Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-03
APPALLING LOSS OF
LIFE BY ACCIDENT
Fatalities in Delaware During 1918
Referred to by State Board
Of Health Bulletin.

During the year 1918 there were "a
deaths in Delaware from what are official
Nv termed deaths due to external caus 9,
saws the Delaware Health News, the btl
letin published monthly by the Stat'
Board of Health, and during the hrs
nine months of 1919 there were los suci
deaths. These deaths include suicides
homicides, and all deaths due to accidents
of every kind. This tremendous loss o.
life is appalling, constituting as 1t does, III
the CITY of Wilmington, about one and one
half deaths per 1000 population pei
annum. II these deaths could be prevented
the death rate of the city of Wilmington
would drop at least nine per cent.
It is apparent that there is large held
of activity for the Delaware Safety Coun-
ell. for the accidents that result in death
are only a small fraction OF the total
accidents that result in entire or partial
disability, with the resulting loss to the
State of productive forces. The State
Roard Of Health welcomes the assistance
OF this organization in reducing the acci-
dent and death rate of the State and urges
every citizen TO comply with any pre-
ventiye suggestions that may be made by
that body. -,
The causes of these deaths are set forth
IN detail but attention is called to the
fact that a few OF the deaths listed as due
IN accidental causes may have been either
murder or suicide. as on some OF the
certificates the cause OF the injury was not
clearly set forth. Likewise some OF the
deaths due to fractures may have been
due to automobile accidents. Beginning
with last October, however, it is expected
that the cause of every death Will be set
forth with sufficient accuracy so that 1t
NAV be properly tabulated. Another lac
tsr that must be considered Is the large
number of deaths of non-resldents VINO
are brought to the Wilmington hospitals
for treatment If proper correction could
he made. the rate for rural New Castle
would undoubtedly be increased.
II viii be noted that the total number oil
SUICIDES during the year 1918 WAS -, ana
during the first nine months OF 1919 the
number was II. This gives rate con-
siderablv lower than for the country as a
whole, which in 1917, the last year Tor
which figures are available, WAS over 10
per 100, 900 of population.
The number of homicides during 1918 |
WIS six, but during the first nine months |
of 1919 the number jumped to Is There |
were no homcries In Sussex county ana
there was only one In Kent county during /
the entire II months The rate for the
United States during 1917 was 10 per
100 600 of population, which is consider
ably lower than the Delaware rate Tor the
present wear The favorite method oil
murder as we'll as of suicide was by the
use of firearms.
WIS 24S during 1918, and 126 during the
FIRST nine months of 1919 For the country
as a whole, the rate was S7.2 per 100000
of population during 1917, which was con-
siderablv lower than the Delaware rate
for the wear 1918. The rate for the city OF
was excessive IN each year
We might truthfully say, however, that
anv rate was excessive, as the exercise OF
proper care would prevent practically all
Of these deaths.
The chief causes Of the accidental
deaths during 1918 were as follows, with
the information AS to whether the rate
was higher or lower than tor the country
at large during 1917: Burns, "a thlgher)
gas asphySiation, l6 (higher) accidental
drowning. 10 (higher); injury by firearms,
Is (hipher); traumatism by fall, 32
samel: injury by machinery, 3 (sane);
abroad accidents, SO (higher); street car
accidents. 6 (same); automobile accidents,
y (higher); fractures, III thlgherl.
N almost every instance the rate was =
higher in Wilmington than In the re- =
nainder of the State. E
During the first nine months OF 1919 !
he rates from burns and from drowning =
we're higher than In 1918, but the rate y
rom the other causes was lower.
A study of the accidental deaths In y
Wilmington shows that the greatest :,
lumber of deaths occurred during No
ember, December and January, and the y
mallest number during June and July. =,
'wo-thirds of the deaths from gas "
,phvxiation occurred during the first 1
hree months of the year; the majority of ~
be drpwnIngs occurred In the summer ..
aonths; the accidents from firearms usli- X
Nv occurred during the summer and fall; =
here were very few deaths due to falls Z.
uring the summer months; railroad acct ~
cuts seemed to show no monthly prefer D.
,ce; and deaths from automobile acct
ents occurred with alarming frequency OF
lroughout the year. ~
In considering this large number of ~
saths from accidental causes, 1T must be ~
,rne In mind that these deaths are for ai
re most part of strong, vigorous persons, s aIl
any of them healthy children, and the II
IS to the State is much greater than the
S of an equal number of persons who
e suffering from some chronic disease
r which there is no cure. A campaign OF
ucation regarding accident prevention h.,
ould therefore be given the same serious | ~
nsideration as a campaign OF education he
Earding disease prevention, and if this ;st
ia toll from accidents cannot be ma an
-iaIly lowered by education then those Sal
,ponsibie for these deaths must be dealt eJ
Ii so severely that their example Will
We as a warning to Others that the life of
person can be placed In jeopardy with
punity.
attentlon Is csileo in the puiieLln 10 the tio
It that since the admission of Delaware o,I,
he otrat e IL
llted States the State Board of Health W.
) been notified TO examine most care Sb(
w every death certificate that is filed the
] TO refuse to accept any certificates arr
It are not made out In proper form. rea
IS ca { requested to refuse to sign Cir
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