The Portland daily press., 1884-12-30
Death Rate. Death Rate Average.
| Name Of cities. 1870 1880. i87U&'SO

UIgnBF
than that of Lowell-that is, taking the death
rate as test Of health, fourteen cities stand
ahead OF our city. III we add the five new
cities to the list, each having low rata OF
mortality, it will make "a cities in the state,
OF which Lowell stands the 10th In point OF
health. This is not question OF opinion, but
ths rank Is settled by facts and figures which
cannot be disputed. We confess that IL places
our city upon much lower scale Of health
than we expected when starting. these in
quiries- IL 1t could have taken higher stand
it Would have been far more gratifying.
why should its death-rats be so large? Why
so much larger than Lawrence's? This CITY ia
only about half as old, is purely manuiac-
turing place and larger proportion OF its i1-
habiants is foreign its natural advantages for
health, we believe, are not so good as Lowell,
but its death-rate is only 10 in o thousand,
while Lowell is 22y6 In thousand. The dif-
ference in figures looks small, but not so when
applied TO human beings. II our death-rate
was the same as Lawrence's, the deaths in
Lowell would be reduced annually 1856 persons.
Is not thst saving the lives Of 1856 persons
worth considering?
Let us make another comparison. For illus
tration, We will take Lynn, being in this part
OF the State and having over 40 900 inhabi-
tants-about the same size as Lawrence. The
business here, principally, Is shoe manufac-
turing, an occupation which has not been con-
sidered so healthful as some others. The loca-
tion OF the place Is peculiarly exposed to the
consumption-are very common. Most persons
looking at the situation Of this city, its busi-
ness, and surroundings, would say it must be
rather an unhealthy city. But not so. Its
rate OF mortality is only 1873 in thousand;
that is 10 less than that OF Lowell, which in
human life makes surprising difference. II
the mortality OF Lowell could be reduced to
the same rate, 1t would save 1852 lives, or pre-
vent 1862 deaths every yesr Why should
health and life stand so much better chance in
LYNN fha
that may be given we will mention one. For
many years they have had sanitary associa-
tion in Lynn, have had discussions and lectures
on the subject Of health, have published papers
and tracts; special pains have been taken to
enlightsn people upon the subject, 30 that
these reasons have undoubtedly prevented
much sickness and mortality.
Ii is hard fos some people to realize to what
an extent sickness and death may be prevent
cd by human agency. The doctrine that dis
dence, and that human beings cannot escape
them, or have any controlling voice iu them,
has most surprising hold at the present day
on many people. That about one-qnartsr Of
all the sickness and mortality which afilet,
mankind can be prevented some persons can
scarcely credit. But this has been done for
years in Great Britain. 1t is no theory or ex-
pertinent, but the fact has been repeatedly
proved. We'could name some of the places,
describe the means employed and state the
been prevented in these places In England, but
IL seems unnecessary. What has been done in
Great Britain can be done here. Sanitary sci
ence, with its untold advantage, Is far more
advanced there than in the United States. Let
the same means be employed here that have
been there and We shall reap similar advan-
tages. II is true these blessings will not come
without thought, without labor and expense,
but II will abundanty pay. Health and life
are too valuable to be sacrificed, especially on
20 large scale.
In order to secure tbs full benefits OF such
advantages, it has been found necessary that
people be educated upon matters Of health,
that they understand how to use the proper
means for preventing disease and sickness 1t
Is found that health, after ALL depends much
upon ths Intelligence OF a people on the sub
1ect. Hence, 10 England, great pains have
been taken to diffuse such information among
all classes in the community. Take London
as an Illustration of the benefits of sanitary
agencies. In all great cities, the world over,
the rate oil mortality is large and very large.
London has over four and a half millions Of
people, and some parts OF it are 30 located and
occupied by such material that one would sup
pose that disease and death would produce
such havoc as to destroy the inhabitants in q
short time. Once epidemcs and contagious
diseases committed here terrible ravages, but
Tor twenty or thirty years great pains have
been taken to introduce into all parts of the
city the best sanitary improvements, As a
consequence, the amount OF sickness and the
number OF deaths have been greatly reduced.
1t is now the healthiest large city In the world,
The death rate of Lowell is considerably
higher than that Of London. II our mort ality
could be brought down to the same scale,
more than one hundred persons would
here be saved every year from premsture
death. Health and life stand a better chancs
to-day in the great city Of London than they
do ia Lowell, for the reason that sanitary
means and agencies have not been employed
here as in that city. Great Britain is divided
into over 1900 districts, and q sanitary in
spector is appointed for each district, who
comes directly In contact with the people.
Then by circulars, reports, lectures, news
papers, etc., an enlightened public sentiment
Is created upon health matters.
As an illustration in this country, the citv OF
Providence appointed some twenty years ago
DIR. E. Nj. Snow as superintendent OF health;
man thoroughly posted In the laws Of health
and lie, who. by counsel, circulars, reports,
etc., guided the municipal authorities aud the
people in the use Of the best sanitary improve
ments, so that Providence, for o long time,
has been one OF the healthiest cities in the
country.
If the proper agencies could be brought 10
bear in improving the sanitary condition Of
the city and enlightening our people upon the
subject, there is no question that more than
one hundred deaths might be- saved every
year, IS we'll as great amount Of sickness
prevented, besides immaDRe axnansa