RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN MORTALITY 
YAN ANALYSISofcensus figures, 
Louis I. Dublin and Gladden W. 
Baker discover significant differ- 
ences in the mortality of various ra- 
cial stocks in Pennsylvania. Their 
study is reported in the Quarterly 
Publication of the American Statis- 
tical Association, March, 1920. 
Differences of this kind have an im- 
portant bearing on evolution, and on 
the future composition of the Amer- 
ican population. The conclusions which 
the authors reach are: 
1. Of the three main groups of the 
white population in Pennsylvania and 
in New York—(a) native born of na- 
tive parents, (b) native born of foreign 
or mixed parentage, and (c) foreign 
born—the first has the lowest mortal- 
ity. This is true for both sexes and for 
virtually every age period, but is most 
marked at the adult ages. 
2. The foreign born, and the native 
born of foreign or mixed parentage, 
agree much more closely with each 
other than with the native stock. An 
interesting exception presents itself 
however, at the ages from 25 to 44 
during which period the foreign born 
have a great advantage over the native 
born of foreign or mixed parentage. 
The reason for this is the predominance 
of the Irish, German and British stocks 
among the first generation Americans 
at this age period. After the age of 
45 these two groups of the foreign 
stock are of the same racial extraction 
and their death rates are in very close 
agreement. 
3. The death rates of the component 
groups among the foreign born vary 
considerably. The Austro-Hungarians, 
Russians and Italians present alto- 
gether favorable conditions, while the 
British, Germans and Irish show death 
rates very greatly in excess. This is 
especially true of the Irish whose mor- 
tality is about double that of the 
native stock. The death rates for the 
Germans, British and Irish are much 
higher in America than in their own 
countries. Pulmonary tuberculosis, 
pneumonia and the degenerative dis- 
eases, including heart disease, Bright's 
disease, and cancer, are largely respon- 
sible for this unfavorable mortality. 
4. The findings of the previous study 
for New York State are confirmed. 
The unfavorable conditions of life and 
work among foreign races to which 
attention was directed in the study for 
New York are found to prevail in 
Pennsylvania as well. The facts em- 
phasize the necessity for special public 
health work for the people of foreign 
origin. The much more favorable 
economic conditions under which they 
live in the United States than in their 
own countries should result in lower 
death rates. But in several instances 
we found that this does not prevail; 
the facts indicate, on the whole, de- 
terioration rather than improvement. 
Is it possible that our immigrants are 
not representative of the best in their 
native countries? It has often been 
supposed that the immigrants com- 
prised the most vigorous among their 
own people; the results however, do not 
confirm this impression, but suggest 
many questions for further inquiry. 
5. It is very important that a study 
similar to this one be carried out as soon 
as the final results of the 1920 census 
are available, to determine whether any 
differences of importance have ap- 
peared in the interval of ten years. 
Good Practical Eugenics 
THe Book or Maryjorir. Pp. 128. 
New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1920. 
This anonymous and charming book, 
apparently written by a New York 
newspaper man, is one of the best pieces 
of practical eugenics propaganda that 
has come to light for some time. It is 
the story of the author’s love and 
marriage, and of the days when he and 
Marjorie awaited the birth of their 
first child. As a sane, interesting, 
modern, wholesome study of the psy- 
chology of married life, and of expect- 
ant parenthood, it is almost in a class by 
itself. The book is worth reading.—P. P. 
