New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-04
STUDIES IN DEATH RATES.


Much wondcrment has often been expressed
at the difference between the death rates in
European cities and in American cities of similar
size. The climate there Is supposed to be in
many cases less favorable to health than it Is
here Certainly the smoke and fog of London
present striking contrast to the crystal at
m0sphere Of New-YOrk European cities, too
are older than ours. and their time-wOrn. de-
caying tenements are regarded as veritable pest
houses. Yet in one way or another their death
rates are kept down to figures that the envy
and despair OF American health boards and
vital statsticians That Of London Is only 1S5
to the thousand: Of Paris 1913, Of Berlin 1872
Of Brussels 1873 Of Amsterdam Is, Of Copen
hagen 1871, Of Hamburg 49, and even of Rome
1919 while that of NewYork has been ranging
from 90 to %. What is the reason of the differ
ence?
The answer Is 10 be read in the vital statistics
Of this city of New-York for the year Just past
1t was VIGOROUSLY bad year in respect to many
conditions which directly affect the health OF
the people. The weather was phenomenally try
ing. with abrupt changes from heat TO cold. and
with one Of the most intense and prolonged "hOt
spells on record 1t was a year of hard times,
too. in which thousands were scarcely able to
secure even the necessities. not TO mention the
common comforts. of existence. Yet despite
these things the death rate was lOw-for New
York. Ii was lower than in the year before. and
much lower than the average for the five years
immediately preceding. The figures were 21.54
to the thousand in 1896. 231O5 in 1895 and
2G63 in the five years 1S91'95 That Is Il great
gain. 1t means a saving of nearly 1000 lives
compared with 1895 and Of about 5000 COM
pared with the five years named.
How was this gain accomplished? Simply
by faithful administration Of various depart
ments Of municipal government. but chiefly OF
the Health and Street Cleaning departments.
and also, to some extent, the Department Of
Public Works. Some Of the streets were better
paved. and all were better cleaned, and the san
itary condition Of tenements was more care
fully supervised. That Is all. or nearly all. The
details OF the report show IT, There was a con-
siderable increase Of deaths from sunstroke,
from accidents and from some other causes.
But there was far greater decrease Of deaths
from diseases caused by foul streets and I'M
wholesome tenements. And that Is the secret
of the lower death rate In European cities
Their streets are well paved, and are kept Clean
and sanitary regulations In tenements are en-
forced with thOroughness scarcely dreamed
OF here.
1t costs something. Of course thus to admin
lister the affairs of a great city. But II also
pays. This city would not hesitate. In an emer-
gency to spend million dollars to ward off a
threatened invasion Of cholera or yellow fever.
1t should not grudge a far smaller sum for the
have been killed in this city in one year by un-
sanitary streets and tcnements than in fifty by
foreign plaques. 1t is well TO guard against
allen epldemcs, but 1t Is better to extrpate do
nestle endemlcs. II 100 persons should die In