Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-12
Is shown by the following table:
COMPARATIVE DEATH RATES.
per 1000 population for certain countries
TWENTY-FIVE

German Empire ....:.. "a az 81 81
PruSSla ................. 4.0 23.7 21,8 |
hungary ............... ga 1928 269 |
lrelanO ................. 49, 1872 1876 |
Netherlands ........... 2O.5 W.3 rs
Norway ................ H.9 16.G $50 |
scotland ................ 1871 1872 lS5 /
SPAN '................... 32.5 D.3 81 |
sweden ..:............... III no 1853 |
Switzerland ............ 20.s 2O.6 1913 |
United States (regis-
tration area) ........ 1876 17.s
The question as to whether the de-
crease in mortality in 1900 as compared |
with 1890 was due to temporary causes. |
such as the comparative absence of |
epidemics or more favorable meteoro-
logical conditions of 1900, or to perma-
nent causes. such as improved sanitary |
conditions. IS an interesting and i'm
pOrtant one,
The tables given indicate that it was
due largely to a lessening Of the NOR
tally from consumption. diphtheria |
and diseases of children. the lower |
death rates from these causes being
considerably more than sufficient to
Offset the increased mortality from
pneumonia, cancer, heart disease,
apoplexy. and other diseases Of old
age. The greatest diminution is in
the mortality from consumption, which.
in the registration area, was 1878 per
1901 Of population in 1900, while In
1880 it was 245.4. Within the last ten
years much has been done to instruct
the public as to the mode by which
pulmonary tuberculosis is spread. and
as to the proper methods Of prevep-
ton, and the health departments of
most of our large cities have given
much attention to this subject 1t is
very satisfactory to find that the CEN
sus figures indicate that good results
are being obtained.
Probably the most interesting and val
liable data contained in the Census Report
on Vital Statistics are those which relate
to municipal mortality statistics. They
are, as a rule more complete and accu-
rate than the mortality statistics of rural
and thinly settled districts of the states
taken as a whole. They include localities
differing greatly as to climate and furnish
some of the best data we possess for
studying certain problems connected with
sociology and the relative prevalence of
certain forms of disease in different
places.
St Paul, with a population of 1885
gives a death rate of 81 per 1000 for the
census year. and Minneapolis. with
population Of 202, u.s. gives death rate OF
10.s while the average death rate for
cities of this size is about II. If the death
rates of ST. Paul and Minneapolis are cor
rect 1t is a matter of very great interest
to other large cities to know the cause
of this. Is it due to pecularities of race
and age distribution in the population Of
these cities? An appropriate answer to
this question is given in the Report on
Vital Statistics of Twelfth Census. This
table shows that the corrected death rate
for At. Paul on the basis of the age dis
tribution of the native whites of native
parentage was for native whites OF ma
tive parentage H.. for colored 12.6. and
for Minneapolis Us for native whites OF
standard average for registration cities
being 1873 for native whites of native par
en;ase and SO for tSlored IN daa fs. wope
not registered in st. Paul and Minneapo-
lis during the census year, and mat the
figures for these critics ,, are uS Tbe I"D
may I've said with regard to the death
| rates reported for Duluth. Mimi. and foi
| Seattle, Wash.
| The compa rison of the death rates IF n
| city at ten-year intervals does not give
| results nearly so valuable or suggestive
| as does a comparison for series OF con-
secutlve years. To make such COMPARE
sons it has been necessary heretofore tor
| the investigator to consult the annual re-
ports Of the city. which is often difficult
| Many cities do not publish such reports.
although the DATA are recorded and II re-
suits are wanted for a number OF cities
| it becomes impossible to obtain them
Under the permanent organization OF the
| returns from the registration states and
cities each year which will be tabuiated
| in uniform manner anw with consider,
able detail. and there will thus be formed
and published most valuable collection
Of data on municipal mortality statistics;
| In the meantime and for the present
purpose of experimenting the data given
| in the twelfth census report with some re-
suits showing that the apparent decrease
| in the general death rate pointed out IN
| that report has been real and progressive,
in many of the cities probably due to i'm
proved methods of sanitation, hygiene
and health regulations, a special collec-
ton OF data from cons h be hu nn,,cn
through the courtesy OF the reeistraaoi'
| officials. =.
| creased from 236 in 1880 to Do in lyOO
why has Troy a higher death rate than
Albany? We find that for the census year
| ending in June, 1900 the death rate per
100000 of white population for &c. nonsump mp
typhoid fever the rate was Albany. ~;
bany 72.1. Troy, lilo. Evidently tne
causes OF such great differences IN the
mortality from these diseases all of
which are more or less preventahle. are
| worthy Of careful investigation by the
municipal authorities of Troy.
| Attention has been called to the fact
| that the lower death rate in 1900 as COM
| ma red with 1890 is due in part to lower
death rate from consumption. The aver
age death rate per 100. 900 from consump-
| tion during this period Of eleven years
was for the New England cities, ~ hav-
ing steadily lessened from 307 In 1880 to
2i3 IN 1899 and "a In 1870. In the cities
of the Middle States the average death
rate from this cause was 2S9. having fallen
| from 3I4 in 1890 to ga in 1900. In the
| Southern cities the average rate was ~.
wing fallen from slS in 1890 to ~ IN
1900 The comparatively high death rates
| IN these cities from this cause Is due 70
the fact that they contain large NUMBER
Of coicred people who are especially liable
| to this disease. .x
The death rate from pneumonia in these
| cities has not diminished. but has. upon
| the whole, increased during the eleven
wears ia question. being In strong contrast
n the death rate from consumption,
which has diminished. and this Is also
true for European countries and cities.
] While the specific micro-organism which
| ~ A. ,o,,uo of most of the fatal cases re-