Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-01
American Death Rate Reduced.


Mr. William A. King. chief Of the division
OF vital statistics In the census office, says:
There has been great reduction In the
death rate of the people Of the United
States during the last ten years up to the
age of fifty-hve Above the age of fifty
hve, there has been an increase which is
due to certain particular causes incident to
advanced age and to habits acquired by
people and the effects Of civilization. The
increase appears the greatest In deaths
from heart disease,apoplexy and ailments
OF the kidney and liver; from cancer and
other diseases which may be attributed to
high living, high nervous tension and other
causes which are beyond the control of
official authority.
We have no other way of judging as to
the effects of sanitary reforms and the ad-
varicement of medical science. The only
way we can measure progress Is by the
death rate That Is the reason for obtain
ing vital statistics. but, unfortunately the
United States is far behind the age in this
respect. In none of our states are the sta
tistics of birth and death accurately kept.
For several years we have been trying to
enlist the cooperation of the medical as-
sociations and other scientific and social or
CARNATIONS, to secure the passage of laws
recurring the registration Of every birth and
death, with such information as may be
used for the benefit of science. In some
Of our cities the registration Is complete
and accurate. In the country districts IL is
almost impossible to secure any inform r
ton whatever.
'Tt Is also much more difficult to enforce
sanitary regulations In the country than In
the city. But wherever they have been
adopted. the effect is Immediately shown in
a reduction Of the ratio of infant mortality
Then, next, 1t appears in a decreased NOR
tally of other ages, and the largest de-
crease is usually found among those classes
of the population who are most ignorant
and incapable of protecting themselves
.Our records 90 not go far-enough back
to permit of comparison except with the
last decade. but the census shows that the
general death rate for the entire popuIa-
ton of the United States In 1900 was ia
per 1000 Inhabitants, a reduction of %
per cent in ten years. The decrease among
children was very much greater. The death
rate In 1890 for children below the age of
ave years was GAS per 1000, while In 1900
creased from 68.3 to 48.9, and among coll
ored children from 1855 to liz per LOCO
This, however, does not include the south
ern states. where there is no registration
and where the largest portion of the coiored
population Hive.
In Manufacturing Cities.
sIt Is interesting to note the improvement
In some OF the manufacturing cities. where
the death rate u tho highest. In Lowell,
Mass. for example, there were 1880 deaths
In 1880 for population OF 71,00O. In 1900
the population had increased to $4,000 and
the number OF deaths had decreased to 1850,
That Improvement may be attributed direct
~ to Improved. sanitation.
Jersey City. Il another shining example.
Il ps y see5s e s 10 nn
htion had Increased to 206.Q00 and the NUM-
bsr ~ deasla had decreased to Abs.
During the sszps ten years the popula-