The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-12
THE REPU BLIC.
PubIic HeaIth.-The Census OF 1850


The attention of the Census Board at Washington
has been directed, we are glad TO hear TO the I'M
portance of vital statistics and the registration OF
Births marriages deaths, &C., through the census
of the nation, to be taken this year-a subject which
has hitherto been most strangely neglected. Its
importance is very briefly exhibited in recent
letter from Dr. Barton, of Louisiana, one oil the
most able and interchangeable students OF the sciences
which relate to life and the various modes in which
il is affected by climate, temperature, meteorologi
cal changes and the whole circle of physical causes
The letter was called out by an inquiry from Pro-
lessor Dc Bow to whom the Census Board had re-
ferred certain interrogatories. Dr. Barton says
.sThe Importance of a knowledge ofthe health Of
n community is only second to the health itself.
The amount of information from reliable sources
that exists upon this subject in America Is exceed
ingy small; in fact out OF the large cities assa-
chusetts excepted, and presently New fork-there
are arc no statistics of the sanitary state OF the
country any where to be found, excepting detached
monographs in the medical Journals nothing really
but prejudiced assertion; and this assertion IS pro
and con, either Of them widely separated from tue
truth. If equally so, we might approach that de-
sirable end through the means OF the two! Every
one forms his opinion, and it takes the hue interest
or prejudice gives it: to the inhabitant his country
is the healthiest in the Union, (for whoever heard
of man acknowledging he lived in sckly coun-
try?) to the stranger all places sickiy than
where he lives. Massachusetts, has set noble ex-
domain yearly not only of the sanitary condition,
but of the births, marriages, manufactures, agri
culture Sc; in fine OF every thing which II con-
Germs the community TO know. Her advancing,
rctroprade and relative condition, can thus always
be known Suppose each State in the Union had
done so since the establishment OF our independence
OF what immense Importance II would have been
to the country! We should not then have seen the
finest advantages Of health and wealth that the God
of Nature offers to the industry of man hidden from
the public view for want of exposure and develop
ment while our valuable population--the best IN
the worlds scattering itself to the ends OF the
earth in search fwhat could SO readily be found
near our own doors .
sThe general information in relation TO the health
of particular sections of our Union is entitled to
very little reliance; the specific facts which prop
erly claim confidence do not exist, and il will
doubtless be long time before the States will au-
thorize them In the West-in Pittsburg, Cincin-
natl Louisville, ST. Louis the interior every where
there are so far / have been able 10 ascertain,
by actual visits and an extensive correspondence
and inquiry no records at all. As to the entire
South, there very few. None in the entire
West SO far as have been able TO ascertain
"With regard to the oalue of knowledge of the
actual sanitary condition of various parts OF our
country il would be almost insulting to you and
the intelligent Census Board to dwell upon; and
WHY should their action be limited TO enumerating
the population and comparative wealth ofthe coun-
try, while the sanitary condition Is so much more
important? One of the first inquiries made of a
country when thinks of visiting, trading with,
or settling in, is in relation TO its health Various
parts of the United States are avoided on account
Of supposed insalubrty, as part OF this State, when
IL is now well known that those very portions
are amongst the healthiest In the Union. And
again. all agricultural countries sickly when
first opened and settled, and become healthy soon
after the country becomes cleared, cultivated and
subdued TO the purposes of man. Such Is emf
neny the fact with regard to the long settled parts
of the southern States, while countries and cities
supposed 10 be healthy have been found by exam
nation and statistical records to be far the
Such has been found to be the fact with Liverpool
which was deemed of the healthiest towns in
England before its real condition was made known
through the registration laws, when il actually
found to be one OF the most sickly. The alarm was
sounded and an immediate examination instituted
into the cause when il was ascertained that about
900 of its population lived more like reptiles than
human beings-burrowing in the ground in damp,
dirty dark cellars, opening into blind alleys, &c.
and the mortality was about one in seventeen or
eighteen, think. reform was at once instituted,
with gain in average life in few years. of about
ten years. Similar facts have occurred in various
parts of England, and also in Massachusetts.
"But this is not all. Various parts of our widely
extended country have their special liabilities to
particular forms of disease. individuals and their
families have also their predisposons to special af
hictions. These peculiarities can be worn out and
gotten rid of entirely by removing from one part
where they are very liable to occur, and do produce
great mortality, TO other portions where they al
most unknown. For instance, there some portions
rare and particularly that appro6ia mediearin,
sumption and other portions where they take of near
twenty five per cent of the entire mortality.
knowledge OF this fact is Of the last importance to
individuals and families who have inherited the
phhisical diathesis, and of many other forms of
disease which / need not specify. Then, again,
countries change in their liabilities to particular
diseases, and these facts only be made known
through accurate records worthy Of confidence, at
successive periods. To embrace the whole, includ-
ing different ATTITUDES and climates, TO be Of
vast practical utility, only be expected from
the General Government for many years TO come.
cit is, then, apparent and palpable that such in
formation is important to the community-that il
Is not probable that for many years TO come the
States will order il Of themselves. IL then becomes
ne much the duty Of the General Government TO
procure il as any other collection Of facts ordered
through the Census Board, and especially when II
is considered what a small additional trouble will
be required. Thus, 10 each family: What num-
Der Of deaths in your family during the yearl OF
what disease died, What age? Sex, Color: Num-
Der of births2 Number Of marriages?
81 doubt whether an additional dollar Would be
expended in this most valuable undertaking. Let
the people tpiH IT, and the difficulty Is surmounted.
81 remain, very respectfully, yours, &c,
Lob DEBow, esq, f. H. BARTON.
Professor Of Statistics, University Of louisiana -
IAfe on a Western Steamboat.