The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-06

MS column.
ing United States demographers
on the United States population
problem, which they believe is
very grave. 1t is in the near future
and concerns an increase in old
age population.
The birth rate is by no means
any indication of population
growth. From 1900 to 1913 the
population Of the United States
increased from 100000 to 1885,
100000. Only a small part of this
was due to an increase in the birth
rate; a great deal Of it was due to
immigration.
Birth Rate
Still another factor in popula-
ton increase is the advance of
medical science which saves hui
man beings in the most preca-
rious period of their lives-that is
to say in infancy-and preserves
them through childhood. The
death rate in earlier days among
those who had reached the age of
20 was immeasurably less than in
the earlier period of life.
The birth rate in the United
States fell fairly steadily from
1915, when it was % per 1, 900 pop
ulation, to 1888. when it was lit
tie over l6 per 1000. Since then it
has been rising so that this year
it will probably reach 81 per 1000.
1t is undoubtedly in for another
drop, beginning within the next
two or three years. Birth rate,
therefore, as we have said above,
is not the criterion of population
growth.
All these factors which have re-
suited in our population growth
are likely to continue to operate
so that we are faced with an in
creasingly older population. In
1915 Is per cent of the population
were under 5 years Of age; in 1910
about 9 per cent of the popula-
ton were under 5 years of age.
In 1910 40 per cent of the popula-
ton were from 5 to 10; in 1910 %
per cent were of that age. People
from 20 TO as compose the most
stable population group proper
tionately. But in 1850 only Is per
cent of the population were over
45, whereas in 1910 nearly 80 per
cent were over As.
In 1880 it is projected that per
cent Of the population will be I'M
der 5, 20 per cent will be from 5
to 10 years Of age and 35 per cent
will be from 20 to "A, while 25 per
cent will be from As to "a, and over
Is per cent will be over 65.
This shift in the age of popula-
ton groups is bound to make
great social and economic changes.
Business houses like Sears Roe
buck already change the goods Of
fered to the public to meet chang
ing birth rates and old-age popu-
lation. They are thus more alert
to changes than the political plan
ners. The age period for. prime
labor is 20 TO "a. 1t is possible
that we will have to institute
training courses for men over A
to fit them for secondary labor I'D
to the age Of so or 70.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
o. B.:-1. Is it harmful to drink
lots of water with the meals?
2. Does milk promote growth in a
person after the age Of twenty?
Answer: /. Water with the
meals does not remain in the
stomach for any length of time
and does not mix with the food.
1t, therefore, does not interfere
with digestion and it is not harm
full to take plenty Of it with meals.
2. II you mean will milk increase
growth in height after the age of
20, the answer is no. At any age
1t will promote nutrition and is a
valuable ingredient in any diet.
H. D.:-Can a rupture turn in
to cancer?
Answer: No. A rupture is sim
ply a mechanical defect in the
abdominal wall. A cancer is a cell
growth. They have nothing to do
with each other.