HEALTH DIFFERENCES AMONG CITIES 



The infant death rate is steadily declining in all cities, as well as in the country as a 

 whole. When we compare the four cities making the poorest showing in any one 

 year with the four cities making the best showing, we are struck by the large number 

 of deaths that could probably be prevented 



in our population. This is, however, not a matter of "race" but of modes of 

 living, of understanding how to meet conditions, how to make adjustments. 

 People who find themselves in a strange region are always at a disadvantage. 

 This is true of explorers and adventurers and of families migrating of necessity 

 or in the hope of improving their lives. Whole populations are pushed 

 around by floods and famines, as well as by wars; and being a stranger in a 

 strange land is always hard and always involves health. Minority and alien 

 groups are generally at a disadvantage and pretty helpless, even in the demo- 

 cratic countries. If we compare the minority races with the white, in various 

 cities, in various parts of the country, we see a preponderance of sickness 

 among the underprivileged. 



Minority groups are, in general, more poorly housed, more poorly fed, 

 more poorly clothed. They are likely to be overworked. And they are likely 

 to be underprivileged with respect to schooling and other opportunities to 

 find out better ways of living. They are likely to be anxious and worried. 



Poverty and Sickness We can see that economic conditions bear upon 

 health whenever we compare living conditions, on the one hand, with sick- 



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