Abstract
Deaths of resident white tuberculous persons in Buffalo in 1949-1951 were inversely correlated with socio-economic status as measured by economic quartile of residence. Data on the previous residences of these 493 persons were obtained; 84% were traced to 1946 or earlier, and 66% were traced to 1935 or earlier. Socio-economic distribution at the earliest address found did not differ significantly from the distribution at the time of death; this held true even for those traced to 1925-1935. There was an excess of untraceable males in the lowest economic quartile; this group differed significantly in having more single persons and persons from other states than the group of lowest quartile males who were traced. However, even when the extreme assumption was made that the untraced males in the lowest quartile originated in higher economic groups and they were assigned to these groups, the resultant effect on the socio-economic differences was rela tively small. This study does not provide a definitive answer to the question at issue as the method used did not permit a lifetime review of socio-economic status. Within the limitations of the study method, no positive evidence was obtained that the excess of tuberculosis mortality in low socio-economic areas is due to downward socio-economic drift by afflicted persons.

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