La situation sanitaire de la France après 5 ans de guerre et dòccupation

Abstract

While one should not be either overpessimistic or overoptimistic, the fact remains that France has really suffered and suffers food and other restrictions and is still undergoing difficulties though in a less spectacular and perhaps less tangible way than for the last four years. In order to protect the health of the French people one of the most important measures to be taken at the present time is the planning of means of defense against disease and famine. Before the war a decrease in death rates due to tuberculosis had occurred: from 225 in 1905 to 125 in 1934. These figures had risen to 141 in 1943. Progress had been noted in the fight against venereal diseases. Before the war new syphilis cases decreased from over 2,400 in 1921 in a certain number of cities to 900 in 1927, to rise to 1,500 in 1930 and decrease to 620 in 1939 and ascend again to 1,500 in 1940 and 1,400 in 1944. General mortality rate for the whole of France was: 1938, 621,417 (155 per 10,000 inhabitants); 1939, 629,425 (155); 1940, 734,550 (182); 1941, 660,279 (174); 1942, 638,298 (168); and 1943, 609,596 (164) (the last figure being incomplete). Infant death rate which for some years was gradually decreasing, from 65 per 1,000 live births, in 1938 to 63 in 1939, suddently increased to 91 in 1940, dropping again to from 70 to 75 in 1943. In 1944 there was an increase though no definite figures are available. During ...(AU)