Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-08-24
JERSEYS DEATH RATE
SHOWS A DECREASE
Report Of State Health Board Shows
Cancer is Increasing Otner
diseases Falling OIL.

According to the annual report Of the
State board Of health, just issued from the
printer, the death rate Of the State per GOO
Of population for the year 1908 was 1887,
or .04 less than the year previous. The
document contains 4s4 pages and gives a
complete review Of the health conditions OF
the State for the year mentioned.
4 chart is given showing the fluctuations
Of the death rate for the past 25 years.
There has been q general decrease since
1899, when the rate was 2l.62. Speaking
Of this decrease in mortality the report
says:
Every disease IN any way preventable
by hvgienic measures has shown decrease
in frequency and fatality IN New Jersey,
hut there are still many unnecessary deaths
especially from tuberculosis, diphtheria and
diarrhoal diseases Of children, notwith-
standing that it is in these groups that the
greatest improvement in mortality has al
ready been secured. Education has been
the potential factor in reaching the results
already attained, the further progress IN
lowering the death rate depends upon the
extent to which the principals OF hygiene
can be disseminated.
Much reliance is placed by this board
upon the superior service which we believe
win be rendered by the higher class OF local
sanitary officers created by the provisions
Of CHAPTER 215 of the laws Of 1903, for under
the intelligent guidance Of well informed
officials whole communities can be led to
see the dangers which Turk in polluted
wells. contaminated milk, open priyies,
dust mosquitoes and flies and action for
the abatement OF nuisances Of this character
follows. sooner or later, if the parties inter-
es.ed are fully convinced OF the injurious
nature OF these evils. We may therefore.
e z.afd with confidence to further
seetiBn in the mortality due to diseases
lady recognized as preyentable, and
s btless others viii from time TO time be
ia to the list"
W harts are also given showing the condi-
OF certain Diseases in the State for S5
Is. one of these presents the fact that
he has been a remarkable increase in The
b number Of deaths from cancer. The
tie per 10, 900 Of population in 1879 was
79 and in 1908 it had grown to 5.61.
Il The death rate for consumption per 10,
% population shows general decrease
the 25 years, though the rate for 1903,
ID rs, was slightly aboye that for 1902,
hen it was 1882. MaIarial disorders pre-
q snt decreased death rate since 1891,
R5heps the rate was 81. In 1903 it had
alled to 20.
There has been a decrease in the number
/ deaths among children under five years
aaf age since 1899. The rate per 10000
then was $3.50. In 1902 il had fallen to
49.8 81 and in 1903 it was 44.38.
The vital statistics for the year covered
the report were: Births, 1922, rate per
t00o Of population 1s.47; marriages, 10,
512; deaths, 81 800; rate per / 900 Of popu-
alton, 1887.
The report shows also what a length OF
time it takes to get some of the State docu
nents into the hands Of the people. The
document covers the year ending December
BIZ 1903, was compiled during 1904, pre-
snted to the legislature Of 1905, and is
st being distributed.
SUICIDES INCREASE.
aThe annual report further shows that
bring 1908 there were 314 suicides, as
= aipst 265 the. preyious year The 1903
owing is at the rate Of 1870 per 100, 600.
s5e favorite method, according to the re-
rt was by poison, by which means 153
lied their lives. Asphyxiation was the
xt in popularity, with 112 deyotees-
HLife seems TO be most burdensome be-
een the ages Of 35 and As. OF the sui
les recorded 112 were born in this country
II ID Germany and "a in Ireland. A not
ble fact is that France did not have one
representative.