The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-06-07
DECREASE OF CONSUMPTION.

After allthe years of experiment with failure tC
find cure for consumption it certainly will be graft
flying to the public to learn from eminent medical
authority that it is shown by carefully prepared sta
tistics that the disease is tending toward extinction
The Boston Herald quotes from monograph by
IDr. S. w. Abbott, secretary of the Massachusetts,
board of health to support the claim that within the
next half century the many sanatora now peopled
by eonsumptives may possibly be filed by those who
are suffering with cancer since cancer appears to be
steadily increasing while pthsis is tending toward
extinction" !" The Herald quotes from Dr. Abbott S
tables and comments as follows:
while the death rate in Massachusetts, from con-
sumption per million of people was in 1902 1895, so
years ago, or in 1853 the death rate per million from
this cause was 1872 thus indicating decline in the
interval of much more than 80 per cent To state
similar conditions in relative terms the death rate
from consumption in Massachusetts, for the decade
1851 go for each 10000 of its people was 399. while
IN the interval of haf-century our state has enor-
mously increased in the number of its inhabitants,
actual cases Of death from this cause are now mol
greater than they were at that distant time.
Another interesting fact brought out bv DIR
Abbotts statistical tables is that while half cen.
tTy ago the death rate from consumption among
females was some 80 40 per cent greater than the
death rate from this cause among males for some
years past the reverse has been the case-that is
dividing the sexes the number of women who now
ie from consumption is relatively considerably less
man the number of men. This change has its CORE
'pondng parallel in the experience of England,
where deaths by consumption are on the decrease.
md where an excessive female mortality from this
ause has now given place to corresponding female
The differences in England have been S
eSs marked than they have been in Massachusetts q
circumstance due, perhaps TO the fact that the rate
t mortality by consumption in England was lower IT
years ago than IN Massachusetts,, while now the &C
Ondltlons of relative immunity are gradually an g
reaching each other. Sc
Inc death rate hy consumption among females Q,
ppears TO be dsproportonatey large from the age
10 the age OF 20 Between the ages of 10 and ar
years the death rate Of females from this canse p
fuly twice that Of males, and in reduced degree :
e same holds true Of the experience of the sexes be
Veen the ages of 10 and 90 But after that aoe the
.atlye immunity Of women makes itself evident tn
nus, While 40 years ago many more women died in eh
massachusetts, from consumption between the ages Of
and oO years. at the present time many more men ~
an women die in Massachusetts from this cause dur
g these threeage decades en-
The chief point in DR.. Abbott paper. which we
INK VIII be OF interest to ALL and perhaps of sur
use to many, is his confident belief based upon NOR 81
ty tables that what has been-certany for us in sn
eW England-the most murderous of all human is
Seases IS rapidly approaching its end. We are SUI
her becoming immune to it through evolutionary ~"
ocesses or better hygenc conditions are bringing ru
out their logical results" Gro