Ethnicity, Class, and Mortality in the Industrial City: A Case Study of Typhoid Fever in Pittsburgh, 1890-1910

The relationship between public health & the health of populations is studied through a case history of typhoid fever in Pittsburgh, Pa, using data drawn from the Pittsburgh Health Dept annual reports from 1890 to 1910. Findings reveal that recent M, Wc immigrants had the highest risk of dying from typhoid fever because they did not have access to the preventive measures available to the Ucs. When a public filtration system was finally installed, the death rate from typhoid fever fell by 85%, thus illustrating the dependence of the Wc on public response. 3 Tables. L. Holland