Medicine: Counting Illnesses

How often do people get sick? The U.S. Public Health Service gave an answer last week when it reported on its survey of the nation's health in the twelvemonth ended June 30, made by sending investigators to a cross-section sample of 36,000 homes in 330 areas, checking on 115,000 individuals (TIME, May 20, 1957). The findings, extended to the whole U.S. population: ¶ Illnesses and injuries severe enough to require medical attention or keep the victim at home totaled 437,886,000, an average of 2.6 for every American. ¶ The weaker sex was only slightly weaker—2.7 such illnesses, against 2.5...

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