INDUSTRY AND DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 312, 26 September 1908, Page 12

INDUSTRY AND DEATH.

LOV/ER MORTALITY RATE AMONG WORKERS. BRITISH STATISTICS. Dr. John Tatham's report on the mortality in certain occupations in tho years 1900, 1901, and 1902 has been issued as a supplement to the annual report of the-British Registrar-General. - Broadly spoaking, tho rosult:of Dr. Tatham's investigations goes to show that tho workers in tho principal industries havo shared in the improvement of the publio hoalth as indicated by tho declino in the death-rate. A melancholy exception is provided under tho occupation heading of genoral labourer, tho mortality rato having increased by no less than 4i per cent, in the period 1900-02, as compared with 1890-92. In the same period the. mortality amongst tin miners has gone up by 33 per cent., amongst general shopkeepors 26 per cent., amongst copper miners 13 per cent., and hosiery manufacturers 6 per cent. .Otherwise tho record is ono of Satisfactory improvement. Afeain comparing the period 1900-02 with 1890-92, tho following occupations, amongst others, show a,decrease in mortality of 25 per cent, and over:—• Dec. ]Lc. Dec. p.c. T6ol, File, and: Leaden Goods Saw Makers ... 25 . Makers ......... 33 Bricklayers and i ' Dyers and Masons 25 Bleachers 33 CArmeri ' and ;Car- ■ • Quarryriieri 33 riors 26 Gas Workers 33 Printer's 26 Dock Labourers... 35 Bookbinders'- 27 Coppersmiths ... 35 Brick ' arid Tile Chemical Manii- . , Makers' 27 1 facturers 36 Maltsters" ......... 28 Railway Engine Watchmakers-'and Drivers 38 Jewellers 28 Navvies and Road Pottery ' Workers 28 Labourers 42 Glass Manufac- Soap and 'Manure turers 30 Manufacturers 46 An interesting section of Dr. Tatham's report is devoted to mortality in the liquor trades. Publicans between tho ages of 25 and 65 years show a comparative mortality rato 80 per cent, in excess of the standard. "The greatest proportion of tho excess appears under the heading alcoholism and livor disease) from which the mortality is nearly Sevenfold tho. standard." Again we read that 1 "among. publicans and their servants tho death-rate. at ages 15-20 was rather higher - in 1900-02 than in 1890-92, the increase being limited to inn servants; at all other ages there has been a declino, especially at the higher ages, in which decline both innkeepers and their' servants havo participated. • At tho same time it is inentio'ned that among innkeepers, tho mortality from alcoholism and suicide has continually increased since 1880-82. '

Among bakers and confectioners the death rate has ( declined 20 per cant, in 1900-2 coiripared with 1890-92, and in the main working period „of lifo, the rato is now 8, per cent, below the standard. Tailors are 2 per cent, over the standard, the mortality from phthisis being one-third above the average, rate. ; Hairdressers show. a rato of 19 per cent.' above the average, the mortality from alcoholism and disease of the liver being double the standard rate, and from phthisis one-third in ixceSs. Talcing tho mining industry as a whole the mortality rate is 11 per cent, below the standard, but after the age of- 55 the mortality amongst miners, inoluding colliers, is' in oxceSs of tho standard. The mortality amongst workers in lead, though still high, is much lower generally than it was ton years ago. Among plumbers and painters, however, tho mortality from lead poisoning has shown no decline in the recent period. It is pointed out that among potters the decline in tho mortality may bo duo in part to the introduction of a glaze that does not contain lead.