The comparative mortality of different occupations is a subject of much interest, but one very difficult to study exactly. Apparent differences may be clue to other causes than the occupations ; and if complete statistics could be secured they might be found not to exist at all. The most available figures on this subject are those furnished by Dr. Ogle from his studies of English records. He found the lowest death-rate among clergymen and the highest among hotel servants. Of other professions, the rate for lawyers was higher than that for clergymen, and that for physicians higher yet. The general truths to be gathered from his study may be summed up as follows • Causes of high mortality in various occupations are : (I) Working in cramped or constrained attitudes, as silk-weavers, lace makers, etc.
(2) Exposure to the action of i)oisonons or irritating substances, such as phosphorus, mercury, lead, infected wool or hair. We have here a list of diseases peculiar to certain trades : Mercury-poisoning in dippers of Lucifer matches, gilders, hatters, furriers, and others who make use of mercury ; the arsenical poisoning of paper-hangers ; lead-poisoning among painters, plumbers, glaziers, gas-fitters, printers, and file-makers.
(3) Excessive•work, mental or physical, especially such as involves sudden strains.
(4) Working in confined and foul air.
(5) The effect of alcoholic drinks, as seen among innkeepers and wine and spirit dealers (6) Liability to accident, as among miners, quarrymen, and fishermen.
(7) Inhalation of dust, increasing the mortality from diseases of the lungs. The most encouraging fact connected with the death-rate is that, for what ever cause, it is steadily decreasing.
The following tables are taken from the latest mortality statistics issued by the United States census bureau. The registration district of the United States comprises eleven states, and 334 cities with a minimum population of S,000. While the returns cover only about two-fifths of the entire popula tion of the United States, the registration area is quite extensive ; and the figures afford a good means of comparing the healthfulness of various regions. The first table shows the death-rate of the United States as compared with those of several foreign countries. It will he noted that the former com pares very favourably with any of the latter, Sweden and Norway being the only two countries showing a lower average death-rate than that of the United States.
The next table gives the death-rates in ten states and in the district of Columbia for the years i9oo to 1904, and also the annual average for each state. It will he seen that Indiana and Michigan have the lowest averages ; and the district of Columbia the highest.
This list shows a gradual increase for apoplexy, appendicitis, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, heart-disease, and nephritis ; while bronchitis, paralysis, and peritonitis have decreased during the five years covered by the figures given. The other diseases show fluctuating death-rates. The gradual decrease in the number of deaths from old age, is explained on the ground of increasing precision in registration, so that a large number of deaths which formerly would have been ascribed to old age are now registered under other causes.