The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-06-26
by HARVEY Il. RHODES

by HAIRY EG T. RHODES
Are the people OF Tulsa becoming
healthier or Is IL merely one ot the
unfathomahlo phcuomeuas beyond
the Asn of man that deaths her, are
on the hcorcasc' Regardless ui the
caus" OF this change, ana without
attempting To hc profauo or stcrl-
lcglnus 10 may hc stated authuri-
tatively that In Tulsa the number OF
deaths has decreased from 20 to %
per cont over the number recorded
by local uudcrtaNers three years ago.
The change, they explained. has
been grudutl tn, decrease shoWiuE
more plainly with the passing ot
each year
Naturally, they point out. the
death rate was highest during the
influenza epidemic. But It ana not
drop 20 60 90 per cent Immediately
after that dcplorablc period. The
first year following the epidemic the
drop was about 10 per cent. and the
other five to ten per cent has been
evident since them
Several different theories are ad-
vauCcd by the undortskcrs I'm ,N-
planning the causes Of this decrease.
one OF them believes IL is partially
due 10 tho inactivity of the oil iu-
dustry This business, he stated. is
considered a fairly hazardous one
although not so much as some other
lines-and from It's ranks have come
many deaths. mostly resulting from
fatal accidents.
safety First" Bcnrs Fruit
Another undertaken, mentioning
no definite industry, Is of tho opiu-
ion that the intensive safety first"
campaigns conducted In recent years
10y various associations, urgduiZa
tions, industrial plants and railway
and street car lines Is In no small
measure responsible. Workmcu. lac
explained, have been constantly
drilled and taught I'm safety first
measures. and exposed machinery
has been made safe by tho use of
metal guards. and this work OF odu-
cation has resulted IN procuring cX-
trcmcly satisfactory results I'm saving
the lives and limbs of employees.
\ third undertaken believes COM
batiVc measures TO prevent or cure
influenza and other contagious dis
eases are mainly to be credited for
tho chaugc--that people generally
have been taking better care OF
themselves physically since the cpl
demic Il few years ago, and that they
will continue to watch more closely
for disease symptoms In the years to
come.
The decrease applies moro directly
to men and women Of young or mid
die age, and not 60 old age which
claims its regular toll. This implies
that tho changed situation Is almost
or wholly in effect among those
who have not lived their allotted
three score years and ten. and who
are, generally speaking, still in their
| prime. Bv far the greater number
| Of men employed by the oil industry
are young men, many between 20
and 80 years old. a study of the
situation gives Credencc TO all Of the
theories advanced by those who are
| I'm a position to obtain accurate in
/ formation about the causes OF
/ deaths.
Fail to Watch Their Step.
Not a NV persons have jocularly
| declared that the death rate is de
Crcdsing because. with present styles
of women's dresses and other of
their wearing apparel, there is too
much to live for. Whether this eX 20
/ PLANTATION deserves attention is a
matter Of conjecture. Statistics com
piled over the United states show
| that the number OF accidents has In
creased because of woSens dress
and that virtually all tho victims Of
these accidents are men who were
not observing safety first rules and
| regulations Most Of such accidents,
/ however, were not serious, and were
| of such a nature as would result II
one stubbed his toe again a crack IN
! the sidewalk or against the obstinate