380 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



heart, and from apoplexy, Bright's and nephritis has alone increased 

 94 per cent, in 30 years. 



4. In Massachusetts the death rate from cancer has increased 66 per 

 cent, in 30 years, and 31 per cent, during the past 10 years. 



5. In the entire registration area the death rate from external cancer 

 alone has increased 55 per cent, in 10 years, from 1900 to 1910. 



6. The increase in mortality from diseases of middle life and old 

 age is reflected in the general death rate by an increase commencing in 

 Massachusetts and New Jersey in age group 40-44; in 16 cities group 

 45-54. 



7. The death rate of the total population age 40 and over has in- 

 creased, 1910 over 1880 : 



In Massachusetts and New Jersey, 30 years .... 5.3, or 21.2 per cent. 



In sixteen cities, 30 years 8.1, or 25.3 per cent. 



In ten states, 10 years (1900-10) 89, or 3 per cent. 



The increase in the proportion of older lives in our population has been 

 very slight and could not account for the increase in the death rate. 



To what extent are these adverse mortality tendencies reflected in 

 our total population ? In estimating the probable increase in the entire 

 country, many factors must be considered, the discussion of which 

 would consume many pages. 



The rate of increase in Massachusetts and New Jersey (21 per 

 cent.) doubtless approximates that of all of the populous states of the 

 east. This rate would, however, be reduced if merged with the rate of 

 increase for the agricultural population of the western and north- 

 western states. On the other hand, this reduction would be largely, 

 if not totally, neutralized by the heavy urban and rural mortality in 

 the south. 



It would seem an entirely reasonable conclusion that while the 

 average length of life has advanced, the extreme span of life has not 

 done so — in fact, the indications are that it has been shortened. 



Our failure to adapt ourselves to the extraordinary changes and 

 strains of modern existence is commonly accepted as the cause for this 

 excessive mortality in the later age periods. Even though the statistics 

 indicated no increase, the urgent need for correcting our living habits 

 would still exist. 



We may agree that in the long run the trend of humanity is ever 

 upward, and that this is but a temporary reaction, but can we afford to 

 rest wholly upon the hope that race deterioration will automatically 

 cease when our people have had time to adjust themselves to modern 

 conditions? "Wise men doubt it. This problem will not solve itself; 

 this adverse tendency will be checked only when our people are made 

 to see conditions as they actually exist, and are aroused to the need of 

 correcting them. 



