24
SEX IN INDUSTRY.
pursuits, and their effect upon the public weal, are the present concern.
The results upon the community of the loss of the young female operative have already been shown. Bad as these are,* if the evils of employ break down the health, rather than destroy life,—as is the rule,— a heavier burden is thereby entailed than results from actual death. Years of total invalidism involve both the loss of the individual’s production, with its increase, and the production and its increase of those who care for the disabled. Proportionate degrees of dependence
* “ In Massachusetts, during the seven year? I 860 to 1871, 72,727 died in their working period. In the fulness of health and completeness of life, they would have had opportunity of laboring for themselves, their families, and the public, in all 3,006,300 years; but the total of their labors amounted only to 1,081,125 years, leaving a foss of 1,925,224 by their premature deaths. This was an average annual loss of 276,401 years of service and co-operation. Thus it appears that in Massachusetts, one of the most favored States of this country and of the world, those who died within seven years had contributed to the public support less than half — 46.07 per cent — of what is done in the best conditions of life.”— Edwakd Jarvis, M.D.; Polit. Eeon. of Health, Fifth Rep. Mass. Board of Health.