The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-30

letin points out, T. G, >acer is one of
the. diseases having peculiar age
distribution for which the study Of
crude death rates is apt to be espec-
tally misleading, and until a careful
analysis can be made of the data,
with reference to the population de-
tails available after the compilation
Of the census of the present year, it
will be wise to limit inferences to
the fact that the number of deaths
SO reported and the crude rate from
this cause show constant tendency
to increase from year to year. The
probability Of more accurate state
ment of this disease as a cause Of
death by attending physicians must
be taken into consideration, and the
fact that the saving of lives from tu-
berculosis and other preventable dis
eases Of early or middle life would
leave more persons subject to cancer
at the cancer ages. and thus increase
the total number of deaths. from this
cause and the crude cancer rate, al
though the actual incidence Of the
disease at the various periods of life
may not have been altered materially.
The distribution Of cancer accord
ing to location on the body shows
little change except elimination Of
the residual group due to more &C.
curate statements Of physicians.
The uniform tendency to increase
in the number of deaths reported
from cancer is shown in the totals
reported for the registration states
and cities for 1908 to 1909. All the
seventeen states for which data are
given for the two years showed more
deaths from this cause in the latter
year. except Maryland and South .Da-
keta, for which slightly diminished
numbers weYy- returned. OF the thir-
ty-six large cities only five showed
more deaths from cancer IN 1908 than
in 1909 and the amounts Of decrease
we're very small in each case. The
numerical increase in the deahts reg
istered from cancer was not large
for any particular state or city, but
the most impressive feature is the
widespread increase shared by all
states and cities with but few excep-
tions.
The total number Of deaths caused
by typhoid fever in the registration
area for the year 1909 was 1922, a
reduction of 635 from the number,
1875, recorded for the somewhat
smaller registration area of 1903. The
death rate fell from 25.3 to 20 per
100000 estimated population, these
rates being based on the population
as estimated upon the average annual
increase between the last two CEN
suses.
The typhoid fever death rate for
1908 was the lowest recorded since
the series Of census reports was in
stituted, and the rate for 1909 shows
marked reduction from that of the
previous year. It Is nearly one-third
less than the rate shown for the FIVE
year period 1901-1905 (32.2), al
though still more than twice as large
as that Of England and Wales. The
success already obtained in its re-
duction should encourage further
progress In this direction until resi-
dence and travel in this country shall
be as safe in this respect az in the
best regulated countries of Europe,
where the disease is becoming practi-
cally negligible as menance to pub
lie health.
Each Of the registration states for
which data are available for the two
years, except Washington and Wis
consin, shows smaller number Of
deaths from typhoid fever for 1909
than for 1908, and as their population
has increased during that time 1t is
evident that the typhoid death rate
has likewise decreased for each.
Ohio. which was admitted into the
group Of registration for the first
time for 1909. is, Of course, not in
cluded in this comparison. II the
1,276 deaths from typhoid fever in
Ohio were not included for 1909, the
group Of registration states as con-
stituted for the years 1908 to 1909
would show q reduction of 1,406
deaths from this cause. The largest
numerical reduction is that of Penn
sylvania (73s), then Massachusetts,
(132). California (SS), Maryland (S7),
and New York (73). I The increased
numbers in Washington (20) and
Wisconsin (16), were but small and
probably less than the relative in
crease In population.
A considerable part Of the reduction
In the number Of deaths from typhoid
fever that occurred in Pennsylvania
was due to the decreased number reg
istered in Philadelphia (1S8) and
larger cities, nineteen showed fewer
deaths from typhoid fever for 1909
than for 1908, and In no city Of this
group was there any marked increase
In mortality from this cause. The
largest amounts Of numerical de-
crease occurred in Philadelphia. Pa.
(1S8l Columbus. Ohio, (135), Pitts
burg, Pa. (l25). Boston, MASS, (68).
and Chicago. ILL.,. (61). The greatest
relative decrease was. that Of Co
lumbus, Ohio. from the epidemic prev
alencs shown for 1908.