The New York herald., 1922-02-26
The Best Year for Health Was 1921
1t Registered the Lowest Death Rate Ever Recorded
in the United States and Canada.

from
That the year 1921 registered the
lowest death rate ever recorded in the
United States and Canada is clearly
indicated by the very remarkable expe-
rience OF the nearly fourteen million in
dustrial policyholders of the Metropoli-
tan Life Insurance Company. This
group constitutes approximately one
eighth of the total population of the
two countries, and probably not less
than one-quarter of that in the cities.
The mortality of the insured attained
the low rate of S.54 per 1000 lives.
This is 1877 per cent. lower than the
1920 death rate, which, in turn, MAJ ked
the minimum recorded UP to that time.
1t is 31.9 per cent. lower than was
the rate for 1911. Just what these fig
ures mean in actual saving of life is
best shown by the fact that If the 1920
death rate had prevailed in 1921, 1861
more persons would have died; il the
1911 death rate had prevailed, 54,s42
more deaths would have occurred. In
greater degree even than can be said
OF 1920 the year 1921 marked AN un-
paralleled advance in the saving of hu-
man life.
The decline in the death rate in 1921
was accomplished largely through re-
ductions in the death rates for tuber-
cuIosis. pneumonia and influenza. Lower
mortality from Bright's disease. puer-
peral conditions and accidents contrib
uted to a lesser degree in bringing
oln 81, 20 c11 IN
the public health record of the year.
The tuberculosis death rate of 1921 was
1851 per 100000, which is 1876 per cent.
lower than that for 1920 and 4S.S per
cent. below the rate for 1911. Thus, in
period Of eleven years. mortality from
tuberculosis has been cut almost in half.
This in itself is an unparalleled accom-
plishment in the history of public health.
But more amazing still is the fact that
the decline is continuing at an increas-
ing rate from year to year. Nineteen
hundred twenty-one. despite the fact
that 1t was marked by business de-
preston, unemployment and their con-
sequences, showed a greater decline In
TIE tuberculosis death rate than any
year on record. We have no better evil
dence of the effectiveness of the public
health movement for the control Of
tuberculosis.
At no time in 1921 did influenza at
tain epidemic prevalence. In each Of
the three preceding years it was one
of the chief mortality factors. In 1921
it resumed its former status as a minor
cause of death. In consequence pneu-
monia, which always has n high death
rate in influenza years. also registered
a great reduction. The death rate for
these two causes combined in 1921 was
less than one-half the figure for 1920
and was AZ per cent. lower than that
for 1911 when conditions with reference
to influenza and pneumonia We're nor
NAL. The experience this year with
these diseases shows strkingly the ex-
tent to which they can be suppressed
and suggests how great are the possi-
bilities for reduction in the future.
The lower death rates for organic
heart disease and for Bright's disease
are additional evidences that the public
health work OF the last twenty years
has been effective in reducing the Incl
dence Of the infectious diseases and
focal infections which in so many in
stances are primarily responsible for
damage to and resultant chronic disease
Of the ardio-vascular-renal system.
The number of deaths of women from
the diseases and conditions connected
with chldbearing declined very appre-
ciably in 1891, although their rate was
only slightly lower than that for 1911.
and higher than those for four Of the
years of the eleven year period. Between
1911 and 1917 the trend of the death
rate for these diseases was slightly
| downward. With the coming OF the in
fuenza pandemic in 1918 it rose sharply
and in the years 1919 and 1920 contin-
ued to register death rates in excess OF
those shown for other years covered by
the company's mortality tabulations
The decline of 10 per cent. In 1921 from
the 1920 death rate was due largely 10
lower mortality from abortions caused
by influenza; but it is particularly en-
couraging to note that the death rate
for puerperal septicemia also declined
This group OF conditions presents a
promising field for public health work
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