous efforts, not alone of private corporations, but also of City and State author- ities. 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 in- fluences 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](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21054423_0008.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
