1905 – Tuberculosis (10 registration states, DC, 134 non-registration cities), esp. NY-56,770
Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard, May 2013; modified Jan 2020, for website: Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-Of-Life Events. https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–56,770 US Census Bureau. Mortality Statistics 1905 (Eighth Annual Report). 1907, p. 35.
Note: The U.S. registration area TB death rate was 168.2.
Summary of State and Local Breakouts below
Alabama (Mobile) ( 173) Mobile had 410.3 per 100K death rate.
California (select registration cities) ( 1,251) San Francisco, 3rd high large city death rate
Colorado (Denver; also Pueblo) ( 795) Highest big city loss of life; 460.4 death rate
Connecticut, 147.8 death rate ( 1,462) Middletown had 300.7 per 100K death rate
District of Columbia, 274.7 rate ( 832) 4th highest large city death rate
Florida (Jacksonville & Key West) ( 229) Jacksonville 447.6 death rate, Key West 346
Georgia (Atlanta and Savannah) ( 462) Atlanta had 273 deaths and 265.8 death rate.
Illinois (Chicago, registration city) ( 3,674) Chicago had death rate of 162.8 per 100K.
Indiana, 148.5 death rate ( 3,977) Columbus had death rate of 271.6
Kentucky (Louisville and Paducah) ( 582) Covington 226.7, Louisville 228, Paducah 337.
Louisiana (New Orleans; 2nd high) ( 980) 315.5 TB death rate.
Maine, 124.6 per 100K death rate ( 886)
Maryland (3 registration cities) ( 1,304) Baltimore, 1,259, had 228.7 per ,death rate.
Massachusetts, 163.1 death rate ( 4,900) Danvers had death rate of 386.2
Michigan, 88.4 per 100K death rate ( 2,261)
Minnesota (Minneapolis / St. Paul) ( 466)
Missouri (3 registration cities) ( 2,023) Kansas City death rate 201.4; St. Louis 221.
Nebraska (Omaha, 83.8 death rate) ( 101)
New Hampshire, 134.9 death rate ( 579)
New Jersey, 170.7 death rate ( 3,659) 3rd highest registration state death rate.
New York, 173.7 death rate (14,015) 2nd highest registration state death rate.
North Carolina (Raleigh/325.6) ( 46)
Ohio (5 registration cities) ( 2,130) Cincinnati had 5th high large city death rate.
Pennsylvania (3 registration cities) ( 4,020) Philadelphia with 3,365, 204.6 death rate.
Rhode Island, 175.6 death rate ( 843) Highest registration state death rate.
South Carolina (Charleston) ( 198) Charleston death rate was 353.9
Tennessee ( Memphis & Nashville) ( 558) Memphis death rate 229.3, Nashville 332.4
Texas (San Antonio) ( 387) 632.9 per 100K death rate was very high.
Vermont, 122.3 death rate ( 427)
Virginia (3 registration cities) ( 444) Lynchburg 205.8, Norfolk 315.5, Richmond 236
Wisconsin (Milwaukee) ( 419)
Cities in non-registration states (11,860)
Breakout of 1905 Pulmonary Tuberculosis Deaths by Registration States; some areas[1]
Alabama (Mobile) ( 173) 42,164 pop. and 410.3 per 100K death rate.
California (select registration cities) ( 1,251)
— 32 Fresno Blanchard calculation based on Census data.[2]
— 88 Sacramento 30,732 pop. and 286.3 per 100K death rate.
— 86 San Diego 18,900 pop. and 455.0 per 100K death rate.
–1,006 San Francisco. 3rd highest large city death rate. 364,677 pop., 275.9 per 100K death rate.
— 59 San Jose 23,220 pop. and 254.1 per 100K death rate.
Colorado (Denver and Pueblo) ( 795)
–692 Denver (highest large city death rate). 150,317 pop. and 460.4 per 100K death rate.
–103 Pueblo 30,457 pop. and 338.2 per 100K death rate.
Connecticut, 147.8 per 100K death rate( 1,462) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 270.
District of Columbia ( 832) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 270.
Florida (Jacksonville & Key West) ( 229)
–158 Jacksonville 35,301 pop. and 447.6 per 100K death rate.
— 71 Key West 20,498 pop. and 346.4 per 100K death rate.
Georgia (Atlanta and Savannah) ( 462)
–273 Atlanta 102,702 pop., and 265.8 per 100K death rate.
–189 Savannah 67,311 pop., and 280.8 per 100K death rate.
Illinois (Chicago, registration city) ( 3,674) City of Chicago Municipal Sanitarium, 1915, 86.
Indiana ( 3,977) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 270.
Kentucky (Louisville and Paducah) ( 582)
–508 Louisville 222,660 pop., and 228.2 per 100K death rate.
