Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Think What 100 Years Can Accomplish

This was forwarded to me in a typical mass emailing (which I generally hate). But I found it interesting and thought you might, too, if you hadn't already received it in your Inbox.




Some statistics from the year 1908, one hundred years ago:




The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads in all America.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year!

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME. (Now, that didn't surprise me.)

Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! (But that did!)

Instead, they either 'apprenticed' under a practicing doctor (who had done the same) or they attended unaccredited medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as 'substandard. '


Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.


Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo. (Gak!)

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke


Now, the #1 overall leading cause of death (statistically) is medical care, which includes hospital mistakes, doctor's mistakes/malpractice and adverse drug events (side effects from prescriptions), followed by Heart Disease and Cancer.


In 1908 the American flag had only 45 stars.


The total population of Las Vegas , Nevada was 30 people! (This one is a hoot!)

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet. (As an ardent puzzle fan, this was unexpected.)


There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. (I wonder when those began??)


Two out of every 10 adult Americans couldn't read or write. (Sobering. What are the current statistics, anyone know?)


Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school (94% had less than a high school education)!


Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.' (Whoa, Nelly!)


Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help, usually a black person.


There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. (not just in one square mile of Washington, DC) !


Imagine what life will be like a hundred years from now!


IT STAGGERS THE MIND!!!

1 comment:

Twice Blessed China Mom said...

Oh my gosh! Can you imagine the differences that will exist from now until 2108? I don't like those mass mailings either, but this was great!