biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-21

SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 1885.,

RATES OF MORTALITY:

Dr. Ogle's figures on this subject, as given in the/
Registrar-General's decennial report, are very Bug'
gestive and interesting. Here we have space W
touch on only two or three branches of this important
topic. First, with regard to the relative healthines;
of various occupations. The clergy of all denomina,
tions top the list for longevity. This, too, is the case
in America, and, we believe, on the Continent also;
Why is it so? The answer which we venture to
supply is worth thinking over, because it may read a
sanitary lesson to others. The mass of the clergy
are in the happy middle state between riches and
poverty; their sacred profession promotes decorous
and regular habits, and enforces temper-
ance and self-control; their lungs are strengthened
by the constant exercise of their voices; and
their parochial ministrations cause them to be
much in the open air. Now the poor
medical man's expectation of life is far lower
than the parson's, because he is exposed to infectious
disease, because his hours are necessarily irregular,
and because he is far more exposed than his spiritual
brother to sudden changes of temperature and to
night chills. It is rather a surprise to find that one
of the most unhealthy callings is that of inn or hotel
servant. The secret doubtless is that the hours are
long and late, and alcoholic stimulus against vreari-
ness and low spirits only too easily accessible. All
workers who inhale dust are short-lived with one not-
able exception—those who inhale coal-dust. Colliersr
as opposed to other miners, stand high ia the health-
scale. This is a welcome piece of news in such a
coal-ridden country as ours is. It may even recon-
cile us to the smoke-laden canopy of fog which so
often hides the London sky during the colder months.
Perhaps it is this much-maligned soot in the air
which keeps the unparalleled aggregation of living
creatures whe occupy London as healthy as they are.
—Graphic.