An inaugural dissertation on pulmonary consumption

BY EDWARD DELAFIELD, A. B.
——For want of timely care, Millions have died of medicable wounds. Armstrong.
NEW-YORK : PRINTED BY JOHN FORBES & CO. 78 WALL-STREET.
1816.
TO SAMUEL BORROWE, M. D. ONE OF THE SURGEONS OF THE NEW-YORK HOSPITAL, THIS DISSERTATION IS DEDICATED, AS A TESTIMONY OF GRATITUDE FOR THE MANY VALUABLE PRACTICAL LESSONS RECEIVED FROM HIM BY HIS FRIEND AND PUPIL, EDWARD DELAFIELD.
These anticipations have not been realized; but, on the contrary, Consumption has become the prevailing disease of our city. The causes of this increase of the disease are numerous. We are told by Dr. Rush, that it is unknown among the Indians of North America; that it is scarcely known by those citizens of the United States who live in the first stage of civilized life, and are generally called the first settlers; that it is less common in country places than in cities, and increases in both, with intemperance and sedentary modes of life; that ship and house-carpenters, smiths, and all those artificers, whose business requires great exertion of strength in the open air, in all seasons of the year, are less subject to this disease than men who work under cover, and at occupations which do not require the constant action of their lungs. By applying these facts to the situation of this city, the causes which have produced the increased mortality from consumption, become evident.
1. The growth of the city, and consequent state of the atmosphere, most distant from that of the pure air of the country.
The following statement will show the proportion, which the number of those who die from consumption, bears to the whole number of deaths, in this city, during the last twelve years.
In 1804, 499 persons died from Consumption, and were to the whole number of deaths, 2125 as 1 to 4.25.
From this statement it appears, that the number of deaths from Consumption has gradually increased. The average proportion during the period mentioned, is as 1 to 4.36. Nearly one fourth of all those who die in this city are destroyed by this fatal disease.