1893-1894 - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

:
92 NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
about seven per thousand greater in the colored race, which
is presumptive evidence of the truth of the figures. The
principal cause of death was consumption. The average
death-rate from that disease for the past four 3'ears was,
whites 1.17 per thousand, colored 3.28. For the purpose
of obtaining more accurate data we have compiled the following
from some of the largest cities whose reports are
believed to be reliable
LS93.
Wilmington, W. 1.66, per M. 1 in 8.12 of all deaths, C. 3.84, 1 in 6.06
Raleigh, W. 1.85, " " 1 " 8.84 " " ^' C. 3.85, 1 " 5.63
Charlotte, W. 1.33, " " 1 " 10.16 " " " C. 4.80, 1 " 5.25
1894.
Wilmington, W. 1.33, per M. 1 in 8.41 of all deaths, C. 3.77, 1 in 6.28
Raleigh, AV. 1.87, " " 1 " 8.40 " " " C. 2.57, 1 " 8.38
Charlotte, W. 2.00, " " 1
"
6.83 " " " C. 4.33, 1 "5.19
Winston, AV. 1.1-5, " " 1 " 8.66 " " " C. 9.37, 1 " 2.95
The average for the three cities in 1893 was whites 1.61,
colored 4.16 per thousand, and for the four cities in 1894,
whites 1.59, colored 5.01.
This great disparity in the death-rate from consumption
is attributable to a number of causes. They are, we think,
insufficient clothing, the lack of fire in winter, the want of an
abundance of good, nutritious food, the lack of proper care in
sickness, the greater prevalence of syphilis among them,
that disease being conducive to tuberculosis, and over-crowding
in the most in.salubrious parts of the "cities and towns.
It is to be noted that the figures given apply only to the
cities and towns. The di.sease is doubtless less prevalent
in the country, but even there it is much more common
than formerly.
While no statistical tables of that time bearing on this
subject are obtainable, the testimony of the older physicians
and citizens eeuerallv is to the effect that in the days
of slavery consumption was a rare disease among the