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Analysis Of A Correspondence On Some Of The Causes Or Antecedents Of Consumption

From: Fourth Annual Report Of The State Board Of Health Of Massachusetts
Creator: Henry I. Bowditch (author)
Date: January 1873
Publisher: Wright & Potter, Boston
Source: State Library of Massachusetts

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ANALYSIS OF A CORRESPONDENCE ON SOME OF THE CAUSES OR ANTECEDENTS OF CONSUMPTION.

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Boston, Nov. 10th, 1872.

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To the Members of the Massachusetts State Board of Health.

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Gentlemen: -- In accordance with a vote passed by the Board, the following circular and list of questions were prepared. Some of these questions are evidently connected with what are usually deemed antecedents of consumption in Massachusetts, while others may seem to have little bearing upon them, and may be deemed futile or irrelevant.

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Following a plan I have pursued in other kindred investigations, I prepared them so that they might be answered even monosyllabically, while they did not prevent, but rather invited, more detailed answers.

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The result has been that I have received responses from over two hundred physicians. The tabular statements that will be given under each question are founded on returns from two hundred and ten. Other letters were received after the calculations were finished, and these are given either in the body of the correspondence or in an appendix. One hundred and forty-two came from Massachusetts, and sixty-eight from other parts, -- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, London and Germany. These correspondents are physicians in active practice. Some of them are the most prominent men in the places where they reside, -- prominent for their personal qualities, and as physicians. They represent at least tolerably well the medical profession of the various places from which they write. The "medical opinion," therefore, on the various questions, which comes from them, is worthy of the respect not only of this community, but of any one who feels an interest in the questions themselves.

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It may seem to many, as I have already stated, that the questions might have been very differently and better prepared; some that evidently might have been asked do not appear on the list. On the questions of intoxicating liquors, and their effects towards the production of consumption, it may seem that I have been too diffuse. The interest in the vast subject of intemperance in this community, and the obvious design of the legislature that, if possible, the various questions connected with the subject shall be discussed by our Board, is my only excuse for any prolixity that may be noticed in this particular.

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If my life and health are spared, I hope, at a future time, to give more particularly my own views on the possible "Prevention of Consumption in Massachusetts." The labor involved in such a work will necessarily be long and irksome, inasmuch as I hope to have it based on private records of the cases of consumption I have seen since March, 1839; that is, during a period of thirty-three years. It is impossible for me to say how soon I can accomplish this object.

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Meanwhile I remain, gentlemen,
Your friend and colleague,
HENRY I. BOWDITCH.

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MEDICAL PUBLIC OPINION

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CERTAIN QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, ON SOME OF THE CAUSES 0E ANTECEDENTS OF CONSUMPTION.

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The following circular and accompanying questions were sent out to our correspondents. The twenty questions will form so many subdivisions of this paper. After these will be found, in an appendix, certain more elaborately written letters, some of them coming from eminent physicians: --

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
-Circular.-
State Board of Health, Boston, July 6, 1871.

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Dear Sir: -- The State Board of Health has requested its chairman to re- port upon the means of preventing consumption.

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The following schedule of questions has been drawn up by Dr. Bowditch for circulation among our regular correspondents, and other physicians, in the various parts of New England and elsewhere.

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It is hoped that those who may receive it will be ready to assist in the collection of facts, by at least replying with a dot or dash under the words "Yes," or "No," opposite the different questions. But Dr. Bowditch will gratefully receive more detailed statements, and especially cases relating to family or personal history, involving the apparent causes or antecedents, or means of preventing this too frequently fatal disease.

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As our report must be ready at the close of the present year, and time will be needed to analyze the returns, the undersigned would respectfully request that replies be made at as early a day as our correspondents may find convenient.

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In behalf of the State Board of Health,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
George Derby, M.D., Secretary.

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(This half-sheet can be returned, in the accompanying envelope, to the Secretary of the Board, with such additional information as our correspondents may be willing to furnish.)

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Opinions of Dr. ___ of ___, State of __

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1. Is consumption caused or promoted by hereditary influences?
2. Can consumption be apparently prevented from occurring in children so hereditarily disposed?
3. What special means can be used for such prevention? (If so, please name these means on another sheet.)
4. Is consumption caused or promoted by the drunkenness of parents?
5. " " " " " " of an individual?
6. " " prevented " " "
7. " " " by total abstinence "
8. " " caused or promoted by the " "
9. " " " " overstudy at school or college?
10. " " " " overwork in trades?
11. " " " " special trades?
12. " " " " overwork of any kind?
13. " " " " severe bodily injuries?
14. " " " " " mental trouble?
15. " " " " marriage?
16. " " checked by marriage (child-bearing, &c.)?
17. " " caused or promoted by inordinate sexual indulgence?
18. " " " " contagion or infection?
19. " " " " exposed location of dwelling?
20. " " " " wet " "

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