The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-01-19

fewer years of survival to expect,
since their physical vigor and vitality are less
able to throw off disease than would have been
the half century ago.
This seems, on the face of it, so surprising a
statement that in order to be accepted, it should
be backed up by data authentic and ind1sputable
Such data are furnished by the figures of the in
surance companies (Which all agree on the point,
but it is easier to refer to the government cen
sus 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 rate among all
persons over SIS years of age, of both sexes, has
risen very considerably.
In Part of the third volume of the United
States census will be found a tabulated state
ment which shows in a very striking way the
rise in the death rate for all ages from 60 up.
have brought the figures up to date, with the help
of fresh information 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 60 to g. seven per
cent
| cent.
For people of ages from 70 to a. 1872 per cent.
For people of ages from Is to 70, seven per
cent.
For people of ages from 80 to "a, Is per cent.
For people of ages from IS to &c. II per cent.
For people of ages from 80 to "a, oo72 per
cent.
For people of IS and up, 20k per cent
These figures tell the story more clearly than
the most eloquent discourse on the SUBJECT. lney
show that notwithstanding improved medical
knowledge and the benefits of modern sanitation
we are dying earlier than our grandparents d1d
The reason why offers a topic for considerable
discussion and is not to be summed up IN Word'
but one may discover 1t without much dlhculty
in the more complex and luxurious lie that we
lead The lives of our forebears were compare
tively simple and their constitutions, unWeaK-
ened bv the luxury and intense nervous strain
of an existence like that of to-day, were stronger
than ours and better able to Withstand the ap-
proaches Of disease.
Plenty of proof of this fact may be 1ouno IN
the vital statistics of our population, especially
in the cities, the figures showing that WINE the
death rate from diseases common to children mas
enormously diminished, within the last few years
the mortality from maladies more properly oe
longing to later life such as heart disease. apo
n1o1v cancer and ailments of the liver and kid
news has risen to alarming extent. Nay
. more it is still going up and seems hKey 10 'on
> The average baby born to-day has chance
of reaching five years of age better by oo pc
cent. than would have been the case nan ecu
. +urv ago Its prospect of escaping the disease
! as compared with earlier days.
d Now. it is very desirable to save the oaole
and one of the greatest trlumphs OIL oui "e"
civilization is the successful rearing OF tnree ~
' man infants for every two that survived na'l
t century ago. But it is undeniabe that the rae
= 90 a whole suffers by the change, inasmucn
d Tho weddings instead of being welded OUT ar
6 thns enabled to grow up. These weaklings nc
Il on1v propagate other weaklings but by reaso
Of their inferior vigor of constitution, common
n su ~ roach old age In this fact, doubtless,
a found one cause of the rise in the death rate
- later life.
u Nothing surely could well be more s'fans
than the spectacle presented to our we" OF
y great and increasing acceerat1on OF 'he s"ee
n Of the dread scythe among people beyond mloa
y age while multtudes OF children are oons.aA
u escapng who must formerly have succuhlpeu'
y both cases. too, it is advanced ana peilec.s
civilization that furnishes the cause, resculhg u
10 Young but moving down the old. SO far' 1ndee
:" Soos the harm neutralize the good that, notwit
" standing all the achievements of modern nygle,
!. md medical discovery. it Is doubtful! "hetner u