The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-21
OVER ONE-HALF
DEATHS DUE TO
NINE CAUSES
The Leading Cause of Death in the Reg
istration Area Of the United States
Was tuberculosis and That
Showed Decrease.

/ oho"eu decrease,
Inc latest report on mortality in the
registration area" of the United States
reiating TO the calendar year 1913, re-
Gently issued by the bureau of the cen.
sus, department of commerce. contains
some interesting and significant figures
with reference to the principal causes OF
death in this country More than one
hall OF all the deaths in the registration
larea-which in 1913 contained about 65
per cent. of the total population of the
United States--were due to nine causes !:
| Tuberculosis, heart diseases. pneumonia.
bright,s disease and nephritis, diarrhea
ana enteritis, cancer, apoplexy, diphtheria
and Group, and typhoid fever. The first
three OF these maladies alone were re-
sponslble for more than 80 per cent. of
the total mortality reported for that
year.
The death rate from these nine causes
combined in 1913 was 9l0.4 per 100000
population. This is material decrease
from the corresponding rate in 1000
1914 per l00,000--when the census bu.
reau made its first annual collection of
mortality statistics. The number of
deaths resulting from these causes, how
ever, formed somewhat greater proper
ton of the total reported mortality in
1913 than in l900--57 per cent. in the
later year as compared with SO per cent.
i'll the earlier.
Iubereulosis in its various forms
claimed 93,42l victims in 1913, of which
number S0,sl2 died from tuberculosis of
the lungs Including acute military tuber-
eulosisl. With improved sanitation and
with better understanding of the laws
of health and the importance of pure
air, however, the white plague" is rapid
ly becoming less serious menace to
health and happiness. In only nine years
from 1904 to lol3-the mortality rate
from tuberculosis in all its forms fell
from 2O0.7 to 1915 per 100000, the de-
cline being continuous from year to year. |
Prior to 1904 the rate had tuctuated, |
starting at polo in 1900.
A satisfactory comparison of differ.
emit sections OF the country with respect |
TO the prevalence of tuberculosis is i'm
possible, since the only southern states
embraced in the registration area are
Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, to-
gether with the North Carolina munich
1alities which had ] 1000 or more inhabi-
ants in 1900, and a number of northern +
md western states are not included. In
GENERAL, however it may be said that
he mortality due to this disease il some
What higher among whites in the South
han in the North, and is about three
lines as high among negroes as among
whites. The far northern states of
faine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Michi-
an, Wisconsin. Minnesota, Montana and
Washington all show white mortality
ates from tuberculosis which were de-
idedly lower than the average for the
ntire registration area. Pennsylvania
ate was also low. On the other hand, /,
he rate in Utah--whose southern bound
ry lies in nearly the same latitude as
hat of Virginia--is away below that of
ny other state, being only about one .
bird as high as the rate for the entire
egistration area. The mortality rate
mong the white population from tn.
ereulosis of the lungs throughout the a
ntire registration area in 1918 was 1857 I
er 100000. The corresponding rates for n
he states Just named are as follows: 4
tab, 81; Washington. 700; Michigan, I
81; Montana, 100; Wisconsin, s34;
Minnesota, SAC; Vermont, $50; Maine, I
l.s; Pennsylvania, b1.3i New Hamp- b
lire. as.s. g
The death rates from tuberculosis of 1
le lungs are abnormally high among che 4
hite population in both California and
olorado-l67.5 and 1872 per 100000. re-
because OF the fact that =,
any consumptives from other parts OF !,
e country are attracted TO these states !,
: reason of their exceptionally favor =
BE climatic conditions. :,
A comparison OF 'he mortality among !,
hites from tuberculosis Of the lungs in !,
ban and rural districts brings out I,
ny considerable difference in favor of !,
e latter. the rates in 1918 being 1855 :.
r cities Of 10000 and over, taken as
hole, and zoos for places Of less than -
900. -
Heart Diseases.
The deaths from heart diseases Tor n,
ME diseases OF the heart and endo. fr
rditisl in the registration area in 1913 ia
mbered 93,l42, OF l47l per 100000. "a