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HEALTHFULNESS OF THE LAKE REGION.

HEALTHFULNESS OF THE LAKE REGION. Many years ago, in the pre-aseptic days, a prominent Chicago surgeon published a paper showing that better results in surgery were obtained in the lake region than in other parts of the country. This paper was the subject of some dispute and discussion at the time. Now comes Chicago's assistant health commissioner, Dr. F. W. Reilly, with figures comparing the death rate of the five principal lake cities, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee with the other principal cities of the country situated on the seacoast and on rivers, and showing a decided advantage in favor of the former. From his figures it appears that the death rate of the river cities, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Washington, is 35 per cent. higher than the rate of the lake cities mentioned, and that the four great seaports, New York, Boston, Baltimore and San Francisco, is 31.4 per cent. higher. While these facts may be questioned by some and do indeed seem rather striking, there are certain conditions that may help to explain them. Every one of the five lake cities mentioned is situated directly on the shores of a large body of fresh water; Detroit is the only apparent exception, but it is practically on the shore of Lake St. Clair, which washes its northern portion. All these cities obtain their water supply from these lakes, and though it may be to some extent locally polluted, the risks of such pollution are, at the worst, less than those in the river cities and those on the seaboard which have to obtain their supply from inland sources. San Francisco alone of the seaboard cities can be said to be situated almost on the ocean shore. The others all have more or less deep inland running harbors, but the conditions here and at New Orleans, which is also situated near a considerable body of fresh water, are somewhat special and may modify the death rate unfavorably in one way or another. One thing also appears reasonably probable: The lake climate, while somewhat irritating in certain portions of the year, is on the whole a healthy one. The diseases it favors are not those that most increase the mortality rate, and the effect of a large body of practically sterile water, much more sterile indeed than ocean water, can not but be favorable to health. JAMA. 1906;47:510-511 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

HEALTHFULNESS OF THE LAKE REGION.

JAMA , Volume 296 (8) – Aug 23, 2006

HEALTHFULNESS OF THE LAKE REGION.

Abstract

Many years ago, in the pre-aseptic days, a prominent Chicago surgeon published a paper showing that better results in surgery were obtained in the lake region than in other parts of the country. This paper was the subject of some dispute and discussion at the time. Now comes Chicago's assistant health commissioner, Dr. F. W. Reilly, with figures comparing the death rate of the five principal lake cities, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee with the other principal cities...
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.296.8.1007-b
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Many years ago, in the pre-aseptic days, a prominent Chicago surgeon published a paper showing that better results in surgery were obtained in the lake region than in other parts of the country. This paper was the subject of some dispute and discussion at the time. Now comes Chicago's assistant health commissioner, Dr. F. W. Reilly, with figures comparing the death rate of the five principal lake cities, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee with the other principal cities of the country situated on the seacoast and on rivers, and showing a decided advantage in favor of the former. From his figures it appears that the death rate of the river cities, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Washington, is 35 per cent. higher than the rate of the lake cities mentioned, and that the four great seaports, New York, Boston, Baltimore and San Francisco, is 31.4 per cent. higher. While these facts may be questioned by some and do indeed seem rather striking, there are certain conditions that may help to explain them. Every one of the five lake cities mentioned is situated directly on the shores of a large body of fresh water; Detroit is the only apparent exception, but it is practically on the shore of Lake St. Clair, which washes its northern portion. All these cities obtain their water supply from these lakes, and though it may be to some extent locally polluted, the risks of such pollution are, at the worst, less than those in the river cities and those on the seaboard which have to obtain their supply from inland sources. San Francisco alone of the seaboard cities can be said to be situated almost on the ocean shore. The others all have more or less deep inland running harbors, but the conditions here and at New Orleans, which is also situated near a considerable body of fresh water, are somewhat special and may modify the death rate unfavorably in one way or another. One thing also appears reasonably probable: The lake climate, while somewhat irritating in certain portions of the year, is on the whole a healthy one. The diseases it favors are not those that most increase the mortality rate, and the effect of a large body of practically sterile water, much more sterile indeed than ocean water, can not but be favorable to health. JAMA. 1906;47:510-511

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Aug 23, 2006

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