A contribution to the climatological study of phthisis in Pennsylvania.
- William Pepper
- Date:
- 1887
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A contribution to the climatological study of phthisis in Pennsylvania. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
40/96 page 26
![ally. It is a town with many shade-trees. There are ponds, meadows, hills, and valleys. The soil is of medium quality. There is a considera- ble fall of temperature at night. The people are engaged in farming and in factories, and are chiefly American and German. Phthisis is rare. There has been only one death from phthisis in four years in this town. It assumes a chronic course and is hereditary. There is no malaria, and only occasionally rheumatism, pneumonia, and Bright’s disease. Reading; population, 43,278 (1880); elevation, 280 feet. Sheltered and warm. The air is warm and dry. Fogs are rare. There is not much shade outside the town, but there is abundance in the streets. No trees have been cut down for health. The rock is limestone and there are many fissures providing ready underground drainage. There are deposits of clay. There are few marshes. There are hills to the east and south. No marked changes in temperature. The po])ulation is mixed, and is engaged chiefly in factories. Consumption is moderately prevalent, and possibly more so in the newer districts. Cotton-factory eniployees and marble-cutters are especially prone to phthisis. The disease usually runs a chronic course. There is one death from phthisis for 389 persons living. The general death rate is 15 8 per thousand. Phthisis is both caused and promoted by hereditary influences in the majority of cases. Malaria is prevalent, but has no relation to phthisis except as it may bring about “consumption from congestion.” No prevalence of pneumonia, rheuma- tism, or Bright’s disease. Bucks County.—Three replies. Falls Township; elevation, 40 feet. Sheltered. Northwest and southwest winds prevail. The air is warm and dry ; fogs occur. Rain-fall, 42 inches. Snow, 30-40 inches. Little shade. There are meadows. Soil, clay and gravel; of medium quality. No marked atmospheric changes. The people are of American descent and engaged in farming. Consumption is rare. There is a house where consumption has been especially prevalent; it is a stone house on a dry knoll with little shade. The disease is chronic, and the reporter’s cases are in females chiefly. Seventy-five per cent, are hereditary. Malaria is prevalent, but consumption is not specially prevalent in malarial districts. Rheumatism is prevalent. Pneumonia and Bright’s disease are not. New Britain; population, 150. Sheltered. West winds prevalent. Soil very rich, sandy, and well cultivated. Northeast winds troublesome to consumptives. No great atmospheric changes. People engaged in farming and of American descent. Moderate amount of consumption. The disease is usually chronic; most cases are hereditary, the exciting cause being malaria in nearly every case. In two cases attendants con- tracted phthisis. Malaria is prevalent. Rheumatism, pneumonia, and Bright’s disease are not. No. 3, Point Pleasant; population, 300. In a sheltered position on the Delaware River. Fogs occur. There is abundant shade. There are hills and valleys. Soil of medium quality. East winds troublesome to consumptives. No marked atmospheric changes. The people are Ameri-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28270538_0042.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
