THE CAUSES OF DEATH 



107 



(c) deaths from a variety of causes which are statisti- 

 cally lumped together and cannot be disentangled. Ac- 

 cidental and homicidal deaths find no place in a biologi- 



TABLE 7 



Shomng the BelatiBe Importance of Different Organ Systems in 

 Human Mortality 



Group 

 No. 



II 



VI 



I 



VII 



IV 



III 



V 



VIII 



EX 



Organ System 



Respiratory system 



Alimentary tract and associated 



organs 



Circulatory system, blood 



Nervous system and sense organs . 

 Kidneys and related excretory 



organs 



Primary and secondary sex organs. 

 Skeletal and muscular system . . . , 



Skin 



Endocrinal system 



Death Rates per 100,000 



Regietration Area, 

 U. S. A. 



1906-10 1901-05 



395.7 



334.9 

 209.8 

 175.6 



107.2 



88.1 



12.6 



10.1 



1.5 



460.5 



340.4 

 196.8 

 192.9 



107.4 



77.4 



13.7 



13.3 



1.2 



Bngland 

 and 

 Wales 

 1914 



420.2 



274.1 

 208.6 

 151.9 



19.4 

 95.4 

 18.2 

 12.0 

 1.9 



S&o 

 Paulo 

 1917 



417.5 



613.8 

 254.8 

 124.3 



83.4 



103.2 



6.8 



7.9 



1.1 



Total death rate classifiable on a 

 biological basis 



1,335.5 



1,403.6 



1,201.7 



1,612.8 



All other causes of death 



171.3 



211.8 



141.4 



109.8 



cal classification of mortality. A man organically sound 

 in every respect may be instantly killed by being struck 

 by a railroad train or an automobile. The best possible 

 case that could be made out for a biological factor in such 

 deaths would be that contributory carelessness or negli- 

 gence, which is a factor in some portion of accidental 

 deaths, bespeaks a small but definite organic mental in- 

 feriority or weakness, and that, therefore, accidental 

 deaths should be charged against the nervous system. 

 This, however, is obviously not sound. For, in the first 

 place, in many accidents there is no factor of contributory 



