New-York tribune., 1908-08-19
OCCUPATION AND LIFE.

The trienniai report the mortality Of Eng
land and Wales for 1900-'02 contains highly
interesting and suggestive details hearing upon
the comparative healthfulness of various Occu-
pations and the prevalence of various diseases
among different elements of the population.
Generally speaking the population may be di-
vided into two classes, those among whom the
death rate is lower than the average, and those
in which it is higher than the average The for
n,er include agriculturaIists, the learned profes
sions and-curiously enough-miners, while the
The LATTER includes most other trades, industries
and calings.
Those engaged in agricultural pursuits appear
10 be on the whole. the longest lived and next
and very close TO them stand clergymen. These
two classes suffer a death rate only about half
as great as the average Of the male population.
School teachers also show 8 low mortality. rank
ing probably next TO preachers. The members
of the legal profession do not fare 80 well,
though they are far below the average in deaths,
while physicians and surgeons fare still less
well. Miners are the only numerous artisans
whose death rate from diseases and indeed from
all causes. is below the average, circumstance
which is probably 10 be attributed partly to the
fact that only strong and healthy men engage in
the work. and partly TO the strict and compre
henSfve legislation which has been enacted in
their behalf in recent years.
terprises including railroads, tramways and
steamship lines, involves death rate nearly
20 per cent above the average Shopkeepers of
ali kinds are also above the average in mortal
ity grocers making the least unfavorable show
ing. Metal workers and textile workers have
death rate a little higher than the average.
Brewers make very bad showing and innkeep-
ers and their servants are about the worst OF
ALL the death rate of the innkeepers being 50
per cent above the average, and that of their
servants little higher still.
In the distribution and prevalence of diseases
it is observed that lawyers suffer more than the
average from influenza, diseases Of the liver and
diabetes, being more subject to the last named
than any other men save innkeepers Physi-
clans suffer most from diseases of the ner-
vous and circulatory systems. Brewers suf-
fer enormously from alcoholism IN vari-
Gus forms, diseases of the liver and kidneys,
influenza and cancer. Their death rate from
alcoholism and liter diseases is nearly three
times as great as the average and from cancer
as per cent more. They also suffer much more
than the average from tuberculosis and are
particularly prone TO suicide. Worse still is the
case with pnblicans, whose death rate from alco-
holism and liver diseases Is seven times as high
as the average, from Bright's disease two and
a half times the average, from tuberculosis. in
fiuenza and nervous diseases 20 per cent more
than the average and from disorders of the cir.
cuIatory and respiratory systems 30 per cent
more They are also exceptionally given 10 sui
eide
II is doubtless inevitable that some 0ccupa-
tions shall involve greater dangers To health and
life than others. Yet there is probably none In
which the death rate is not susceptible of d-
minution, either through voluntary and perhaps
purely personal care aud precautions, or through