— 74 Paducah 21,961 pop., and 337.0 per 100K death rate.
Louisiana (New Orleans; 2nd high) ( 980) 305,132 pop., and 315.5 per 100K death rate.
Maine ( 886) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
Maryland (3 registration cities) ( 1,304)
— 26 Annapolis 8,985 pop., and 289.4 per 100K death rate.
–1,259 Baltimore 546,217 pop., and 228.7 per 100K death rate.
— 19 Frederick 9,846 pop., and 193.0 per 100K death rate.
Massachusetts ( 4,900) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
Michigan ( 2,261) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
Minnesota (Minneapolis / St. Paul) ( 466)
–244 Minneapolis 261,974 pop. and 93.1 per 100K death rate.
–222 St. Paul 197,023 pop. and 112.7 per 100K death rate.
Missouri (3 registration cities) ( 2,023)
— 361 Kansas City 179,272 pop., and 201.4 per 100K death rate.
— 255 St. Joseph 115,479 pop., and 221.0 per 100K death rate.
–1,407 St. Louis 636,973 pop., and 221.0 per 100K death rate.
Nebraska (Omaha) ( 101) 120,565 pop., and 83.8 per 100K death rate.
New Hampshire ( 579) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
New Jersey ( 3,659) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
New York (14,015) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
–8,528 New York City NY Dept. of Health. 38th An. Rpt., 1918, p.545.[3]
North Carolina (Raleigh) ( 46) 14,128 pop. and 325.6 per 100K death rate.
Ohio (5 registration cities) ( 2,130)
–864 Cincinnati 343,337 pop., and 251.9 per 100K death rate.
–559 Cleveland 437,114 pop., and 127.7 per 100K death rate.
–383 Columbus 142,105 pop., and 199.1 per 100K death rate
— 31 Ironton 12,133 pop., and 255.5 per 100K death rate.
–293 Toledo 155,287 pop., and 189.1 per 100K death rate.
Pennsylvania (3 registration cities) ( 4,020)
–3,365 Philadelphia (registration city) USPHMHS. Public Health Rpts. 27/17, 4-26-1912, 583.
–2,838 “ City of Philadelphia. An. Rpt. (V. III), 1907, 112.[4]
— 550 Pittsburgh 364,161 pop., and 151.0 per 100K death rate.
— 105 Scranton 116,111 pop., and 90.4 per 100K death rate.
Rhode Island ( 843) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
South Carolina (Charleston) ( 198)
–198 Charleston Pop. of 56,147 and 353.9 per 100K death rate.
Tennessee ( Memphis & Nashville) ( 558)
–278 Memphis Pop. of 121,235 and 229.4 per 100K death rate.
–280 Nashville Pop. of 84,227 and 332.4 per 100K death rate.
Texas (San Antonio) ( 387) Pop. of 61,146 and 632.9 per 100K death rate.
Vermont ( 427) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 271.
Virginia (3 registration cities) ( 444)
–179 Norfolk 56,662 pop. and 315.5 per 100K death rate.
— 60 Petersburg 21,810 pop. and 275.1 per 100K death rate.
–205 Richmond 86,880 pop. and 236.0 per 100K death rate.
Wisconsin (Milwaukee) ( 419) 312,948 pop. and 133.9 per 100K death rate.
Cities in non-registration states (11,860) Census. Mortality Statistics 1905, Table 5, p. 270.
Large City death rate sampling (p. 36):
Denver 460.4, highest of any of the larger cities.
New Orleans 316.5, 2nd highest large city death rate.
San Francisco 275.9, 3rd highest large city death rate.
District of Co. 274.7, 4th highest large city death rate.
Cincinnati 251.9, 5th highest large city death rate.
“Minor city” death rate sampling (p. 37):
Annapolis, MD 289.4 Key West, FL 346.4 Raleigh, NC 325.6
Atlanta , GA 265.8 Louisville, KY 228.2 Richmond, VA 236.0
Baltimore 228.7 Memphis, TN 229.3 Sacramento, CA 286.3
Barre, VT 245.3 Milwaukee, WI 133.9 San Antonio, TX 632.9
Charleston, SC 353.9 Minneapolis, MN 93.1 San Diego, CA 455.0
Chicago, IL 162.8 Mobile, AL 410.3 San Jose, CA 254.1
Cleveland, OH 127.7 Nashville, TN 332.4 Savannah, GA 280.8
Columbus, OH 199.1 Norfolk, VA 315.5 St. Joseph, MO 68.4
Frederick, MD 193.0 Omaha, NE 83.8 St. Louis, MO 221.0
Fresno, CA 240.7 Paducah, KY 337.0 St. Paul, MN 112.7
Ironton, OH 255.5 Petersburg, VA 275.1 Scranton, PA 90.4
Jacksonville, FL 447.6 Pittsburgh, PA 151.0 Toledo, OH 189.1
Kansas City, MO 201.4 Pueblo, CO 338.2
Note: The New Jersey Board of Health in its 31st Annual Report (1908, p. 10), shows 3,587 deaths.
