THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM 
49* 
The foreign born, which composed 30.4 per cent, of 
the population in 1918, contributed 36.4 per cent, of all 
admissions to State hospitals. This report also showed 
striking differences among various races of suscepti 
bility to different types of insanity. 
Alcoholism plays an outstanding part in the death 
rate of certain races, especially the Irish. This race, 
according to Mr. Davis, takes primary rank in deaths 
from other diseases, such as Bright’s disease, those of 
the digestive systems and the circulatory and res 
piratory systems. On the other hand, the Irish have 
a very low death rate from acute infections. 
The Russians, including the Jews, generally are at 
the bottom of the morbidity rate list. Altho living 
under congested conditions they have a death rate 
from tuberculosis about one-third less than that of 
the native born. Mr. Davis suggests that “exposure 
to urban conditions for many generations, and con 
sequent elimination of stocks unable to resist the prev 
alent urban infections is a probable factor in this 
low rate among the Jews.” 
These fragmentary statistics show the need for de 
tailed studies along these lines. Such statistics have 
a vital bearing on the desirability of certain races and 
their ability to meet American living conditions. 
Statistics of this character would play a very important 
part in any selective process as applied to different 
races. 
Whether these differences are due to racial charac 
teristics or whether they are due to the different living 
conditions in this country is a vital matter. Statistics 
which will substantiate one side or the other are of 
the utmost significance. Unfortunately statistics bear 
ing on this subject and upon which scientific deductions 
may be formed are meager and often very inaccurate.