The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-16
How the Death-Rate from
Organic Diseases Is Increasing.

II would then follow that even though many
OF the deadly epidemic and endemic diseases
have been conquered. others will arise as they
find weaker organisms upon which to fasten
themselves. and indeed. that the constitutional
diseases will tell more heavily in mortality.
Is II possible that old diseases, formerly
taking few victims, may become deadly when
they shall one day attack this coming race Of
weakened constitutional Is II possible that
bacteria that have sIlded harrnlessly through
the centuries may az last find human constL
buttons they can break DOWN. Is II altogether
.faneiful to suggest that nameiess bacteria, de-
struetve, deadly, Of InesIeulabIe voraeity. may
lie In wait In the blood In air. In foods7
Wolves follow the herd, waiting for weakened
and starved animals 10 lag behind. May lot
seethins swarns Of unknown bacteria hover
over the rear guard Of humanity. waiting for
Its constitution to weaken, when they will
pounee upon II and destroy7
WIN then a new plague glide into our lives7
VIII science stand helpless and dumb before
the headlong temper OF the new terror? VIII
physicians stare stupidity at the black thor
oughfars Of death?
As vet predictions are premature. Some
facts however. Indicate tendency
The death rate in the United States from
known epidemic causes In 1909 was only SCI
per cent as high as in 1900. Science prdes
itself on this vast reduction in epidemic NOR.
tally. This is a great step for nine years OF
work During that same period however.
while science and sanitation humbled epidem-
ics. death from diseases Of the circuiatory sys.
ten rose over 20 per cent. These are consti-
tutional disorders that know no cure. Death
from childbirth increased is per cent in this
period. This IS indication OF constitutional
weakness in the women. Death from diseases
- ha Ii rOmOt1r furrpa cd rIv
per cent. Death from malfOrmations rose over
80 per cent. What is this but constitutional
deterioration
More specifically speaking. the death rate
from heart disease In the United states In
these nine years rose nearly II per cent This
Is an incurabe constitutional disease. The
death rate rose over ~ per cent from cancer
an everdreaded and as yet incurable disease
II rose nearly ~ per cent I'm scarlet fever bac
terial disease not yet conquered. II rose over
16 per cent in appendicitis. u rose over per
cent IN apopleXy. before which physicians are
ever helpless II bounded 43is per cent in
suicides. u reached an increase OF SSIs per
cent In bronchO-pneumOnia. In diseases Of the
arteries the mortality figures made the aston.
ishing Increase OF 22S per cent I'm these nine
years.
The sedentary life In the cities also swers
death rates from diseases OF the digestive and
respiratory systems as we'll as from diseases
OF all organs most affected by lack OF exercise
and other evils attending the contested condL
tion of close communal life. The United States
mortality statistics OF 1909 give the following
interesting contrast between rural and city
deaths in these respects.
DEATH RATE PR 10000 POPULATION ~ UNITED
STATS.
IN n Rural
Diseases of respiratory system. .3O2s 1857
Diseases ~ digestive system .26ib 1877
BriKhts disease ................1i03 G8a
Tuberculosis Of the lungs. .......2 Gf1 1880
Diphtheria and Group. ........... $40 265
lolhlH sassss ss...s .a s..as s.t .taNH hNhH
u will be seen that the death rate from Theses
particular Eve causes was % per cent more IN
the cities than in the rural districts
Organic heart disease. too. shows Sc great
eqt increase iu tho larger cities. Ia Albany.
n. ". this disease claims as high az 23s per
cons annually out Of 100 900 81 population.
same number Of population. In Omaha. Neb.