That the conservation of health is no longer the concern of the individual affected alone, but is the problem of the whole community is now generally recognized. The relation of cause and effect in our complex urban life is nowhere more clearly shown than in the health phase of our group relations. In this aspect of community life at least, it is realized that each of us constitutes one of the cogs in the civic machinery, and that the welfare of the whole depends upon the welfare of the individual. No one in the city, even if he be living under the best conditions can be certain of immunity from the menace of epidemic or of venereal diseases and tuberculosis. Infantile paralysis, and the other contagious or infectious diseases have no regard for differences of social status or residential respectability.
The Negroes of Pittsburgh constitute a very considerable fraction of the city population. We have only partially segregated districts, and the Negroes live near us or in our midst. They are with us on the streets, in street cars, stores and amusement places. They work side by side with us in the mills, factories and offices. Their children and ours attend the same schools, drink from the same fountains and play in the same yards. Since the beginning of the European War, our foreign supply of domestic servants has been practically cut off, and the colored women are the only ones available for this type of work. These women live in our homes, wash our clothes, cook our dinners, make our beds and nurse our children. A close inter-relation between the two races exists, and we cannot long hope to be free from the diseases to which our servants are subject. Once it is realized that our own welfare is greatly affected by the welfare of the Negro, it is obvious that we must see to it that his health is conserved. Our old ostrich-like policy of comfortable neglect will not serve to protect us.
INTERIOR COURT SCENE
Note Hydrant on Left and Privy on Right which are used by Twelve Families, White and Negro.
We cannot remain indifferent to the startling adult and infant mortality rates among Negroes. Ignorance of and indifference to disease in any one group will ultimately work harm to the entire population, and neglected disease in the black race means the increase of disease among the whites. It is essential, therefore, for our own well-being that we look into the conditions under which our Negro brethren live; and ascertain all the facts which may throw some light upon the actual conditions existing. Hence, we have proceeded to analyze the records which could be obtained in our city health department, the records of a few of the larger hospitals in the city, and the records of the coroner’s office. The tables and discussion of the same follow.
It is unfortunate that the statistical bureau of our Health Department—whether through insufficient appropriations or otherwise—does not maintain the standards set by similar departments in other cities. Our department does not afford the information necessary for a complete study of the health situation. However, from the figures obtained, it is obvious that our Negro mortality rate and especially the infant mortality rate is much higher than that of New York City, for instance, and that we are facing a grave situation.
TABLE NUMBER XXI
Causes of the Negro Mortality Comparing Periods of Seven Months, January to July, 1915 and January to July, 1917.
| CAUSES | 1915 | 1917 |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia (all forms) | 64 | 183 |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 51 | 51 |
| Bright’s Disease and Nephritis | 21 | 23 |
| Apoplexy | 9 | 20 |
| Meningitis | 1 | 17 |
| Syphilis | 12 | 6 |
| Heart Disease | 23 | 45 |
| Diabetes | 4 | 5 |
| Cancer (all forms) | 9 | 8 |
| Bronchitis (all forms) | 4 | 9 |
| Scarlet Fever | 2 | 1 |
| Whooping Cough | 1 | 1 |
| Diphtheria | 1 | 2 |
| Typhoid Fever | 2 | 5 |
| Measles | 3 | 0 |
| Poliomyelitis | 0 | 2 |
| Peritonitis | 0 | 5 |
| Rickets | 5 | 1 |
| Puerperal Septicaemia | 1 | 4 |
| Uremia | 0 | 4 |
| Asphyxia | 0 | 6 |
| Cirrhosis of Liver | 2 | 0 |
| Accidents | 12 | 16 |
| Homicide | 8 | 3 |
| All other causes | 60 | 110 |
| 295 | 527 |