Problem of Chronic Rheumatism

The following data is from the National Health 'Survey of the United States Public Health Service of 1937Service of , revised in 1939: : "There is an ever-growing concern in the United States over the problems presented by chronic disease.This concern has, in part, resulted from the belief that the problems of chronic disease, or of certain chronic diseases, is increasing.Whether or not there is any increase in the prevalence rate at any given age, it is certain that the total volume of chronic disease is growing from year to year, since older persons, among whom chronic disease is more prevalent, are constituting a larger and larger proportion of the population.If the statement is accepted as valid-that the greatest need for action in the 'ield of public health is where the greatest saving of life and prevention of suffering can be made-then, without doubt, the chronic diseases merit the attention they are receiving." Chronic DiseaseThe " reports are based on a house-to-house canvass Qf some 800,000 families including 2,800,000 persons in 83 cities and 23 rural areas in 19 states ".2 " It is estimated that 23,000,000 persons, or more than one person in six in the United States have some chronic disease, orthopaedic impairment or serious defect of hearing or vision.By reason of these disorders almost a billion days annually are lost from work or other usual pursuits and a minimum of 1,500,000 persons are disabled for such long periods of time (twelve months or more) that they can be considered permanent in- valids." 3 "Chronic disease is far from a problem of old age alone.Half of the persons in the Survey for whom chronic disease or impairments were reported were under 45 years of age, and over 70% of these persons were under 55 years.Over half of the persons permanently 192