Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1910-01-22

years
since their physical vigor and vitality are less
able to throw off disease than would have been
the half a century ago.
This the face of it, surprising a
statement that. in order to be accepted, it should
be backed by data authentic and indsputable.
Such data furnished by the figures of the in
surance companies (Which all agree the point,
but it is easier to refer to the government GEN.
reports, which tell the tale in simple and
convincing fashion Not only people living
less long than they did half century ago, but
the decrease in longevity is progressive. Even
during the last Is years the death among all
persons over 55 years of age, of both sexes, has
risen very considerably.
In Part of the third volume of the United
States census will be found tabulated state
ment which shows in very striking way the
rise in the death rate for all ages from so up.
have brought the figures up to date with the help
of fresh information>f from ~Washington-a matter
of no little Importance, inasmuch as the increase
has been marked. Thus corrected for accuracy,
the reckoning shows that there has been this in
crease in the death rate for the entire United
States
For people of ages from so to a. seven per
cent.
For people of ages from IS to g. Ga per
For people of ages from 20 to "A. 1914 cent.
For people of ages from rs to 49, seven per
cent.
For people of ages from 80 "a, Is per cent
For people of ages from So to 80. IL per cent
For people of ages from 80 to "a, 3Ok per
cent.
For people of 95 and up, 2o1s per cent.
These figures tell the story more clearly than
the most eloquent discourse the subject. They
show that, Notwithstanding improved medical
knowledge and the benefits of modern sanitation
w dying earlier than grandparents did.
The reason why offers topic for considerable
discussion and is not to be summed up in word
but may discover it without much difficulty
n complex and luxurious life that
lead. The lives of our forebears were compare
lively simple and their constitutions. unweak
ened by the luxury and intense nervous strain
of existence like that of to-day. were stronger
than and better able to withstand the ap-
disease.
Plenty of proof of this fact may be found in
the vital statistics of population, especially
in the Cities the figures showing that, while the
death rate from diseases common to children has
enormously diminished, within the last few years.
the mortality from malades more properly be-
longing to later life, such as heart disease, apo
plexy, and ailments of the liver and kid
neys, has risen to alarming extent Nay,
more it is still going up and seems likely to con-
tinue to increase
The average baby born to-day has chance
of reaching five years of age better by so per
cent, than would have been the half
fury ago Its prospect of escaping the diseases
of childhood and growing up is vastly improved
as compared with earlier days
Now is very desirable to the babies
and one of the greatest triumphs Of our newer
civilization is the successful rearing of three hui
man infants for every two that survived half
century ago. Butt is undeniable that the race
as whole suffers by the change, inasmuch as
the weaklings instead of being weeded out, are
thus enabled to grow up These weakllngs not
only propagate other weaklings. but. by reason
of their inferior vigor of constitution commonly
fail to reach old age In this fact doubtless, is
found one cause of the rise in the death rate in
later life.
Nothing surely could well be strange
than the spectacle presented to our view of a
great and increasing acceieration OF the sweep
of the dread scythe among people beyond midole
age while muititudes of children are constantly
escaping who must formerly have succumbed In
both cases. too, it is advanced and perfected
civilization that furnishes the rescuing the
young but moving down the old So far. indeed,
does the harm neutralize the good that notwith-
darn