Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-27
BY E. F. Kemp

~HICAGO'S death rate for the
month of February of the current
~ wear, statistics of which have just
been issued by the Chicago board of
health, was 14.O7 per 1000 population.
This is nearly 2 per cent lower than
the lowest previous death rate recorded
in the sixty-three years of registration
of deaths and their causes, in the city
of Chicago. 1t is more than 10 per
cent lower than the average of the
decade 1S96-1905, which was 1859, and
is 47.9 lower than the highest death
rate for February. which occurred in
February, 1881.
This simple statement calls attention
to the fact that, regardless of the
strenuous life" and the seemingly
reckless pace at which humanity lives,
and regardless of the alleged amounts
of 'poisons'' that reformers and agi-
tators would have us believe we are
taking into our systems in patent
medicines and "adulterated" food, the
general health of the people of the
United States is better than it ever was
before. Contrary to what is, perhaps,
the generally accepted theory, the peo-
pie who occupy the stage at the pres
ent moment have greater expectation
of living the scriptural allotment of
years-three score and ten-than had
their ancestors of like ages.
babe born in any part of the United
States during the present decade has
greater expectation of life" as the in
surance actuaries put it, than a child
born during any previous decade; and
6rflf lfc r,rsd1 nf al hnN n
greater expectation, up to the age of
55 years. If the sexes are separated
II statistical segregation is made-it is
found that women have greater Tex
pectation" than men. 1t appears, from
official statistics, whic-l in themselves
are interesting or instructive only in
their analysis, that women and chill
dren are in better health, and stand to
live longer, than women and children
of any previous decade.
This, if the statements of the agi-
tators who decry patent" medicines
and "adulterated" food were true.
could not be the case Rather it would
seem to indicate that patent" medi-
cines and flood adulteration" are hav-
Ing the very opposite effect from that
charged by magazine reformers inoc-
ulated with the prevalent desire to "in-
vestigate" something and print a glar-
ing expose.
Decade Of Agitation
This is a decade of agitation, any
way; at least so it seems to many OF
those who are in position to see and
to know. 1t is often referred to as ar
EZRA of unrest'-poltical, social and
moral; while really, and those who
have their fingers closest to the pub.
lie pulse seem to agree. it is only an
era Of agitation in that the unrest
originates with those whose business il
is to attempt to disquiet the public
mind, or who have selfish ends to serve
These agitators-men who must keeI
in the public eye-cause agitatlons
usually so skilfully timed that one
Crusade" starts just as it's predecessor
is punctured.
The only way for these agitators tc
keep in the public eye-and their live.
lihood depends upon this-is to fine
something to criticise and "expose"
something for which they can Offer
remedy-usually legislative. Such
legislation, 1t Is declared, while pre-
sumably along the line of reform.
is really legislation in the interest OF
some one represented by the agitators
Take for instance the "patent medi-
cine agitation which, for year has
been given prominent part in few
magazines. The patent medicine bus.
mess is one which, by its very nature
Is amenable to reasonable laws and one
whose success depends largely upor
public confidence. In this agitation In,
American Medical association Is sec.
onded by one or two magazines and q
public official or two The chief agita.
tors in this case are men who arr
on the pay roll Of magazines whlcl
seek to advertise themselves by end
less agitation, Self advertising is wha