Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Modern Science and the Death Rate.

Modern Science and the Death Rate.
 MT. Editor: We do not have to go back half a century with Observer to show that the death rate has been and is being decreased by modern science. Here are some figures from the United States Mortality statistics, issued in 1915 by the Bureau of the Census, for the year 1913.
 The number of deaths in the regis tration area, which includes two thirds (65.1 per cent. to be exac) of the total estimated population of the continental United States was 1S.9 in 1912 and 14.1 in 1913. per 1000. In 1880 the rate was 19.S per 1000, in 1900, 17.S, in, 1910. 15 per. thousand. The figures of the last two years are the lowest recorded.
 In England and Wales in 1900 the death rate was 13.2 per 1000. In 1912 it was 13.3 In the German empire it was 22.1 per 1000 in 1900. in 1911 1t was 17.3 (It is greater now, but medical science isn't to blame.) In the same F years France dropped in death rate from 21.9 to 17.5 per 1000, Italy from 23.8 to 1S.2, Austria from 25.4 to 20.5. Did Observer say the world had been standing still, for fifty years
 Here are some figures on the germ" and highly up-to-date report. Tn 1900, typhoid fever in the United States killed 35.s people out of every 100, 900. The rate in 1918 was 17.9. Tubercu- losis, all forms. dropped from 201.9 to 147.e Der 100000. Pneumonia has 1905 to 1924. Diphtheria from 43.S to 1 1S.8. These germs" are known and spotted"
 Measles killed 125 people per 15o,- coo in 1900. and 12.s in 1918. Why No one has found the cause, and from ] the cause. means of prevention. Can- cer went tip from 63 per 100000 in 1900 to 7S.9 in 1913. Why? Because l the doctors can diagnose cancer to- day where they didn't have the knowledge and the means 50 years ago. And when the cause of rnalig- nant growth is once certain and sure Observer will see that drop. It's bound l to come.
 1 About vaccination. The German l Imperial Health Reports show that from 1901-19i0. in the 64,000. 900 Ger mSn population, there were $50 deaths from smallpox. Back In 1S70-71, be- I fore the days of public and scientific aseptic vaccination, the death rate in Dresden was 32.68 per 10000: in Ber- lin 6s.26: in Hamburg 1075 per 1o,-
 900. of s2,I68,sIg German school children vaccinated. 11S died. rate | of 3.5 per million.
 Tn the Philippines. under Spanish rule, the mortality from smafl-poz
 was about 5000 year. By 1906, ovel I 100000 of the population had beer vaccinated by government doctor. without death from the operation and as deaths from small-pox since
 the completion of the world. Tn on,
 place in the Philippines, out of the g.,
 900 inhabitants, 100e. unvacclnates
 took the srnall-pox and 400 died. Efgh
 hundred were vaccinated and no nor smallpox. The other 200 took to tn,
 woods, and as far as reports go, ar . still there.
 Observer has a lively imagination when it comes to flies and germs. H
 should have been with Dr. Richard F l Strong in Serbia last spring. Ther were 9.000 deaths day in that coun
 try, from typhus, typhoid. cholere l dysentery, etc. Streng's methods inoculation sanitation, sterilization . He killed the fieas and flies that car l ried the germs. The result-not ney 1 case for three weeks before he saile for home in the fall
 si ANOTHER VIEWPOINT. | Stonfngton, Jan. 10, 1916.