er to some of the
questions of the circular, Rabbi Dr. Guinzburg, of Boston, answered as
follows, under date of October 29, 1872:--

1st. The number of Jews living in Boston is about 5000.

2d. There certainly have not died of consumption, during the last five
years, more than eight or ten Jews in the various congregations.

To this Dr. Bowditch adds, as follows:--

"If Dr. Guinzburg's data be correct, they show a very great immunity
from consumption on the part of the Jews, compared with the citizens
generally, as will be seen by the following comparison between these
numbers and those procured from the Registration Reports, published by
the State. In the report published in 1869, page 64, we find that for
the five years preceding 1869 the annual average of deaths by
consumption was 338 for every 100,000 living. These data from Dr.
Guinzburg and the State Report give the following table:--

Proportion of Deaths to
100,000 of Living.
All religions, 338
Jews, 40

"These statements from Dr. Guinzburg are confirmed by the following
letter from Dr. A. Haskins, of this city. Dr. Haskins is connected with
one of the Jewish benevolent associations for the benefit of the sick. I
sent to him similar questions and make the following extracts from his
reply:--

"'I am generally employed in about sixty families (Jewish). I have had
these families under my care for two and a half years. During this time
I have seen but one case of consumption. I have averaged among these
sixty families about two visits daily. In my other Jewish practice,
which is not inconsiderable, I have in this time (two and a half years)
seen two cases of consumption.... I am sorry I have no statistics
whereby I could compare the two peoples, viz., Jews and Christians. I
can, therefore, give you only my impressions. I should say that I find
consumption less frequent among the Jews than among Christians. This
would be my own impression without any data to fortify it.'

"Dr. Waterman also sustains the same idea. The following extract will
give some idea of his opportunities for observation and the sources of
his deductions:--

"'BOSTON, November 2, 1872. Dear Sir,-- ... First, I have attended four
charitable associations; number about forty, fifty, sixty, and one
hundred families. At present I only attend one, containing one hundred