The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-09

tartan, but also Of the political economist and
statesman. In States where such tables are
carefully prepared the marriage rate has
been found to vary with the race, nativity,
age and previous social condition, and to be
greatly Influenced by the material prosperity
| Of the country.
The value of these records Is understood by
the governments Of the principal European
States and 1t Is important to note that In
Germany, England and France they are
elaborated with the greatest care. In some
Of the other States Of the Union, particularly
| In Massachusetts, Rhode island and New
York. the registration Of vital statistics has
been praotieed for a number OF years.
The great defect Of the system carried out
| in these Stakes Is that the details are In the
hands Of the ordinary local authorities, The
| natural consequences ID, that the nomencla-
ture of diseases is vague and unsettled, and
that much Is left to conjecture on the part OF
the State Registrar in compiling and console
dating tables. Besides, men require some
scientific training u order to acquire habits
Of accuracy and TO Exercise necessary discre
tion In gathering the numerous particulars
required in q work of this kind. For several
reasons medical men are better fitted for this
duty than any others, and 30 plan can be car
ried out successfully withouto their service at
every step. 1t Is evident that their special
education gives the pre-eminent advantage
for doing the duty with efficiency; and 1t Is,
moreover. apparent that they above all
offers, will appreciate it's Importance and re-
gard 1t rather MS a labor of love than of profit.
This now brings us to note that a bill Is be-
fore the Legislature for the purpaSe of Great
ing local boards of health throughout the
State. one of the chief duties Of which will be
to carry out uniform and complete systam
of recording vital statistics under the general
supervision of the State Board of Health. It
ID designed to place the details of the work In
the ha1,ds Of local physicians in every com
munity, and there Is reason to believe that
their professional interest in it will be a suf-
ticient incentive to perform tbeduty chee1fully
and well.
At the same time 1t Is to % observed that
no burden Is to be imposed en- the public
treasury All expenses must be betrayed by
the registration fees, which will be the same
throughout the State as in New Orleans, and
will be d moderate remuneration for tho labor
involved. The plan, in short, is an extension
over the whole State Of the one now in opera
ton in this city. and which has been found to
work much more efficiently. and to conduce
more to the public good, since the transfer of
the registration from private hands to the
Board of Health.
The chief merit of this plan of recording
vital statistics is that it is to be carried out at
every stage by that class Of the community
best qualified to do the work. and who are
sure to take an interest and pride in seeing
that 1t Is well done. That it Is a measure which
will rebound eventually to the great advantage
Of the whole population, from a sanitary point
Of view there can be no doubt: and the future
statesman will acknowledge his Indebtedness
to the Legislature, whose wisdom and fore
thought provided such lessons from the book
of experience.