New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
CAUSES OF DEATH.

A bulletin has just been issued by the United
States Census Bureau in which a comparison is
made between the death rates in this country
for 1890 and 1900. and 1t may be confidently
asserted that few statistics published by that
branch of the government possess such graft
flying character. 1t appears that there was a
falling off OF nearly 10 per cent in the proper
tion of deaths to population during the last dec
ade Of the century just ended, while the average
age at which Americans die is put at $50
years, as against 81 in 1880. a gain in lon
gevity Of 13 per cent is here indicated. At first
the announcement seems a little Incredible The
figures hold good, however only for cities of
eight thousand inhabitants or more, and hence
are in one sense partial. II is doubtful II the
improvement has been so rapid In the rural
regions. STILL If the conditions OF city life are
here accurately represented there Is certainly
occasion for profound graduation.
Analysis of the bulletin here referred to shows,
moreover, that 1.-THE great white plague" which
for many years claimed more victims than
any other malady, no longer stands at the head
OF the list The death rate from consumption
was 245.4 for every 10000 persons in 1890 and
only 1908 IN 1900 No other disease shows
such great falling off. although diphtheria and
bronchitis, cholera infantum and the diarrhpal
disorders of adults, general debility and typhoid
fever, closely approach it. For most of these
changes ii IS easy TO find some explanation in
the improved sanitation of cities and greater
painstaking with food and water supplies. But
other influences have unquestionably operated
in two instances. Consumption is now dealt
with more effectively than ever before, because
the fact that it is often durable is recognized.
And Behring's antltoxin, which is scarcely ten
years old, perceptibly restricts the ravages of
diphtheria
Unfortunately, however, there are a few
maladies which show an increased mortality
From pneumonia there were 1919 deaths among
every 10000 people in 1900 and only 1863 in
1890. The difference is slight, but 1t is suffi-
cient to put this disease slightly ahead of con-
sumption as destroyer of human life Here
again it is not hard to find n reason for the
change. 1t Is scarcely dozen years since what
is now known as influenza invaded this coun-
try. The census bulletin shows that the deaths
directly assigned to 1t rose from g. in 1890 to
239 in 1900. But the effects did not stop there
Pneumonia is one OF the most common seques
of the grip, and often begins its demands on
a patients vitality when the latter is already
pretty we'll exhausted. Thus the chances of
recovery are materially diminished. But for
this new complication 1t is possible that pneu-
mOnia, like consumption, dphtheria and bron-
chitIs, would show an appreciable falling off in
its havoc.
The other maladies the death rate for which
has grown to a notable degree are cancer, apo
plexy and arrangements of the heart and kid
neys. So imperfectly is the origin of the first
Of these ills understood that 1t is difficult to con-
lecture why its activity has been enlarged But
one cannot avoid regarding the increased pro-
portion of deaths from the other causes here
referred to as indications that the high pressure
life Of cities is proving more exacting than ever
before. Business and social demands excite
ment OF one form or another. high living and
lack Of exercise work out their legitimate re-
suits in spite Of the best efforts of the doctors
Nor will the best of general sanitary measures
make any difference with these particular dis
orders. Evidently If any check is to be put upon
mortality from them the people must apply il
themselves.