The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1910-01-21

fewer years OF survival to expect
since their physical vigor and vitality less
able to throw off disease than would have been
the case 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 ndisputable
such data are furnished by the figures OF the in
surance companies (Which all agree on the point,
but 1t Is easier to refer to the government cen
sus reports. which tell the tale in simple and
convincing fashion. Not only are people living
less long than they did half century ago but
the decrease in longevity is progressive. Even
during the last 10 years the death rate among all
persons over so years of age. of both sexes, has
risen very considerably.
In Part l of the third volume of the United
States census will be found tabulated state
ment which shows in a very striking way the
rise in the death rate for all ages from so up l
have brought the figures up to date with the help
of fresh information from Washngton-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 Ca seven per
cent.
For people of ages from S. to Co. 6la per
cent.
For people of ages from 20 to "A 161A per cent
For people of ages from rs to 10 seven per
cent.
For people of ages from so to 81, IS per cent.
For people of ages from So to 80. - per cent.
For people of ages from 80 to "a 3O1a per
cent.
For people of % and up. 20l2 per cent.
These figures tell the story more clearly than
the most eloquent discourse on the subject They
show that Notwithstanding improved medical
knowledge and the benefits of modern sanitation
dying earlier than grandparents did.
The why offers topic for considerable
discussion and is not to be summed up in a word,
but may discover it without much difficulty
in the more complex and luxurious life that
lead The lives of forebears compare
lively simple and their constitutions, unweak-
ened by the luxury and intense nervous strain
of existence like that of today, were stronger
than ours and better able to withstand the ap-
proaches of 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 maladies more properly be-
longing to later life, such heart disease apo
pexy, cancer 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 a chance
of reaching five years of age better by so per
cent than would have been the half cen
tury ago Its prospect of escaping the diseases
of childhood and growing up is vastly improved
as compared with earlier days
Now it is very desirable TO save the babies
and one of the greatest trumphs Of our newer
civilization Is the successful rearing of three hui
mar infants for every two that survived half a
century ago. But it is undenable that the race
as a whole suffers by the change. inasmuch
the weakngs, instead of being weeded out are
thus enabled to grow up. These weaklings 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 we'll be more strange
than the spectacle presented to our view of
great and increasing accelsration of the sweep
Of the dread seythe among people beyond middle
age while multitudes OF children constantly
escaping who must formerly have succumbed In
both cases. too it is advanced and perfected
civilization that furnishes the cause rescuing the
young but moving down the old So far. indeed,
does the harm neutralize the good that notwith-
standing all the achievements of modern hygiene
and medical discovery it is doubtful whether the