The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1910-01-20

the average man or woman has
fewer years of survival to expect
since their physical vigor and vitality are 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 indsputable.
Such data are furnished by the figures of the in
surance companies (Which all agree on the point)
but II is easier to refer to the government
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 15 years the death rate among all
persons over IS 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. l
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.
For people of ages from S. to So, 61k per
cent.
For people of ages from 70 to a. 1914 per cent
cent.
For people of ages from 80 to S4 Is per cent
For people of ages from IS to 80, IL per cent.
For people of ages from 80 to a. 30s per
cent
For people Of 95 and up 201s 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
we are dying earlier than our grandparents did
The reason why offers topic for considerable
discussion and is not to be summed up in word
but one may discover 1t without much difficulty
in the more complex and luxurious life that we
lead. The lives of our forebears were compare
lively simple and then constitutions unweak
ened by the luxury and intense nervous strain
of 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 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 thelast few years.
the mortality from maladies more properly be-
longing to later life, such as heart disease,
plexy cancer and ailments of the liver and kid
news, has risen to an 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 case halr a 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 triumphs Of our newer
civilization is the successful rearing of three hui
man infants for every two that survived half a
century ago. But it is undeniable that the race
as a whole suffers by the change, inasmuch as
the weaklings, 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 well be more strange
than the spectacle presented to our view OF a
great and increasing acceleraton of the sweep
OF the dread scythe among people beyond middle
age, while multitudes Of children are constantly
escaping who must formerly have succumbed. In
both cases, too. it is our 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