The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-02-11

reports was that for 1912, which was
1879 per 1000. There has been a
marked. though not continuous, de,
Cline in the death rate since 1880,
when il was 1913 per 1000.
The average age at death for both
sexes, from all causes combined, was
39.S: for males alone. 1872; for fe-
males alone. 40.6. The correspond
! ing averages for 1912 were 400, 39.9.
| and Ala. The report cautions the
reader not,to confuse the average
age at death with expectation of life
, as given in life tables.
Nearly IS per cent Of all deaths
were of infants under year OF age
rand more than - per cent we're Of
children unde: years.
/ The death rate from tuberculosis
(an forms) declined from 1875 per
100, 900 population in 1912 to las in
1913. The rate from this cause
shows continuous, though irregu-
lar. decline from year TO year since
! 1904.
Although the rates for typhoid
fever, scarlet fever, diphthcria and
Group, pneumonia tall forms), and
diarrhoea and enteritis (infants I'M
der 2 years. show increases as COM
pared with 1912, there has been a
general and pronounced decline in
the rates from these causes since
1900.
On the other hand. there has been
an almost continuous increase from
year to year since 1900 in the death
rates from cancer, organic heart dis
eases and endocarditis, nephritis, and
Bright's disease. The most marked
increase for any one of the most i'm
portant ~ causes of death was that
in the rate for cancer. which rose
from 63 per 1OJ 900 population in 1900
to 1873 in 1915.
There we're 9.9SS suicides in the
registration area during the year
1913, the rate being 1913 per 100000
population-a slight decrease as com
pared with 1912, when the rate was
l16.
In the registration area there were
i5S,57S deaths from violence GnClud
ing homicide and legal execution but
Excluding suicide), corresponding TO
deaf hrate of 1925 per 100000 popu-
Ilation. This rate shows consider
able increase as compared with that
for 1912. wAich was $50.
That the automobile. in spite OF the
rapidity with which it has come into
general use. is still less deadly than
the horse, might be inferred from the
fact that the mortality incident to its
operation was less in 1913 than that
chargeable. directly and indirectly, tC
mans faithful but sometimes cratic
friend. During the year the number
of deaths resulting from automobile
accidents and injuries was 2,4SS
while the number due to injuries and
accidents caused by other vehicles
principally horse drawn was 1881
and the number caused by animals
principally hOrses). was $40. The
corresponding figures tor 1912 were
1,75S, 2,221 and 543. A few fatal
ties caused by motorcycles and bi
cycles are included in those due tC
other vehicles" and small number
chargeablc to animals other thar
horses are comprised in those caused
by animals; but, after making due
allowance for these factors, there
, still remains a considerable margin
of safety" in favor of the automobile
Deaths due to railway accidents and
| injuries during the year numbered
iS,212, and those resulting from street
car accidents aud injuries, 1898. The
corresponding figures for 1912 were
S,2O9 and S32. For the first time
the number of fatalities due to auto
mobile accidents and injuries eX-
ceeds the number resulting from in
! juries caused by other vehicles and
also exceeds the number due to
street car accidents.