The New York herald., 1921-11-13

tabliShed.
In its pandemic visitations influenza
is the most deadly disease of modern
times These occur roughly at intervals
of thirty years. but between times 1t
breaks out here and there in mild epi-
dcmic form. AS pandemic 1t burns IT.
self out in two or three years. In nor
NAL years the death toll is almost negli-
gible; in pandemio years it has been
close to a quarter of a million. Per-
haps less is known about the origin of
influenza than of any other contagious
disease. That it Is communicated by
personal contact is certain, but yirulent
outbreaks at times have occurred almost
simultaneously in isolated localities far
removed from centres Of population and
lines Of travel. Thus, In 1889. 1t ap-
peared almost at the same time in Box
hara In Asia. Athabasca in western
Canada and Greenland. Epidemiolo-
gists strongly suspect central Asia to be
the locus of influenza A hopeful aspect
percentage Of recovery, due to better
methods OF treatment.
Pneumonia, like tuberculosis, is al
ways with us. Excepting the years when
it is a complication of pandemic intiu-
enza the death rate has steadily de-
creased. 1t Is low in localities having
a mild climate. A remarkable exception
is Minnesota, where the rate is the lowest
in the United States. The rate is mate
rally higher in urban than in rural COM
munities, but Los Angeles and st. Paul
q re haf <a to-
Death from old age is the ideal end
Of life. Nevertheless, In more than a
million Of deaths only beggarly num-
Der We're cases in which the human ma
chine went to pieces
All at once and nothing first
Just as bubbles, when they burst.
Here the difference between rural and
urban life is apparent. It is certain
that the migration Of younger men and
women to city occupations accounts for
the greater number Of deaths from old
age, but taking all factors into consid-
Grafton more people live to ripe old age
in rural than in urban communities.
1T is travesty on modern civilization
that the death rate from old age Is al
most negligible figure.
The excessive winter death rate over
that of summer is a matter of grave
concern. From December to May inclu-
sive the deaths in 1919 were about 40
per cent greater than In the following
seven months. The January death toll
for the greater part is twice and in
many instances three times as great as
that OF any summer or early fall month.
The proportion is carried out in almost
the full list Of fatal ailments.
Reasons for the high summer death
rate of enteric ailments are apparent.
but the cause or causes Of the high.
winter rate are not yet explained The
low temperature Of the winter months
is naturally to be suspected, but the
January death rate Of st. Paul and Min
neapolis is materially lower than that
or Los Angeles and other cities further
south. Indeed, latitude does not seem
to be an apparent factor. If cold
weather Is factor at all, it certainly
Is not the only factor.
Is it question of properly balanced
food and good living? A study Of NOR
tality statistics does not bear out such
hypothesis. excepting in cases in which
privation is extreme. In New York city
the winter rate in the densely crowded
sections of the city is not greater as a
rule than in the localities where physi-
cal comfort is purchasabIe, or In the
suburbs. where private residences and
well to do people abound
In the Southern States the January
death toll is not greater among negroes
than among white people; In several in
stances, notably in New Orleans, it is
lower. In Portland. Ore, the ratio of
the January to August deaths In 1919
was but little more than half that Of
Seattle. On the other hand, in the cities
and villages along the lake shore dis
trict Of central New York. where the
winters are severe. the difference in the
winter and the midsummer death rate
Is very small. Perhaps an explanation
may be found in the fact that this region
Is snow covered and therefore is protected
from lying dust, but this hypothesis has
not been established as q fact.
medical science is pretty generally of
the opinion that the disproportion of
winter to summer deaths Is due to cli-
matte causes and the opinion is probably
correct But there are many factors in
vowed IN climate in addition to condi-
tions Of temperature and moisture. A
snort season of abnormally high tenn
perature or low humidity or of stagnant
air Is apt to be followed by a very marked
rise in the death rate, and It is not impos-
sibie that the dry. still and dusty air of
dwellings In the winter season may con-
tribute materially to the high winter rate.
The fight for longer life is being
carried on. The human animal is built
Tor round century of years. The
work OF physicians, hygienists and epi-
demiologists in the past has wrought
wonders; they are now taking the me-
teorologist into their pact and each side
Is the possessor Of knowledge which IS
needed by the other. The city of Seattle
has reduced its death rate to s.5 to
the thousand. and a reason for a higher
rate in the United States in the near
future will not exist.