The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-17
Dropping Death Rate

mild epidemic OF measles ana many
persons regard this disease as one Of
those necessary evils which are not
serious in their nature, 1t may be just
as we'll to note that 2,sl3 persons
died Of 1t in 1888, an increase over
the 1941 deaths in 1882 but less than
the 3,576 recorded In 1891.
The figures are from the provi-
sional summary Of mortality Stats
tics just issued by the United States
public health service and containing
data from every state in the Union.
These data, by the way, show that
we are getting healthier as q nation.
OF 10 groupings as to the causes Of
death, II show decreases and five are
practically unchanged from the pre-
vious year. Only one cause shows q
significant increase. This classifica-
ton is diseases Of the circulatory
system" which claimed $4,000 victims
in 1888, 2e5,5o9 in 1892 and 2sl ass in
1881.
The way in which the fight against
infectious diseases has been progress
ing Is indicated by the fact that this
classification claimed only $3.50
victims during 1888. Among the lead
ing causes were influenza with 1893,
all forms of tuberculosis with 1886,
and syphilis with 1l,o3o.
That latter figure Is . tribute to
the sham modesty Of America, for
treated In time this disease Is cur
able. It Is one Of the few maladies
for which specific cure exists, but
individuals afflicted with It are slow
to seek medical attention because Of
= sense Of shame. In q recent COM
mentary on health conditions In
North Dakota, DR.. Maysil williams,
state health director. said that an
increase in the number Of syphilis
cases is one Of the alarming phases
Of our own health situation.
Cancer took 1855 lives in the Pc
Rod. continuing the slow but steady
increase apparent In recent years, and
nearly halt Of these were cancers Of
the digestive tract and peritoneum.
Rheumatic and nutritional diseases
accounted for only 4l,6l4 but under
this classification came the relatively
rare diseases Of scurvy, pellasra, beri
beri and ricketts,. There were only 1
few Of these, however, 4 tribute to
the manner in which American die
tary standards have been maintained.
Disease Of the blood and blood
making organs took l0,lo6 lives;
chronic poisonings and intoxications
took 1861, Of which 1897 were due to
alcoholism, either acute or chronic.
Diseases Of tho nervous system and
Of the organs Of special sense claimed
130957, Of which cerebral l,emorrhage
accounted for 94.572.
OF the $4,000 deaths due to dis
eases of the circulatory system, $780,
484 were due to various forms OF my
ocarditis, more than double any other
cause within this group. Diseases Of
the respiratory system other than tu-
berculosis accounted for loo,54s, Of
which 45,73s were due to lobar pneu-
monia and 36.s27 to broncho-pneu-
1nonia.
Other classifications and the total
number Of deaths were: digestive sys-
TEN $3.50: genitourinary system H.
ST.; pregnancy. childbirth and the
puerperal state 1884; skin diseases
2,133; bones and organs Of looomo-
ton 1896: congenital malformation,
12.ll2; diseases Of early infancy ST.
$50; senility 1873: violent and &c.
cidental deaths 49, POI. and suicide
1898. In addition. there were 22,O2t
deaths In which the causes were III.
defined Or unknown.
The Railroads Awakening
Railroads experienced good bushes,
during the summer Of 1894 Is q re.
Ny$ 80