Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-23
CAUSES OF DEATH
IN UNITED STATES.
tuberculosis, Heart Disease and Pneu-
monia Responsible for Over 80 Per
Gent.

nonia Responsible for Over 80 Per
Gent.
Washington, April 22.-The latest
report on mortality in the "registra-
ton area" of the United States, relat-
issued by the bureau OF the census,
department of commerce, contains
some interesting and significant figures
with reference to the principal causes
of death in this country. More than
one-half of all the deaths in the reg
ed about 65 per cent. of the total pop
ulation Of the United States-were due
to nine causes: tuberculosis, heart
disease, pneumonia, Bright's disease
and nephritis, diarrhoea and enteritis,
cancer, apoplexy, diphtheria and Group,
these maladies alone were responsible
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 810.4 per
100000 population. This is material
in 1900-937.4 per 100, 000-when the
census bureau made its first annual
collection Of mortality statistics. The
number of deaths resulting from these
causes, however, formed a somewhat
greater proportion of the total reported
mortality in 1913 than in 1soo-57 per
cent. in the later year as compared
with SO per cent. in the earlier.
tuberculosis.
tuberculosis in its various forms
claimed 93.421 victims in 1913, Of
which number S0,S12 died from tuber-
culosis Of the lungs (including acute
military tuberculosis). With improved
sanitation and with better understand
ing Of the laws of health and the i'm
portance of pure air. however, the
white plague is rapidly becoming a less
serious menace to health and happi-
ness. In only nine years-from 1904 to
1913--the mortality rate from tuber-
culosis in all it's forms fell from BOOT
to 1915 per 100000, the decline being
continuous from year to year. Prior
to 1904, the rate had fluctuated, start
ing at 201.9 in 1900.
A satisfactory comparison of differ
ent sections of the country with re-
spect to the prevalence of tuberculosis
is impossible, since the only southern
states embraced in the registration
area in Maryland, Virginia and Ken
lucky, together with the North Caro-
lima municipalities which had 1000 or
more Inhabitants in 1900. and a num-
Der of northern and western states are
not included. In general, however, it
may be said that the mortality due to
this disease is somewhat higher among
and is about three times as high among
negroes as among whites. The far
northern states of Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Montana and Washington
allGshow white mortality rates from
lower than the average for the entire
registration area Pennsylvania's rate
was also low. On the other hand, the
rate in Utah-Whose southern boun-
dairy lies in nearly the same latitude
as that Of Virginia-is away below that
Of any other state, being only about
one-third as high as the rate for the
entire registration area. The mortal
ity rate among the white population
from tuberculosis of the lungs
throughout the entire registration area
in 1913 was 115.7 per 100000. The cor
responding rates for the states just
named are as follows: Utah 81, Wash
ington 70.6, Michigan ISL, Montana
1913. Wisconsin s3.4. Minnesota S4.s,
Vermont SS,5, Maine 95.3, PENNSYLVANIA
SIS. New Hampshire eS.s.
The death rates from tuberculosis of
the lungs are abnormally high among
the white population in both Califor-
mia and Colorado-167.5 and 1872 per
100000 observation-disclosures Of the
fact that many consumptives from
other parts Of the country are attract
cd to these states by reason Of their
exceptionally favorable climatic condi-
tons.
A comparison of the mortality among
whites from tuberculosis Of the lungs
in urban and rural districts brings out
q very considerable difference In favor
Of the latter, the rates in 1913 being
1855 for cities OF 10000 and over, TAX
en- as whole, and 1908 for places of
less than 10000.
Heart Diseases.
The deaths from heart diseases Cor
ganic diseases Of the heart and endo-
carditis) in the registration area in
1913 numbered 93,142 or 1471 per
100000. While the mortality rate for
tuberculosis has been declining from
year to year, the rate for heart dis
eases has been rising. Starting in
1900 at 1881 per $1,000, as compared
with 201.9 for tuberculosis in all its
FORMS, the death rate for organic heart
diseases and endocarditis has huctuat-
ed, reaching its highest point in recent
years, 1914, in 1907.
Pneumenia.
Pneumonia in it's various forms was
the cause Of 49, deaths. or 1894 per
10000 in the registration area during
1913. The death rate from this dis
ease, like that from tuberculosis, has
shown a marked decline since 1900,
when It was 1885 per 100000. Its
fluctuations from year TO year, how
ever. have been much more violent
The mortality rata for pneumonia in
1913 was about 70 per cent. greater
among the colored population than
among the whites.
The only states in which the death
rates from pneumonia in all its forms