The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-09-27
Mortality From Consumption, Cancer,
Typhoid, Etc, in 1909 as Shown
In Census Bureaus
Bulletin.
FIGURES INTERESTING
Total Deaths From tuberculosis Last
Year Was Greater Than Any
Proceeding Year-What
Figures Show.

While the total number. s1,72o, o
deaths from tuberculosis in 1909 wa
greater than for any preceding yea
and exceeded by 3,431 the number
1888, compiled for 1908, the dealt
rate, in the Census Bureaus deatt
registration states and cities, showed
decline from 1889 in 1908 to 1871
per 100000 estimated population il
1903, as reported in the Forthcoming
Census Bureau bulletin on mortality
statistics, and submitted to Director
Durand.
The 1909 rate is the lowest on rec
ord for the census registration area
ALTHOUGH it should be remembered
that the rates for this area. to which
large additions were made in 1906
1908, and 1909, may not be strictly
comparable throughout the period GOV.
cred with respect to constitution of
population. The addition of the new
registration state of Ohio for 1909
for example, by bringing in CON
siderable rural population with a nor
mally low death rate from tuberculosis
would tend to depress the death rate
from this cause for the registration
area as whole.
1t is remarkable, the bulletin states
that the aggregate of registration
cities, which is not affected by the
transfer of cities from the group of
cities in noaregistration states 70 the
group of cities in registration states,
shows practically the same number,
54,461, of deaths for 1909 as for 1908
which was 54,466, or a decrease Of
only deaths.
Deaths From tuberculosis Decreasing
Excluding Ohio, which is shown only
for 1909, II of the II registration
states for which data are given pre-
sented numerical decreases in deaths
from tuberculosis for 1909 as compar-
ed with 1908, the largest being for
New York (415) and Rhode Island
600. Deaths from tuberculosis in
creased in Washington (91) and Cali
fornia (7S) among the states show
ing more deaths form this cause.
Among the larger cities the chief
fluctuations were increases of Ok for
St Louis, Mo, 81 for Minneapolis,
Mimi. 5S for Toledo. Ohio, and Sc for
New Haven, Conn: significant from
their small amount: while decreases
of 222 occurred for New York, Y. Y.
1914 for Philadelphia. Pa, and 149 for
New Orleans, La.
Cancer showed a much greater pro
portional increase in the number of
deaths than tuberculosis, rising from
SO, As for 1908 to 1862 To- 1909.
The death rate increased from 743
to II, the latter being the highest
crude death rate from cancer thus
far recorded for the registration area
of the United states.
It should be remembered, the bulle-
tin points out, that cancer is one Of
the diseases having a peculiar age dis
tribution for which the study Of crude
death rates is apt to be especially mis-
leading, and until careful analysis
can be made of the data, with refer.
ence to the population details available
after the compilation Of the census of
the present year. it viii be wise to
limit differences TO the fact that the
crude rate from this cause show con.
slant tendency to increase from year
to year The probability Of more ac-
curate statement of this disease as a
cause of death by attending physi-
clans must be taken into consideration
and the TACT that the savings of lives
from tuberculosis and other prevent.
able diseases Of early or middle life
would leave more persons subject 10
cancer at the cancer ages, and thus
increase the total number of deaths
from this cause and the crude cancer
rate, although the actua! incidence of
the disease at the various periods OF
life may not have been altered materi-
ally.
The distribution of cancer according
to location on the body shows little
change except a elimination of the
residual group due to more accurate
statements of physicians. All certifi-
Gates of death by cancer should state,
whenever ascertainable, the site Of
origin of the disease.
Deaths From Cancer Increase.
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 and 1903 All the II states