The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-18
Causes of Death.

n ouiic1iu uoo JusI uecu lSsuSu ny Ifle
United States Census Bureau in which
comparison is made between the
death rates in this country for 1890 and
1900, and it may be confidently asserted
that few statistics published by that
branch of the government possess such
gratifying character. 1t appears
that there was falling off of nearly
10 per cent in the proportion of deaths
to population during the last decade of
the century just ended, while the aver
age at which Americans now die is put
at 50 2 years, as against 81, l in 1890 A
gain in longevity of 13 per cent is here
indicated At first the announcement
seems little incredible. The figures
hold good, however only for cities of
eight thousand inhabitants or more,
and hence are in one sense partial. 1t
is doubtful if the improvement has been
so rapid in the rural region. Still, if
the conditions of city life are here ac-
[curately represented, there is certainly
occasion for profound congratulation.
Analysis of the bulletin here referred
to shows, moreover, that ''the great
white plague" /" which for so many years
claimed more victims than any other
malady, no longer stands at the head
of the list. The death rate from con-
sumption was only 245.4 for every TO-
600 persons in 1890 and only 1905 in
| 1900. No other disease shows such a
great falling off, although diphtheria
and bronchitis, cholera infantum and
the diarrhoeal disorders of adults, gen.
eral debility and typhoid fever, closely
approach it. For most of these changes
it is easy to find some explation in the
improved sanitation of cities and great.
er palnstaking with food and water
supplies. But other influences have un-
questionably operated in two instances
Consumption is dealt with more effect
lively than before, because the fact that
it is often durable is recognized, And
Behring's antitoxin, which is scarcely
ten years old, perceptibly restricts the
ravages of diphtheria.
Unfortunately. however, there are 6
few maladies which show an increased
mortality. From pneumonia there were
1919 deaths among every 10000 people
in 1900 and only 1856 9 in 1890. The diff
ference is slight, but it is sufficient tt
put this disease slightly ahead of con
sumption as destroyer of human life
Here again it is not hard to find rea
son for the change. 1t is scarcely {
dozen years since what is now known a.
influenza invaded this country. Tht
census bulletin shows that the death!
directly assigned to it rose from 6.2 il
1890 to 239 in 1900. But the effect
did not stop there. Pneumonia is ont
of the most common sequels of the grip
and often begins its demands on pa
TENTS vitality when the latter is al
ready pretty well exhausted. Thus th'
chances of recovery are materially di
minished. But for this new complica
tion it is possible that pneumonia, lik'
consumption. diphtheria and bronchit
is, would show an appreciable falling
off in its havoc.
The other maladies the death rat
for which has grown to notable degre,
are cancer, appoplexy and derange
ments of the heart and kidneys. S
imperfectly, is the origin of the first o
these ills understood, that it is Difficult
to conjecture why its activity has bee
enlarged. But one cannot avoid re
garding the increased proportion @
deaths from the other causes here re
ferred to as indications that the higl
pressure life of cities is proving NOR
exacting than before. Business an
social demands, excitement of one forr
or another, high living and lack of eS
lercise, work out their legitimate result
in spite Of the best efforts of the doc
tors. Nor will the best of general san
tary measures make any differenc
with these particular disorders. Evi
IDENTIFY if any check is to be put upo
morality from them the people mus
apply it themselves.-N. Y. Tribune.