The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-02-28
In Other Respects Rate Is Low
est in History.
DROPS 1877 PER CENT IN 1921
Death Rate Cut Chiefly Because Few
er Victims Were Claimed by Tuber-
c~ulosis, Pneumonia, Influenza,
Bright's Disease and Industrial Ac-
cidents-lndicates More Effective
Public Health Work-AutomobiIe
Causes Greater Ravages Than Ever
in 1921.

Deaths from alcoholism increase,
so per cent in 1921 against 1920, il
the experience of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance company, which an
nounces that in other respects 1872
had the lowest death rate ever re
corded in the United States and Can
ada.
The rate was S.54 per thousand lives
a rate indicated by statistics based
on the experience Of nearly 14,OOO,0O(
industrial policy holders. This is low
err by 1877 per cent than the 1926
death rate. and lower by 31.9 per
cent than the death rate of 1911.
Shows Fewer Victims.
The death rate has been cut chiefly
because few victims were being
claimed by tuberculosis, pneumonia,
influenza, Bright's disease and indus
trial accidents.
"In the period of II years. the
company says, mortality from tuber-
culosis has been cut almost in half.
This in itself is an unparalleled ac-
cOmplishment in the history of public
health. But more amazing still is the
fact that the decline is continuing at
an increasing rate from year to year
Despite the fact that it was marked
by a business depression, unemploy-
ment and other consequences, 1921
showed a greater decline in the tuber-
culosis death rate than any year on
record. We have no better evidence
of the effectiveness of the public
health movement for the control of
tuberculosis.
THE lower death rates for organic
heart disease and for Bright's dis
are additional evidences that the
years has been effective in reducing
the incidence of the infectious dis
eases and local infections"
One cause Of death which resulted
in greater ravages than ever in 1921
is said to have been the automobile.
Due to Automobile.
For ten successive years. the bull
Ietin continues, 'sthe death rate from
his cause has registered an increase.
The 1921 death rate is more than five
lines that recorded for 1911; it ISL
four times as high as the death rate
recorded for 1915, and 81 per cent
higher than the figure for the year
.916. The control of the rising death
ate from this cause is one of the I'M
solved problems of police and accident
prevention work in American cities.
There is small consolation in the fact I
hat the number of automobiles has
llso increased, and that, in conse-
Iuence. there are fewer deaths in au- {
omobile accidents per automobile in
peratiOn than there were five or ten
ears ago. The outstanding fact is :
hat, whether being killed by the first ]
r fifth or tenth automobile, the num-
er of deaths caused by motor We
icles and the automobile death rate
to grow ear after year.
1.-THE most conspicuous bad spot in
he record of the year is the increased
cath rate for diphtheria. The NOR
llity from this disease was higher
in any year since 1917. This is
tile more deplOrahle because the /
for the suppression of case in i
dence and case fatality should be /
1own to every health officer and ev- (
y physician in the United States L
Id Canada.
1.-The scarlet fever rate was higher {
an for any year since 1914" K