The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-03
Deaths In the United States.


| According to the last census, .756, ,893
persons died in the United States during
| 1880. The death rate for the whole
/ Union was, therefore, 15 to the 900.
| This is low rate, and yet it was much
higher than that given in 1870, which
was only II. 8 per 1000. while the death
rate, according to the census of 1860, was
1875. -t 80
But the apparent increase in 1880 was
due entirely to more complete returns Of
deaths. and even the figures for that
year cannot be regarded as accurate
Except in comparatively small number
OF communities, vital statistics are not
gathered in the United States after a
scientific system. The actual mortality
OF the Union is probably somewhere be-
tween eighteen and nineteen per 1000,
instead of little over fifteen. But that
is a low rate as compared with European
countries, the death rate for the whole
OF England having been 20.5 per thou
sand in 1880, and for Scotland 2l.3 in
i 1878.
Of the 756, 1898 deaths recorded in the
census returns, $40. 191 We're of whites,
out of total white population of 49,
402, $40, and 116, 702 of negroes, out OF a
total colored population of 6,752, ,S13.
The apparent death rate, therefore, was
/ IA. "A among the whites, and II. .28 among
| the negroes. A greater relative mortal
ity among colored infants in the South
ern States largely explains the higher
negro death rate, which must be accepted
as proved, we suppose, since, deficient
as the mortality statistics among the
whites may be, there is good reason for
regarding the returns of negro mortality
as still more incomplete
OF the deaths reported, 391, 800 were
OF males and 364,933 Of females, the total
living population having been %, 5l8, $40
males and 24,636, ,636 females. For every
1000 deaths of females there were ], ,074
| of males.
The proportion of males dying in in
fancy was also greater than that of
females. OF the 390,644 males who die
| 163, $3.50 were under years of are, while
of the 1863, ,S74 females who died 1885, ,g26
were under 5 years. that is,...t pro-
portion of deaths under years of age to
all deaths recorded was 4fg 81 per /, 900
among males, while among females it
was only 381.85. Nearly half the male
mortality was among very young chill
| dren. -o-.-4--. "a
The causes of death were reported in
only 733, $40 cases. and the. following
table gives the number of deaths from
each of the ten principal causes:
consumption. ...g.. ......l . qI,55l
iPhtnotta 3S,3S
Dlarrh leal diseases es.9yss... IS
Diseases of nervous system. $3.50
Diseases fnpx- -g4rs stat,, m MR.
Diseases OF digestive system ........... 34,BH
Enterfe typhoid fever: .., .....s 2S9o1
t,,I 6,TH
scarlet feYer- 16, 4l6
Whooping cough .... -. ..s ll,2R
Consumption was, as alWays99 the
great scourge, and it carried off consid-
erably larger proportion of females than
males, the deaths from that cause beina,
1859 males. to so. 932 females. 1t is
very instructive to observe that the NOR
tality from consumption in the North
Atlantic and lake regions was highest
in the small towns and agricultural dis
tricts, while on the Gulf coast it was
greatest in the city of New Orleans, with
itswretehed sewerage and drainage sys-f +
tenn. -
Enteric or typhoid fever Is also more
especially disease of the countrY..rather
than the city. The better drainage which
ordinarily prevails in the large towns
l1akes themles liable to that fever than
the smaller communities and scattered
where, necessary precautions
against the pollution of the water sup
ply are not generally taken, and aceu-
mutations of filth inyaults and eesspools
are common. Malarial feyers, likewise
were more prevalent and more fatal,
proportionately, in the smaller COM
mnnities thangin the great cities, The
same was the case with diphtheria. s
The great city, especially since the in
crease of sanitary knowledge, has many
advantages over the country with re-
spect to health. 1t hasa crowded popu-
lation, it is true, but its comparatively
confined air may be less Injurious to the
inhabitants than that which sweeps
over an open countrys where it NAV
watt poison: from swamps and marshes.
and where a scientific system of sew
erage and d4drainage is hardly practi4 !
cable.
The report of the number of deaths
due to accidents and injuries is interest,"
ing.
Burns and scals o.. ntIl2!.li J! Z. ~ 7ss
Exposure aud neglect rs ss3
Gunshot wouuds......... 22sg
Homicide. u. -. O. -. ~ . J,3S8
IhiauticliS .......-.......sA - !
injuries ny machlnery.! j.. ...!..s......s...5 120 4
Railroad accidents. ......... ..... 23t9
SufocatioR.G 20 10 IL. Las.E g.2 23l9
Suicide By shooting Observation-Disclosures. 452
Suicide by drowning ...f III n Ia !
oulclue ny pOison.... ......-............ 3fO
0theI -sulctaes :$.i W q! -4 Dol
Other accidents and injuries .,I e,.s.,,.13,98)
The mortality tables in the Compen-
dunn of the Census are. comparatively
meager, not giving us sufficient data on
which to base the general conclusions we
would like to draw, We are promised.
however. further and more detailed
statistics in the full report--that is, "a long
time hence. N 7. Sun.
Concord School is to ,philoso-
phize again next summer Bronson
Alcott will. be presentlas alisteneF, and
possibly as a speaker. A cynic remarks
that the venerable Mr.. Alcotfs incoher-
ency of language, resulting from his i'll
ness, will be no disqualification as q
teacher of Coneord vriedonaE A lo,o.