DEATHS. The total number of deaths for the year 1896 was 49,381, which was 1841 more deaths than the number reported in 1895, and 2,590 more than the number reported in 1894. It exceeded the average mortality of the five years ending 1896 by 1,053. The death rate for the year was 19.32 per thousand of the estimated living population, which was greater than the previous year, but less than the rate in any year since 1886 except 1889 and 1894. The deaths of infants under one year was 11,765, which was the largest number in the last twenty years. The lowest infant mortality in the twenty-year period was 5,855 in 1879. The percentage of deaths of children under one year of age to the total mortality in 1896 was 23.82 as compared with 22.22 in 1895 and 23-29 in 1894. In table 41 is stated the number of deaths and death-rates per 1000 of the living population for each year, and for quinquennial periods from 1851 to 1896 inclusive. The death-rates in non-census years are estimated. The average death rate for forty-five years differs very little from the annual means of the five-year period ending 1895. In table 42 are stated the death rates for the different counties for the seven census years 1865-1895 and also the number of deaths in each county for the ten-year period 1887-1896. In all of the counties except Barnstable, Hampden and Worcester there was an increase of deaths over the previous years. TABLE 42.- Death-rates by Counties, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, and Deaths, 1887-1896. Barnstable. Berkshire. STATE. Death-rates, 1865, . 17.8 17.9 20.4 19.1 18.9 20.7 17.2 21.1 19.0 16.0 21.4 13.9 20.2 16.1 15.4 21.7 18.4 19.0 20.9 19.8 23.7 17.9 18.7 18.4 In table 43 there is a statement of the mortality of Massachusetts compared with that of a number of the countries of Europe. This comparative statement embraces a period of twenty years ending with 1890, and of the single years 1891, 1892 and 1893. It is observable that the average death rate in Massachusetts is less than in twelve of the countries and greater than in Denmark, Ireland, Sweden and Norway. The highest death-rate for the twenty year period is 33.7 in Hungary and the lowest in Norway which was 16·9. In the Report for the year 1895 a table (49) was published showing a few state comparisons. The value of such a table is not great under present conditions inasmuch as there is no uniform system of classification throughout the different States of the Union and none correspond exactly with those of foreign countries. The State of Michigan, through the work of Dr. Cressy L. Wilbur, Chief of Division of Vital Statistics, has taken the initial step toward a more modern system of classification; and it is to be hoped that a new, better and uniform system may be adopted by all the States in the near future. The table referred to is omitted from this year's report. In table 44 it appears that the total mortality for 1896 was greater than that of 1895 and the mortality of every month, except January, February, March, September, October and November was greater than the corresponding month in 1895. The greatest difference was in the month of July. The greatest number of deaths occurred in July, and the third quarter of the year, and the least in November, and the last quarter. In the year 1895 the greatest number of deaths occurred in August. Relation of the Mortality-rate to Seasons of the Year. THE YEAR, 47,540 49,381 47,540 49,381 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 In table 45 are presented the percentages of deaths by quarters of the year for a period of twenty years. The highest percentage occurred in the first quarter in 1892; in the second quarter in 1885; the third quarter in 1896, and the last quarter in 1891. |