THE NEGRO HEALTH PROBLEM. L . C. ALLEN, M . D . , Hoschton, Georgia. Read before t h e General Sessions, American Public Health Association, Jacksonville, Fla., November 3 0 - December 4 , 1914. T h e negro health problem i s o n e of th e "white man's burdens," a n d i t i s by n o means t h e least o f those burdens. I t i s a t once t h e most serious a n d t h e most difficult health problem with which the people o f t h e South ar e confronted. T h e statement that "None o f u s liveth t o himself, a n d n o m a n dieth t o himself" i s a s true today as i t w a s when t h e Apostle penned i t t o t h e R o - mans nineteen centuries ago. A n d i t applies with a s much force t o o u r "brother i n black" a s t o a n y other man. Because o f t h e fact that n o negro liveth t o himself n o r dieth t o himself t h e negro health problem i s n o t alone a question o f concern t o t h e black man, b u t is one o f equal monment t o t h e white population i n communities where t h e negroes found i n a n y con- siderable numbers. Disease germs ar e t h e most deim-ocratic creatures i n t h e world; they know n o distinction o f "race, color, o r previous condition o f servxitude." T h e white race a n t h e black race will contiinue to live side b y side i n the South, a n d whatever injuriously affects th e health o f o n e race i s deleterious to th e other also. Disease among t h e negroes is a danger t o the entire population. Communicable diseases find their favorite prop)agating grounds i n t he dirty negro sections o f o u r cities, a n d i n unsanitary negro homes i n the country. From dirty homes, these disease-infested sections, negro people come into intimate contact with white people every da y that passes. We meet them i n o u r homiies, offices, stores, i n street cars, a n d alimlost every- where w e g o . T h e fact i s n o t pleasant t o contemplate, b u t i s nevertheless true, that there a r e colored persons afflicted with gonorrhea, syphilis, a n d tuberculosis employed a s servants i n many o f t h e best homes i n t h e South today. I n every instance t h e employer i s, o f course, unaware of the risk being taken. Various diseases a r e often spread i n this way. I t i s undoubtedly true that t h e negro race ha s deteriorated physically a n d morally since slavery tiines. I n some ways h e i s perhaps more in - telligent, b u t freedom h a s n ot benefited hi s health, n o r improved h i s morals. There i s more sickness a n d inefficiency a n d crime among them n o w than before t h e war. A l l o l d physicians tell us that i n slavery time consum)ption w a s practically unknown amlong the negro race. fact, I believe, is thoroughly established. B u t h o w is it with them now? T h e figures speak f o r themselves. In t h e year 1911, a s s e t forth i n Census Bulletin numuber 112, the death-rate p e r o n e hundred thousand from tuber- culosis o f t h e lungs, i n t h e registration area, w a s 162.2 f o r th e whites, a n d 1 9 4
