Those Who Live the Longest
THE Journal of the American Medical Association has made a very interesting summary of the statistics published by Dr. Jacques Bertillon, formerly chief of the Paris Department of Statistics. From this summary we learn that the most healthful vocations are those which are carried on in the open air, provided they permit of movement, while those restricting freedom of movement, even though carried on in the open air, are harmful. Trades exposing the workmen to alcohol and to lead-poisoning are the most dangerous. Referring to suicides, the summary shows that clergymen, officers, railway, mail, and telegraph employees, ship-builders, sawyers, employees in gas works, and booksellers very rarely commit suicide. They head the list for being free from this increasing modern disease. The highest suicide rate is found among saloon-keepers, the servants of retail storekeepers, chimney-sweeps, butchers, fruiterers, and musicians. These facts are interesting to study.