Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-22
Rock Island County Shows Up
Better Than Average in
Illinois, Figures Show.
STATE BOARD MAKES REPORT
Pneumonia Had Greatest Number Of
Victims in State in 1907, Tuber-
.cuIosis Being Next.

in Rock Island county in the year
1907 was 1913 per thousand, against
ar average for the state of 11.30 per
thousand. Out of total of 62,S54
deaths in the state pneumonia claimed
the most of any diseases, 1926 tuber
culosis being a close second with
#7,142. Diseases of the heart were
fatal to 4.791.
The total deaths in Rock Island
county was 667, 500 males and sos
females, Is of the total being colored.
The increase over the total for 1906
was &C. Among the specific causes of
death in this county the following
lead: tuberculosis II, pneumonia sc,
infantile enteritis rs, Bright's disease
&c cancer 30, heart disease 45, ty-
phoid fever II, diptheria %, scarlet
fever q, influenza s. senile debility
Us, paralysis 49, There were 1G sui
cides and five died of acute alcohol
ism.
Comments ON Figures.
In commenting upon the figures for
the state the bulletin says:
at is shown that lthe total mortal
lily in Illinois during the year 1907
was G2,S54, an increase OF 1000 over
any one of the five years last past.
During the five previous years. the
highest mortality was recorded in
1903, when there were 81 sos deaths
within the state. In fact, the mortal
ity for 1904. 1905 and 1906 was in each
instance lower than that of 1902 or
I1903.
"An increase in the mortality in a
rapidly growing state like Illinois, does
not necessarily mean a greater death
rate among the people. 1t is essen
tial that the population and the NOR
tally shall be ) considered together.
The number of deaths in Illinois to
each 1000 of population during 1907,
was 11.39; in 1906 the rate was .10.7
per 1000; in 1905, 10.S; in 1904, 11.26;
| in 1903, 11.S0; and in 1902, 1918.
death rate in Illinois, population con-
lsidered was lower than in 1902 and
1908, and = higher than in 1904 and
1906
Even considering the population in
connection with mortality, there is a
possibility of misconception of figures.
The mortality for 1903 is shown at
1tS0 per 1,00e.g but this includes the
unusual death of 600 persons in the
| Iroquois theater fire in Chicago-fig.
| ures which are not significant in de-
/ termining a general death-rate in the
state-and without which the death
rate for 1000 of population for 1903
would be 1l.76.
''The most interesting fact brought
forth in the mortuary records of 1907
is that tuberculosis has ceased to be
the chief cause of death among the
people and pneumonia has attained
the record of having caused more
deaths than the "great white plague
During all previous years, tuberculosis
has caused more deaths than any
other single disease and during 1907
it was responsible for mortality Of
/ 7142. There were 1886 deaths, how
ever, from pneumonia.
II Causes Worth Considering.
/ "The causes of this difference il
III
serious consideration Comparison
with previous years will show us, thai
the 1907 mortality from pneumonia
is higher than in any previous year
the increase from year to year being
comparatively steady and progressive
II The increase in mortality from pneu
i nonia during 1907, over that or 1906
was 1850. which may, to certain
lextent, be accounted for by the ex
tremely high pneumonia death rat,
during the spring, of 1907. Tubercu
losis, however, is not increasing il
proportion to the Increase in popu
lation. In fact, the tuberculosis NOR
tality for 1907 was actually lower thai
THAT of 1904, regardless of the chang,
in the population of the state. Thi
is the more significant when we ap
tpreciate that tuberculosis may not
L like pneumonia, be dependent upol
short periods of unfavorable climati
conditions. An increase in pneumoni;
may prove little; but decrease il
tuberculosis means a permanent gail
for the lives and health of the people
How much of this decrease in tn
lmortality from tuberculosis may b
Iattributed to the systematic campaigl
against that disease which has bee
twaged in Illinois during the past fou
Years, it is difficult to say, but
islands an interesting fact that, in tn
lyear in which the Illinois state boar
lof health began its crusade agains
consumption, there were 1924 death
from tuberculosis-or1. per 1000 Q
IEopulation-while in 1907, the death
Numbered but 7,142--or 1,29 per 100
lof population saving of nine live
lin every 100000 of population--an al
|nual saving of 495 human lives in tn
Estate of Illinois.
In every cline its fame is heard,
It's name has spreaa from sea /