Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-03-09

regular and therefore not to call for Coro.
ner's inquest. 1t will be observed that these
Chinese deaths form about 15 per cent, OF
the whole number an evidence that the
death rate among them is much higher than
among the white population.
AS shown above, about 10 per cent. of the
deaths are caused by pulmonary consump-
ton, and another 10 per cent. by pneumonia.
Ii we were to infer from this that the climate
of the Sacramento valley is predisposing or
exciting to pulmonary diseases We should
be greatly in error. The facts in the
premises are that the larger number
of those dying Of consumption, and a
large number of those dying of pneumonia.
have come to this country because of their
tendency to or actually suffering from pull
monary diseases. Hence the mortality from
these two causes is no measure of the health
fulness of the valley or city in this respect.
THE RECORD OF BIRTHS.
When we come to consider the matter OF
births during the year, L fnd myself in no
condition to report satisfactorily Returns
of only 102 births have been made to the
Board, and this number we know falls short
of the actual number which have occurred in
the city. From information furnished to DIR.
F. W. Hatch, the Secretary of the State
Board of Health, by the School Census Mar
shal, it would appear that in the year 1879
so. tsere were 356 living births in the city.
But, as DR.. Hatch remarks, there is no
method known by which the accuracy Of
this enumeration can be certainly deter
mined. For my own part, / think it likely
that this enumeration falls far short of the
actual number. Assuming the population of
the city to be q, 800, as per the latest United
States census, we obtain thus birth rate of
only 16.5 per thousand. Now the death rate
under the exceptionally favorable condition
of last year has been shown to be IL. IA per
thousand. When, moreover, it is seen that
"A per cent. of the deaths occurring were
those of children under FIVE years of age, and
that the number of deaths exceeds the num-
Der of births, the percentage of dsaths under
five years of age would be about % per cant.
of The births. A moments consideration
will convince one that the number of births
stated must be under the truth, or we are
confronted by the fact that Sacramento is un-
ebie even to maintain the number of its
population undiIninished except by immigra-
tion. But we are not driveprto accept this
alternative, for, as q matter of fact, many
physicians wholly neglect to make returns of
the births occurring under their supervision.
Further, we know that as many and probably
more births take place under the attendance
of midwives than under that OF physicians,
and that many others are attended by expert
enced women who do not regularly pra 3tiee
midwifery: and the two latter classes never,
or only with rare exceptions the first, make
returns as required by law.
REMEDY SUGGESTED.
What shall be done to remedy this evil
For undoubtedly il is desirable to have an
accurate register of the births occurring in the
community, as well as those of the deaths
and marriages. The present law is evidently
as far as births are concerned
Is there any use in seeking to have it amend
ed I? l am not one OF those who look to legis-
lation for the cure of social evils, but con-
trarywise l think it is to public intelligence
and public sentiment that we must look to
direct and improve legislation /; for this is the
lesson taught by history on that point. |
am disposed, however. to think that such
change might be made in the city ordinances,
or in the State law, as would aid materially
in obtaining an approximately complete
of births in the future. Such
law must, to be effectual, laying aside allsde.
pendence on physicians or midwives make it
on the parent or parents of the chill.
dren born, to report the same to some officer,
as the City or County Clerk, within twenty
four hours, or say one week, of the event, and
the regulation should be enforced by the i'm
position of a small fine for neglect, without
discretion of remittance on the part of any
officer or Court. l would suggest therefore
that this Board recommend to the honorable
Board of City Trustees the consideration of
the matter Of a change in the city ordinance