“Table 6. – Showing Number of Deaths in New Jersey from Certain Classified Diseases for Twenty-Eight Years, 1879-1906.” p. 10 in:
Age group with the highest mortality was 20-30:[5]
Age: Under 1 1-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 Over 80 Not known
Deaths: 40 89 309 972 915 606 335 197 100 23 1
Narrative Information
US Census: “Tuberculosis. – The number of deaths and the death rates per 100,000 of population from tuberculosis in its various forms may be found in Table III.[6] There were 65,352 deaths compiled from all forms of tuberculosis in 1905, of which number 56,770 were ascribed to tuberculosis of the lungs. It is probable that pulmonary tuberculosis also existed in many cases compiled under other forms of tuberculosis, especially under general tuberculosis…” [p. 35.]
“It appears that about 90 per cent of all deaths from tuberculosis are reported as due to pulmonary tuberculosis, and that the item next in importance, tuberculous meningitis [3,264 deaths], is responsible for about 5 per cent, or one-twentieth, of all deaths from this cause. The other forms are mainly unimportant as factors of mortality, and it is doubtful in many instances whether the returns relating to them indicate the proper classification with sufficient precision.
Tuberculosis of the lungs. – The number of deaths returned from pulmonary tuberculosis in the registration area for the year 1905 was 56,770, corresponding to a death rate of 168.2. Comparison may be made in Table III with the preceding years [1901-05 average was 54,998]…the underlying cause, the bacillus tuberculosis. Undoubtedly there are other deaths which are due directly or indirectly to this cause, but which are not returned with sufficient precision to be classified thereunder. Prominent among these are deaths from ‘hemorrhage of the lungs’ and also from ‘debility’ and ‘marasmus,’ not to speak of well-marked cases of pulmonary tuberculosis where the physicians ignore the actual cause of death and report some terminal condition, or even make a worthless return, such as ‘heart failure.’ There appears to be a prejudice occasionally existent in regard to making a proper statement of cause of death when due to tuberculosis, cancer, and similar diseases…” [p. 36.]
Sources
City of Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium. City of Chicago Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium: Its History and Provisions. Chicago: 1915. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=5hhAAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
City of Philadelphia. First Annual Message of John E. Reyburn, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia with the Annual Reports of the Departments of Public Health and Charities, Supplies, Public Education, Law, City Controller, City Treasurer, Commissioners of the Sinking Funds, Receiver of Taxes, and Board of Revision of Taxes for the Year Ending December 31, 1907 (Vol. III). Philadelphia: Dunlap Printing Co., 1908. Google digitized. Assessed 12-5-2012: http://books.google.com/books?id=0ihNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
New Jersey Board of Health. Thirty-First Annual Report of the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey, 1907, and Annual Report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Trenton: John L. Murphy Publishing Co., 1908. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=XDAcX3uIVssC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
New York State Department of Health. Thirty-Eighth Annual Report of the State Department of Health of New York For the Year Ending December 31, 1917 (Vol. 1). Albany: J. B. Lyon Co., 1918. Google preview accessed 6-3-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=XE49AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
United States Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1905 (Eighth Annual Report). DC: GPO, 1907. Google digitized at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsushistorical/mortstatsh_1905.pdf
United States Public Health Service. Public Health Reports, Vol. 27, No. 26, 4-26-1912. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=GgE4AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=true
[1] Registration States (CT, IN, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT), DC, and 134 nonregistration cities in non-registration states. (Census p. 6) Yellow highlighting denotes a Census Registration City, already included in “Cities in non-registration state” line.
[2] Population size of 13,295 given on p. 61. Death rate of 240.7 per 100,000 given on page 37.
[3] From Table 21 — Comparative movement of mortality from the chief communicable diseases in New York city and rest of State, showing the annual number of deaths and death rates per 100,000 population: 1898-1917
[4] Table entitled “Deaths from Consumption of Lungs, from 1862 to 1907, inclusive, by Months.”
[5] “Table 12. Deaths from Consumption in New Jersey, by Age Periods, For Six Years.” (NJ Health Board 1908, 17.)
[6] Tuberculosis of lungs (pulmonary), of larynx, tuberculous meningitis, abdominal, Pott’s disease, tuberculous abscesses, White swelling, tuberculosis of other organs, and general tuberculosis.