128 Eugene Rollin Corson 



This shows for the whites during the last nine years that a 

 little over 31 deaths out of 100 occur before the 5th year of 

 life, almost 10 per cent, less than the colored. Of course it 

 must constantly be borne in mind that these figures are for 

 the city, and that the mortality in the country is much less 

 for both races. But it is only from the cities that we get any 

 accurate returns, and more important still, that this is the 

 very point at issue, namely, the mortality of the two races 

 when brought into direct contact and sharp competition. 

 And it is this large source of error in the returns from the 

 country which vitiates the general returns given in the 

 census, and especially so in the returns of deaths among the 

 country colored. Like a bird's-eye view, it shows a large 

 area but no distinct outlines or details. 



We have had recently some interesting figures from Japan 

 bearing upon this question. It seems that Japan is a paradise 

 for children ; they are well cared for, and the greatest atten- 

 tion is given to their food. In 1872 the population was 33, 1 10,- 

 000 and in 1890 it had risen to 40,070,000. Mr. Ourakami 

 attributes this great increase to the low death rate among in- 

 fants. ' ' It appears that next to France Japan has the lowest 

 birth-rate of any known country, but this is counterbalanced 

 by the conservation of infant life. In fact, in point of infant 

 mortality, Japan at present stands next to England among the 

 nations of the world. Thus while in Russia the death-rate 

 per 1,000 among children under 5 years of age is 423, in 

 Bavaria 405, in Austria 390, in France 341, in Prussia 335, in 

 Japan it is 276, and in England 255."* 



Without having any proper birth-returns to show the mor- 

 tality per 1,000 among colored infants, the figures in the 

 above tables, if joined to the large number of still-births 

 and premature births, show an exceptionally high mortality, 

 higher than any figures given above. On this point I have 

 no doubt. This is without question the pivotal point in the 

 matter, and I shall go into some details to bring into re- 

 lief its main features. I shall indicate the causes of ante-natal 



*The Medical Record, March 18, 1893. p. 352. 



