The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-19


for Uncle Sam to gather and to tabuiate
the mortality statistics of the country ;
errors have to be eliminated, doubtful
figures proved. and duplication squeezed
out Moreover. a comparison with the
mortality statistics Of other countries
is one Of the best methods Of determin-
ing the value Of our own system--and
Uncle Sans system Is one OF the most
complete In existence.
That the death rate of 1890 would be
slightly higher than that OF the preced-
Ing year was expected. lnasmuch as the
rate Of 1919. following an epidemic. was
lower than the normal. comparison
Of twenty years presents an interesting
story. for In that time the death rate
10 the 1000 Of population declined from
1913 to 1871. 1t was lowest In 1919. 1t
was highest In 1918. when influenza and
pneumonia took half a million lives.
Otherwise the graph drawn from year 10
year is almost an evenly descending line.
The rate OF 1890 Is high In the North
eastern States and In States where
negro population lie congested: Il Is low
In the States Of the Northwest That
II Is highest in Vermont 1877. does not
indicate the prevalence of disease but
rather che presence of a great many
persons past the meridian Of life. In
the congested centers of negro popu-
lation. on the other hand. II indicates
unwholesone conditions OF living.
The decrease In mortality rates In
cludes every age group from birth up.
II Is most notable as regards young
children The rate for the registration
area dropped from iSi TO OF In 1000
births. In New York city during a Pc
Rod Of nfty years the infant death rate
dropped from AL to II in 1000 births
For 1890 the death rate for cities was
III. In rural communities II was l1.s
In the past ten years this proportion
has not varied greatly Four registra-
ton States. New Hampshire. New York.
Delaware and Massachusetts. are excep-
tione TO the higher death rate OF urban
communities The disproportion Is great
est In New York, the rate being 1874 for
cities and 1879 for rural communities.
Among the 1879 causes which consti-
tute the International list organic dis
eases Of the heari have he'd frsl pace
tality from this cause Is higher In
the northern half OF the country than
In the southern half but there are ex-
ceptions. The rate In Minnesota and In
Washington Is low. but II is Increasing
more rapidly in those States than else
where The rate is materially higher in
cities than In rural communities 1879
against 1892 TO the 100000.
In Southern cities II is generally lower
than In Northern cities. and the rate
is higher among negroes than among
whites. Among States Vermont is high
est and Montana lowest, with rates re-
spectively OF 22s.5 and 1917 to the 1907
900 of population. Inasmuch as organic
diseases OF the heart pertain chiefly to
middle and old age both the high and
the low rate should be considered In con-
nection with age distribution.
tuberculosis In its various forms stands
second with a rate. OF Il4.2 to the 1907
600 Of population. drop from 1882 in
ten years That is, the greatest scourge
OF modern times ls conquerable and =
being suppressed. For the past ten
years the death rate has been greatest
In Western resorts. Colorado has long
been resort for consumptives, and it's
rate In 1920 was 225.4 to the 100000.
That Of Utah was 39.l and Of Kansas
4s2 The rate in cities. 1855. is ma
terially higher than In rural communi-
ties 1881.
Negroes are highly susceptible TO
tuberculosis. and the rate among them
Is from two to three times as high rs
among whites In Dallas. Texas IL Is
nearly five times as great New York
city has a rate of 1878. which Is about
that of London and materially greater
than that OF Philadelphia and of Chi
cago but the rates of Denver and San
Antonio. health resorts, are more tnan
twice as great as that of New York
city. and about four times that OF Salt
Lake City.
Cancer is third on the list OF fatal
ailments. To say that in two decades
the death rate from cancer has in
creased 80 per cent. is to give an erro-
neous impression. From 1914 TO 1919
inclusive a slight lowering Of the rate
occurred. In 1920 an Increase over the
preceding year is manifest. Increases Of
the sort Are common and ara not a
cause for alarm.
Medical science il still discussing
whether or not cancer Is an old age
ailment. disorder due to improper nu-
triton or a germ disease. A study "
statistics as related TO the geographic
distribution OF deaths therefrom offers
a fine field OF investigation.
An important thing TO be noted Is
the great difference In NOR .ality be-
tween city and country-s9.b and 6S
to the 100000 In other words, the
death rate In cities Is nearly SO per cent.
greater thaa In rural conmunItits The
highest rate Is In New York and the