The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-29
JANUARY MONTH
IN WHICH MOST
DEATHS OCCUR
Vermont and Memphis Share
Questionable Honor of
High Rate,
Washington Bureau,
1922 New York Ave.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Take care
f yourself this month!
More people die in January than in
any month Of the year.
And if you 1--we in the State of Yer
mont, of the city of Memphis, take
extra good care Of yourself. for those
are the most unhesalrhfU. places in
the country.
That is what mortality statistics for
the year 1921, just issued by the
United States Census Bureau, reveal
But on the whole, their story is a
cheerful one.
Your chances for life are improving
each year, the statistics show. In
1921. 1882. 009 persons died in the
thirty-four States reporting to the
Fedora Government, a decrease of
110.449 over the previous year. In
1920 the death rate per 100000 pop
ulation, over this entire area, was
1906. In 1921 it was 1853.
While the number of deaths from
sickness decreased. deaths by sui
eide. murder and automobile accidents
ann increased, the first in alarming
proportions.
Gun Suicides Popular
In 1921, 11,163 persons ended their
own lives, as against $3.50 the year
before. OF the suicides, 4.122 used
firearms. Hanging was the next most
popular method. with gas and zorro
tive substances following.
Epidemic diseases caused 1913
deaths, of which the largest single
factor was tuberculosis. making up
more than half Of the total Heart
disease ranked next in fatality, fol
lowed by cancer, apoplexy and chronic
rephritis.
Only two persons in the entire area
lied of the plague. Alcoholism was
fatal to 1911 with wood alcohol
poisoning adding 194 to its list A
total of 5,027 women died of diseases
reated to child birth.
Country jewellers are more heaIthful
than urban inhabitants. The figures
are 4S5.692 rural, and 523,981 city
deaths.
During the year there were 7.545
murders, an increase over the
previous years total Of 1,34O Ac-
cidents caused 60,S96 deaths.
Your greatest danger of accidental
death is from crushing in wrecks, OF
landslides. Falls are next most fatal
causing 10102 deaths, only sixty-six
under the total for all the fatal auto.
mobile accidents Of the area Drown.
ing took a toll of 6,4s9; burns, 1929
poison. 3.4S7, and accidental wounds
from firearms. 2,346.
Falling Down Stairs
Nearly as many people died by fall
ing down stairs as in all the street
car accidents of the year, or all the
mine disasters. Automobiles took
Just twice the toll of railroads and
showed an increase. while railroad
accidents were fewer.
Seventeen persons met death by
starvation. Excessive cold killed III
and excessive heat 946 Lightning
killed 461, while the total from air.
plane and balloon accidents was only
1872.
Vermont has the highest death rate
OF any Of the thirty-four States re-
porting. and Montana the lowest. Ac-
cording to statistics for the larger
cities, life Is most hazardous in Mem
phis and least in Akron, with the
Bronx Borough, New York, and Sc
attic next for safety.
More persons die before reaching
l year Of age than at any other period
Of life. Once that time is passed, the
second peak of danger does not come
until the years between 20 and "A.
In 1921. 1909 persons over 80 years
Of age died and 90 who were over
100
Ranking next to January as the
is March. while September has the
record for the fewest deaths.
most unhealthful month in the year