ABSTRACT
In the light of what we know at present, we are inclined to attribute more weight to the influence of the environmental factors in the development of tuberculosis than the constitutional factors. It is particularly the industrial factor or, in more precise terms, the occupational factor (since it refers to all groups of working men, not only to those occupied in industry, but also in agriculture, fishery, transportation, domestic service and the like), which seems to be correlated with the death rate from tuberculosis. The influences of this factor are different and depend to a considerable extent on the sociological structure of the country. They are unfavorable in certain unhealthy industries and industrially young countries. At the period of beginning industrialization, when the steadily increasing industrial and agricultural development has not as yet been sufficiently controlled by adequate measures (legislation and medico-social sanitation), we find in general a marked tendency toward deteriorating health among the masses and while machinery in general goes on improving the human machines apeears to be under-going positive deterioration (4)On the other hand, there is reason to believe that industry on the whole exerts a beneficial influence on the health of the community (though many industrial categories have their own specific risks) provided that the technical progress is steadily accompanied by social progress and systematic improvements of general sanitationAs to present tuberculosis situation in the Philippines, we believe that it is positivey correlated with the sociologic structure of the country. Increasing tuberculosis figures and high incidence, reflected by high mortality rates, are medico-social phenomena common to countries which, socio-economically speaking are just entering the phase of beginning industrialization. As in so many problems of public health, it is certain that there are multiple factors operating but we are of the belief that in the Philippines, as a prevalently agricultural country in the stage of beginning industrialism, this condition is one of the determining elements in the present tuberculosis situationIn the anti-tuberculosis campaign, in our opinion, the stress should be laid not only on special measures of campaigning against the tubercle bacillus but also on improvements of the social, occupational and hygienic conditions in all areasFrom the very moment industrialization starts, the health of a modern nation depends as much on conditions inside as outside the factory gatesThe conclusion to be drawn from these considerations and the practical measures to bring about further studies of the problems will be discussed in a later paper. We believe, however that the viewpoints discussed in this preliminary paper may be of some actual interest even now in view of the inttense and progressive efforts, supported by governmental and private initiative, to industrialize large part of the Philippines Islands in the near future. (Summary)