The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-19
DEATHS BY OCCUPATION

Occupational death rates based on
the United States Census have re-
Gently been made available for the
first time. The figures, published by
the National Tuberculosis Associa-
ton, represent information collected
in 10 representative states and are
based on 14,O00,O00 employed men
from Is through Ga years of age, at
the time of the .. census count in
April, 1880 and 10000 deaths of
men in this group during that calen-
dar year.
The death rate for the total group
of employed men was 81 per thous-
and. Unskilled workers are shown
by the study TO have the highest
mortality rates of any economic
group, with a death rate of lab
from all causes. In this class are
included the factory workers and
laborers, with a rate of ia; dray-
men and transfers, with a rate of
1914 and coal mine operatives with
rate of 124. The semiskilled work
ers stand next in order, with a NOR
tality rate of 10.1 per thousand en-
ployed in these occupations. This
group includes guards, watchmen
and doorkeepers; the semlskilled
workers in manufacturing; and
beauty shop operators, all with death
rates above the average for the total
number of men.
Skilled workers and foremen
have, as a group, death rate OF S.3.
Tailors with a rate of 1913 have the
highest mortality in this group, /
while foremen and overseers in man
ufacturing, (6.0), have the lowest
The death rate for proprietors,
managers and officials was 7.9.
Restaurant, cafe and lunchroom
keepers, head this group with a NOR
tality of 1913 per thousand. Clerks
and kindred workers had the com
paratively low death rate of IT., with
clerical workers, clerks in stores,
real estate agents and statesmen
standing in the order named Pre-
fessional men, including physician
adm surgeons, lawyers, judges and
justices and technical engineers had
rate of only 81. The agricultural
workers, including farmers and farm
laborers had the lowest rate of any
class considered,-a mortality of 6.2
per 1000 employed.
When specific causes of death are
considered, it may be seen that
painters, draymen and teamsters,
guards and watchmen, laborers and
factory workers had a very high
mortality from accidents. On the
other hand, policemen, professional
men, clerks and farmers had a COM
paratively low accidental death rate.
More servants, draymen and team
sters, metal workers and watchmen
die from tuberculosis than clerks,
proprietors or professional men. At
tention is called to the fact that "Tu-
berculosis, which numerically has
declined to a position of seventh as
cause of death in the general pop
ulation, is shown here as the second
cause of death among occupied
males. The very high rates from
tuberculosis among cooks, walters
and servants in hotels, restaurants,
ETC., should be a signpost to indicate
where industrially tuberculosis pro-
pram might be most needed"
In general it may be concluded
that the death rates from tuberculos-
is, pneumonia, suicide, accidents, and
the important degenerative diseases,
which include heart disease, cancer,
nephritis and cerebral hemorrhage,
show a tendency to increase in the
lower economic classes. Diabetes is
an exception to this, with the highest
death rates among proprietors, man
ayers and officials. The group of
unskilled wo1 kers has the highest
death rates from each cause of Death
except diabetes, while the lowest
death rates are usually those for ag-
Iricultural workers and professional
men.