The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-12-24
MoNTANA'S Death RATE; HOW IT HAS BEEN
REDUCED AND HOW MORE LIVES CAN Be SAVED

0UcE b AN y
by w. F. Cogswell, NJ. D.. Secretary
State Board of Health
Ont of every 10000 persons Twin,
in Montana in 1910. LOG died. b,
1912 this crude death rate had riser
to 12O out of each 10000 Since
that year, with the exception of 1918
; characterized by the influenza out
break, and despite the occurrence o
second wave in the succeeding
spring. the rate in 1919 had faller
to 1O2.
In 1910 Montana. with a typhoid
death rate of 1919 per 100000 popu.
lation. was exceeded only by the
states of Colorado and Maryland. In
1918 the last available comparison
the rate had fallen to 1O.9 and was
exceeded by IA states out of 80 in
the United States registration area
This was further reduced in 1919
when the rate dropped to So. The
intervening years between 1910 and
1919 show steady decline with only
two exceptions. these being the years
1913 and. 1917, during which as a
result of refusal to accept the rec
concentrations of the state board of
health to provide system of water
publication, two cities suffered dis
astrous outbreaks. The decline in
typhoid fever is attributable to an
improvement and close supervision
OF public water supply, sanitation and
protection of food.
Tuberculosis Decreases
| tuberculosis shows a similar de-
cline-having fallen from a rate of
11S.S per 100000 in 1915 to that of
90.3 in 1919.
This data illustrates what has and
can be done in the solution of speci-
tic health problems, and that the
doctrine of fatalism deserves no rec
ignition from a progressive and de-
termined people.
Perhaps in 1910 there were skep-
tics who were content to leave we'll
enough alone. A few may have sur
vived. To these few, and as a remin-
der to others that the work Of con-
servation has made only a beginning,
1t may be of interest to mention a
few problems which still challenge
Montana's attention.
Little White Coffins
/. During the year 1919. there
occurred In Montana exclusive OF
still births) $500 deaths. OF this
number 923. or 1879 per cent Zone
out Of six deaths) occurred in in
fants under one year OF age. This
means that 81 out of every 1000
babies born died before they were a
year old. The rate for the registra-
ton area, including all the larger
cities and large number Of states
marked by sultry, humid summers,
was n per 1000. Our neighborine
states of Oregon and Washington lost
but So per 1000. Shall we 60 on
buying little white collins at this
rate or shall we endeavor to stay the
slaughter of innocents?
2. The average age at death in
the United States registration area is
estimated at ~ years. Yet 3,473
Montanans or 59.7 per cent. died be-
fore reaching that age. In congested
England and Wales only ~ per cent
Of the total deaths occurred before
the same age. Shall we continue to
pin our hopes of longevity to our
splendid natural environment or will
We learn that it is a matter for hu-
man control?
Communicable Disease
3. Eliminating influenza and tu-
berculosis, SS1 persons or ISL per
cent Tone out of six died from COM
municable disease, the great proper
ton of which was unnecessary and
preventable. Nor do these deaths be-
gin to measure the ultimate results,
for who can foretell the invalidism.
the economic loss of human accom-
pllShment and the sacrifices OF happi-
ness which follow the wake of these
diseases in hundreds who recover and
later may have reckoned death as
good fortune? Are We still satisfied
with the support given local and
county health organizations, upon
whom the large responsibility for
prevention of contagion must fall?
4. Four hundred and seventy
nine Montanans, or 8.3 per cent Zone
out of 12) succumbed to the ravages
OF the white plague, tuberculosis,
with a consequent economic annual
waste of $1,750,00O. At a conser-
vative estimate. 5000 active living
cases of tuberculosis in the state
await the timely advice and aid ne
cessary to restore them to health and
lives Of usefulness. Are they to be
denied their claims upon US who are
able to give?
Cancer Durable in Early Stage
5. Two hundred and ninety-four
or per cent of deaths were due to
cancer, durable disease if recog-
nized sufficiently early. What is
most needed is a campaign of edu-
cation to teach its early recognition.
Is that campaign to be launched now
or in the far-off future?
6. Degenerative brain. hear, and
kidney LESSONS claimed sacrifice of |
1908 lives. or 17.3 per cent of the
total. Nineteen and four-tenths per
cent of these occurred in men and
women under the age of 45--the
prime OF life. Everyone recognizes |
that death from these causes is pre-