The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1906-05-05
DURATION OF LIFE.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT LON.
aEvITY Is INCREASING.
Interesting Facts Concerning Births
and Mortality Are Brought
Out by Compilcrs Of
Figures.

Vital statistics show that owing TO
modern sanitary reforms and the ad
vancement OF medical science. there
Is a prolongat!on OF human life now
In all civilized parts Of the world. 1t
has been noticed for long time that
there has been marked increase of
longevity In the United States, and
now the latest statistics prove that
in foreign countries a similar condi-
ton prevails.
Sweden leads the world in low death
rate The Swedes have kept vital sta
tistics for more than $50 years. No
other country has such ancient rec
ords. 1t is said that all countries can
estimate the improvement In the death
rate for 10, Is or 90 years. but In
Sweden the average mortality of chill
dren under 10 years of age for the 10
years previous to 1850 was 5S.5 per
1000. AMI this percentage has been
decreased gradually ever since, until
1t is now only 26.9 per 1000. or the
! lowest In the world.
There has been also decrease IN
The statistics show the rate for per-
sons between 10 and 30 years of age
has fallen from Ga per 1000 in 1860
to 4.3; for persons between 80 and 80
years OF age 1t has dropped from Ills
to IL per 1000. and for persons be-
tween 40 and so years of age from 16.5
to 9.5. The death rate as well rs the
rate Of illiteracy of the two countries
on the scandinavian peninsula is the
lowest to be found anywhere in the
world.
TIE actuaries OF insurance COM
pan.es find decided prolongation OF
human life in Holland. There the av-
erage life of man has Increased from
IS to 81 years, and women from 30 TO
Gl years, while the lowest death rate
among women Is from 20 to So years
Of age. In Great Britain and Irelsnd.
says the report. there has been an
improvement OF about s per cent,
according TO tables kept for 80 years.
| Notwithstanding the great immicra-
ton from Germany. which disturbs the
calculations OF the statisticians, It is
found that the average duration OF life
In the empire Is considerably greater
than 1t was 30 years ago. In Hungary
municipal statistics for Buda-Pesth
and several other cities show de-
crease OF 20 per cent. In the average
death rate. particularly among chill
dren.
| A Washington correspondent Of the
Chicago Record-Herald. who has been
investigating these vital statistics
finds that there Is no way OF aster-
tanning with accuracy tho birth rate
among the people OF the United States
although such record Is scrupulous-
| ly kept in the cities OF Europe. In
most American cities II Is true tina,
much attention has not been paid to
this subject. Nevertheless. health au-
thorities are taking hold OF II at the
request OF statistical associations. and
the defect In regard to birth rates will
probably soon be remedied.
In New York and Washington there
II birth rate given. as In Boston. In
Washington the birth rate per 1000
10 1873. death rate. 1872: In New York.
birth rae 2s.9: death rate 226: In
Boston. birth rate. 26.5. death rate 1874.
This highest birth rate In the world
Ia Gt Cairo. Buenos Ayrcs being sec
| ond: then come the great manuiac-
turing cities OF England. The lowest
birth rntes are reported from Caicut-
IA. Brussels and Paris.