Eastern N.C. Counties Among Highest Death Rates Due to Tuberculosis, Dec. 7, 1923

Is Tuberculosis Menace to Our Section? Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan Among the Counties with Highest Death Rate

The campaign for $50,000 from the sales of tuberculosis Christmas seals to carry on the work of combatting the “Great White Plague” in North Carolina reminds us that in no section of the state should the work be more earnestly supported than in our own favored spot of northeastern North Carolina, where tuberculosis appears to be our most serious menace of health.

The December bulletin of the State Board of Health shows that the counties of Pasquotank, Camden, Perquimans and Chowan stand among the counties having the highest death rate from tuberculosis. Here ae the figures showing the percentage of deaths per 100,000 in 10 eastern counties during 1922:

Camden, 148.6

Chowan, 131.4

Pasquotank, 156.2

Perquimans, 107.5

Hyde, 59.6

Washington, 52.0

Tyrrell, 41.2

Currituck, 68.7

Gates, 56.8

Dare, 0

Pasquotank shows the highest death rate of any county in the state except the counties of buncombe and Hoke. Buncombe county’s report includes deaths in Government hospitals and out-of-state patients temporarily living in Asheville. Hoke County’s report includes deaths at the State Sanatorium.

Dare and Tyrrell show the lowest percentage of any counties in this district. This may be because of a large percentage of the population in these counties are fishermen and lumbermen who are used ot life outdoors. In counties showing the highest rate, a large percentage is of negro deaths. Due to the fact that poorer sanitary conditions and fewer comforts prevail among the negroes, counties having large population of the race usually show a high death rate among tubercular negroes.

Odds are not against the farmer in every case. For instance, his chances for having tuberculosis are fewer when compared with industrial workers and wage-earning groups. In a list of 41 classes of occupations, prepared by Louis I Dublin, Ph.D., statistician of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, farmers and farmers’ sons have the lowest death rate from tuberculosis. Railway engine drivers, stokers and cleaners are second on the list. Motor car and motor van drivers are third, builders are fourth, and agricultural laborers and brick and terra-cotta workers are fifth and sixth respectively.

Thus it is seen that the occupation affording a life in the fresh air have less susceptibility to tuberculosis than those of an indoor life. In other words, fresh air has a preventive value with regard to tuberculosis as well as a curative value.

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., Friday, Dec. 7, 1923