The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-10-28
DEATH RATE MUCH LOWER.

we are IN receipt OF most interesting DulletlT
entitled ga Discussion the Vital Statistics of the
Twelfth Census" by Director North. The director
explains that it is almost impossible to gather all
the information which students of health desire
but the department nevertheless sends out bulletin
which is replete with interesting tabulations and
comments.
There is widespread belief that consumption is
incurable Most of us are familiar with the claims
of medical men that tuberculosis may be success
fully treated, but many entertain the opinion that
such claims are absurd Not long since a member
of the Oregon legislature declared that he would
much rather support bill appropriating 100000
for good roads than one approprating 100000 for
the establishment of hospital for consumptives
He gave as his reason his belief that consumption
was absolutely incurable.
The bulletin just at hand contains positive and
reliable information to the contrary 1t shows that
the death rate in America and elsewhere has been
surprisingly lower during the past decade and con-
tains statistics which prove that this reduced
taty is due largely "to lessening of the mortality
from consumption, diphtheria and diseases of chill
dren the lower death rates from these causes being
creased mortality from pneumonia, cancer, heart
disease, apoplexy and diseases of old age" The
report shows further that the greatest diminution
has been in the mortality from consumption, the
rate having been 245.4 per 100000 in 1890 and but
1873 per 100000 in 1900 This remarkable de- !
is attributed to the very general instructions
which have been given to the public as to care of
consumptive patients.
Reports show that the death rate has materially
decreased in all Of the principal countries with the
single exception of Ireland where there has been
an increase from 1872 per 1000 in 1890 to 1876 in
1900 In the United States the rate has decreased
from 1876 in 1890 to 178 in 1900. Strange as it
may appear the only countries where the death rate
is lower than that of the United States Norway
Sweden and Denmark. The Netherlands death rate
is the same as ours The Denmark death rate is
1863, that of Norway is 15.9 and of Sweden 16.S
We gather from the report that the death rate
has decreased in every department except that OF
persons 65 years of age and over. The death rate
of persons under years of age was 64.5 in 1880,
as compared with 1919 in 1900; of persons between
the ages of and IA, 53 in 1890, as compared with
3S in 1900; Of persons between the ages of 10 and
A. 9.4 in 1890, as compared with 79 in 1900; of
persons between the ages of As and 64 21.3 IN 1890
as compared with 2O3 in 1900; of persons 60 years
of age and over 1866 in 1890, as compared with S28
in 1900.
As people become better informed in the mat
ter of care of themselves and their children theI
death rate steadily declines The benefits accruing
from dissemination of information of this kind areI
plainly apparent from the bulletin just issued, and
there is every reason to believe that the next report
will show even better results The ordinarily healthy
man or womn should just as well as not live to bel
70 years or more of age.