There is something comforting about numbers - comparing them, sorting them, finding the median of a set of them. Therefore, I am always pleased when numbers are used to define a situation or give a picture of life in past years. The following abstracted article appeared in the Henderson Journal on Friday, 7 January 1910. See what you learn by these numbers for the city of Henderson.
Decrease in Death Rate
“Our local death rate is lower than that of any year since 1900,” says Health Officer W.V. Neel in his report for 1909.
He says further that it is highly gratifying for him to state that the year just closed “shows a most excellent record in our vital statistics and sanitary condition of the city.” He gives the comparative death record from 1900 to 1910, as follows:
1900 - 123 white deaths, 124 colored deaths
1901 - 143 white deaths, 135 colored deaths
1902 - 91 white deaths, 140 colored deaths
1903 - 107 white deaths, 103 colored deaths
1904 - 119 white deaths, 122 colored deaths
1905 - 113 white deaths, 96 colored deaths
1906 - 155 white deaths, 106 colored deaths
1907 - 128 white deaths, 107 colored deaths
1908 - 123 white deaths, 106 colored deaths
1909 - 101 white deaths, 87 colored deaths
One hundred and 59 sewer connections were made during the year, and the total for the past three years is shown to be 609.
Contagious and infectious diseases for the year 1909 - 122
Tuberculosis - 33
Epidemic diseases - 11
Deaths by Violence
Deaths by burning - 2
Pistol shot wound - 6
Self destruction - 2
Death by drowning - 1
Accidental traumatism - 3
Accidental poisoning - 1
Typhoid fever - 36
Pneumonia - 25
Scarlet Fever - 20
The very important fact of the decrease in the number of cases of typhoid and in the death rate, is attributable to sewer connections, many of which were made under compulsion. The report estimates the population of the city at 17,500. Total deaths, 188; annual death rate per 1,000 - 10 and 26/35.
[The average number of white deaths for the 10 year period was 120 and the average number of colored deaths for the same period was 112.6. I would be happier if I knew how many of the 17,500 population were white and how many were not.]