Rates of Mortality.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1922, Page 4

Rates of Mortality.

AMERICA’S DISQUIETING figures. SAN FRANCISCO Feb. 7. In spite of nil America’s wealth and supposed superior conditions of living and of hygiene, the rotes of mortality in the United States, the expectations of life by a person of either sex at any given age, compare unfavourably with those of many countries that lack the advantages enjoyed by the average citizen of the United States.

This disquieting fact is revealed in the volume of the United States life tables, soon to be issued by the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce at Washington. In that comprehensive tome, lifetables are given by sex, for Australia, Denmark, England, Holland Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, France. India, and Japan. All those countries except the last three, show more favourable conditions than those that obtain in the Republic of the United States.

For example, the lowest annual rate of mortality per thousand at birth, is found in Norway, where the rate is 81 per thousand, for males and 67 for females. For the white inhabitants of this country, the rate is 127 per thousand for males and 105 for females. Tn other words, the proportion of children that die at birth in America is much greater than in Norway.

Mortality, at all ages, according to the tables, is greater among men than among women: the rural classes average a lower mortality rate than the city dwellers; but whereas the expectation of life in most classes has steadily and materially increased since 1901, there is no indication that the span of life has been lengthened. That is to say. more people arrive at middle age but more do not live past the age of seventy. Almost all classes of individuals now live to an older age on an average, but the limiting age has not been advanced.

The expectation of life among white females at birth was about three years more than that of white males in 1901 Now it seems to he about three and a-lrnlf years hotter. The ratio of mortality among men over 40 and women over 50 was actually less favourable in 1010 than it was in 19QI.

The Census Bureau, announcing provisional infant mortality rates in 51 cities based on estimated births for 1021, indicated that record low rates had occurred throughout America last, year. For the group of 51 cities, the infant mortality is 74 per 1000 births as ngnnnst a rate of 00 in 1020 for 1 !' cities. The lowest infant mortality rate of 4 7 per 1000 liirths*anpearod for the cities of Portland, Oregan. St Paul and Seattle, and the highest rate of 111 for Fall Pivor. The greatest decrease since 1920 appears for Lowell, Massachusetts, with a rate of 00 for 1021. against a rate of 135 fop 1920.

city shows ;• high rate for 1921 titan for 1020. though Albany and Salt Luke City maintain the same rates for the two years, 77 and 72, respectively.