Nephritis,  all  forms,  was  the  cause  of  732  deaths  of  Massachusetts  residents
in  1950,  corresponding  to  a  rate  of  15.6  per  100,000  population,  as  compared  with
18.4  in  1949,  40.4  in  1948,  43.7  in  1947,  44.8  in  1946  and  an  average  rate  of  58.1  for
the  five  years  from  1941  to  1945.  The  great  decrease  in  these  deaths  is  accounted
for  by  the  fact  that,  under  the  new  classification  of  causes  of  death,  nephritis  is
now  included  with  arteriosclerotic  and  hypertensive  heart  diseases.  Deaths  re-
corded in  the  State  from  nephritis,  numbered  738  or  15.7  per  100,000  population.
P.D.  1.  9

Tuberculosis  in  its  various  forms  claimed  1,005  victims  in  1950,  of  whom  948
died  from  tuberculosis  of  the  respiratory  system.  Deaths  due  to  the  latter  cause
constituted  1.9  per  cent  of  all  resident  deaths  during  the  year,  the  rate  being  20.2
per  100,000  population.  In  1910  the  death  rate  from  tuberculosis  of  the  respiratory
system  was  133.2.  Since  then  the  decline  has  been  continuous  from  year  to  year
with  the  exception  of  1918  when  the  rate  was  130.  However,  this  disease  has
fluctuated  during  recent  years,  there  being  an  increase  of  .8  in  1941,  .6  in  1940
and  .5  in  1946  over  the  preceding  years  respectively.  Tuberculosis  (all  forms)
was  responsible  for  1,031  deaths  registered  in  Massachusetts  including  971  deaths
from  tuberculosis  of  the  respiratory  system.  The  rates  for  the  latter  disease  were
1.9  per  cent  of  all  deaths  during  the  year  and  20.7  per  100,000  population.
