The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-21
HEALTH or AMERICANS.
DIR. Eugene l.. Fisk Points Ont the Dan
gers Of Middle and Later Life.

To THE EDITOR or TUE SuN--Sir: | re-
gret very much that your interesting edi-
torill article OF January rs entitled "Are
Americans Degenerutiug?" was not based
upon a consideration OF the actual state
ments and figures presented by me in my
recent address before the American AS
/ sociation for the Advancement Of Science.
but upon wholly false and fictitious al
legged extracts from the address. elm
phatically deny that | stated that "the
American of lgl4 Is far below the physl-
cal standards OF his progenitors." Nor
did I say that the swift social pace and
Increasing industrial strain are killing
Americans" and that "ln the event OF
war we should be confronted by catas-
trophe" Several wholly fictitious para
graphs. purportiug 90 Ice verbatim eN-
tracts from my address. have been circu-
lated widely throughout the country ana
have excited much editorial comment. "
Is impossible 10 follow up and correct all
these msstatemeUts. but when q paper
like THE SCN gives dignihed corsdera-
ton to such matter I feel that Il Is
my duty to request space for a preseuta 81
ton OF the truth
It Is true that 7 called attention 10 the
fact taat the death rate In this country
At the older age periods has Increased
during the past thirty years, while IN
England and Wales. Prussia. Denmark.
and Sweden there has been a distinct fall
IN the death rate az every age period OF
lie. also called attention to tho fact
that the diseases chiefly affecting middle
life and old age. maladiea Of the heart,
blood vessels and kidneys. have heavily
Increased In this couutrv during the past
thirty years, and that no such Increase IL
exhibited by British vital statistics. My
comments on these clearly established
facts were made I'm q spirit of scientific
conservatism, and did not warrant the In
ildmmatory msropreser taf'o-s that were
so widely circulated I did suggest that
the Committee on National Security would
do well to investigate tine physical pre-
ptrcdness OF our population FOR war while
they were investigating the questions OF
ornaments. ships and ammunition. IT
ms been clearly shown by recent expert
"nce that . nation az way must RELY upon
the marching, shooting. h3yonct thrust'ug.
trench digging. misery enduring qualities
~ the common soldier.
1t first glance IL Is natural TO take the
view expressed In your article that our
favorable crude. central death rute. as
compared to that of foreign countries. in
dlcates i relatively favorable condition OF
national vitality. such comparisons. how
over. are wholly nadmlssib.c for such
purposes. The age con stitution " this
county is fdr different from that OF Great
Britain. Sweden or Germany. and even "
excessive life waste In this country at the
older ages masked by very heavy gain
in vitality In Infancy and Adolescence.
This condition OF increased mortality IN
middle ufc and old uge In the United
States and the contrary condition Of inn
proved mortality at those ages In Eu-
ropeau countries Is no longer debatabe
Apart from the studies made BY Mr.. Rit-
tcuhouse and myself. such able statistl-
clans NJ Frederick l.. Hoffman, Louis l.
Dublin and others have shown that this
general tendency % mortality exists.
Perhaps the whole question may be best
crystaliZed by answering the closing para
graph Of your article. pointing to the
steady downward tendency in this citys
death rate. as reported by the Board OF
Health This Same board has called at
tenton IN various bulletins 20 the IN
creasing mortality In later life and tho
heavy increase IN the death rate from
degenerative affections, and has exhibited
an expectation OF life table, which 7 sub
nit herewith. comparing the period 1909
~ 10 the period 1S79-s1. which shows a
decreased llfe expectation beginning az
age 80.
also stated in my address: Strong
and self-reliant as we are as u nation, let
US rejoice that what we are does not con-
stitute the pinnacle OF strength. and that
n We take heed. future development may
give us reason for even greater confidence
IN our power TO endure and 20 prevail"
Optimism IL usually neaitniui AMI adj
m.rable state OF mind but In scientific
work. especially among those upon whom
the responsibility rests for protecting tho
puhlic health, Il must he coupled with
"fanaticism for veraclty," n desire not
only 10 ascertain the truth but TO face
the facts as they are and not az we would
like TO md them.
ErGENE L. FISK. VI n.
Director OF HygieuA
NEW YORK. January 20.