Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-08-21

Der of deaths in the State and in each coun-
ty, arranged by classes and groups; deaths
in each town from special causes, mostly
infectious diseases; deaths in each town
from certain diseases and groups of dis
eases; deaths by ages, sex and
months by counties. These tables will
prove invaluable for research and
comparison so exclusively are the de-
tails and different features presented. From
the registrars notes on deaths and the
causes of deaths the following is taken
In the year 1892, IL, ,l47 deaths were reg
istered in the State, which is equivalent to
death-rate of lS37 for every 1000 of pop
ulation as returned by the census of 1890.
Based on the estimated population for 1892
the death rate would be IS 80.
The death rate of Aroostook county was
lower than that of any other county, being
only 12 .48, while the older counties, Cum
berland, Kennebec, and York show death
rates of 20, %, %, 80, and 22.20 respee-
lively. ",G5f
The death rate in the cities was 2O.46 as
compared with that of the rest Of the State
with the cities substrscted, which death
rate was l7.46. ..s,71 i r.
Death Rates Compared.
For the year 1892 the death rate of
Maine was 1881; of New Hampshire,
20 So; of Massachusetts, 20.57; of Con-
necticut, 10. The average death-rate in
some European countries for the five years,
| lSS7-9l, was as follows. England and
| Wales, 1910; Ireland 1850; France, 81 I;
German Empire, 23.9 Holland, 20.3 Den
mark, 1911; Norway, I'll; and for the
years 1SS7.90, Sweden, 1e3 Hungary, 49,.
The largest number ief deaths occurred
in January, 1877, and February and March
followed with diminishing mortality, 1892
and 1895 deaths respectively.
The smallest number of deaths in any
one month was 100 in November. ~.
This excessive fatality in the early part
of the year represents apparently, not a
normal or customary late-winter and early
spring death-rate in the State, but was due
mostly, and perhaps wholly, to the wide
spread prevalence of epidemic influenza,
and its Accomplishments and sequels.
1t appears not far from the truth to af-
firm that the epidemic of influenza (ls
grippe) cost this State 1000 lives in 1892
and raised the recorded death rate cores
pondingly.
| Comparisons are made showing like
| mortality from the same cauee in certain
other states. @ ,sio
There was a preponderance of female
deaths save for the age period 70-S0 years.
From the following table it will be seen
that the proportionate number Of deaths OF
aged people il large. To illustrate this the
| following arrangement will serve to CON-
pare Maine with Massachusetts as regArae
| the percentage of deaths at several age
. periods: .i'l'@
| Age-Groups. Name 1892 Mass 1892
! From ! yTs Of age. :. %
/ r mgo0 40" :"
This comparison brings out sharply the
relatively large number of deaths of aget
persons in Maine.
Does this indicate superior degree Of
healthfulness in the State? An explana
ton of only part of the difference is tC
be sought in that direction. Is it attribut
able to the influence of the epidemic Of in
| fluenza and its accompanying diseases o.
the respiratory organs which proved so fata
to the aged part of the population ? The
| death-rate from influenza was considerably
greater in Maine than in Massachusetts, blu
the combined death-rate from influenz,
pneumonia, and bronchitis in Maine ,ex
ceeded that in Massachusetts only as 81 t.
SO.
| It is likely that the proIortionately larg'
number of deaths among the aged in oul
State is due in some measure to the fac
that, for years, the emigration of youul
men and young women from Maine to thu
| Western states and to the larger citiei
of New England has been large
A proportionately larger number O
elderly persons are therefore left Il
sw ell the relative death-rate of the sged ant
consequently the general death-rate.
lnianiiIs Death Rates.
In the comparison with Massachusetts,
| will be noted that the percentage of tn,
deaths of children, when compared with tn,
total mortality, is relatively small. Now
since infants are easily affected by noxiou
influences, particularly, insalubriety o
climate and insanitary conditions of domi
Giles, the infantile death-rate of country
a state, or Q city is often taken ss an indie:
of the healthfulness of the place. Wit
due precautions against error it may be o
used.
The number of infants under one year o
age dying in each 900 of total population
was 2.5 in Maine and Z in Massachusetts
The death-rate of children under five year
J, of age was 8 5 in Maine and in Massi
chusetts.
; But a much less crude, aud more trust
worthy method of getting the death-rate 70
:. any given age period is, not to base it upo