During 1918, the deaths of 2,616 physicians in the United States and Canada were noted in The Journal. On an estimate of 155,000 physicians, this is equivalent to an annual death rate of 16.88 per thousand. For the sixteen previous years the mortality rates were: 1917, 14.37; 1916, 14.08; 1915, 15.71; 1914, 14.41; 1913, 14.64; 1912, 14.13; 1911, 15.32; 1910, 16.96; 1909, 16.26; 1908, 17.39; 1907, 16.01; 1906, 17.20; 1905, 16.36; 1904, 17.14; 1903, 13.73, and 1902, 14.74. The average annual mortality for the period from 1902 to 1918, inclusive, was, therefore, 15.61 per thousand.
Ages.
—Of the decedents, 174 were under 30; 455 between 31 and 40; 449 between 41 and 50; 474 between 51 and 60; 463 between 61 and 70; 358 between 71 and 80; 160 between 81 and 90, and 18 between 91 and 100.
Causes of Death.
—There were 241 deaths assigned to general diseases;