Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1882-02-20
Souraal anb Courier.
Monday Morning. Feb. 20, 1880.
Vital Statistics.

vital Sfatlst1cS.
Annual Report of the State Board of l
Health--The Ratio of Marriages and |
DIvOrces-The Omnibus Clause-New |
Ravens Health.
The fourth annual report of the State |
Board of Health which was transmitted to |
the Legislature by Governor Bigelow last
week, is document of exceptional interest
and value.
BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
In the special department of vital statistics
the registration report shows that there were
in 1880, 10, 1929 births, 4, 745 mar
riages and 10, 4OS deaths 1872 less births than
in 1879, 365 marriages more and 1, O14 deaths
more. There we're 332 divorces, IS more
than in 1879, but as the number of marriages
is considerably increased, the ratio of d.
vorces to marriages is better than for that
year. In 1880 it was one to every 143 mar
riages in 1879, one to every 1873; in 1879
one for every 1O.6. So far the predictions
concerning the probable effects of the repeal
of the omnibus clause, continues the report,
have apparently been reached time will
show whether the reduction is permanent or
due principally to this cause. Taking the
same number of marriages as in 1873 or 1879
the ratio of divorces would still be one to
every thirteen marriages instead of one to
every ten, as in 1878. So that there is thus
far an absolute reduction in divorces even
leaving out the increased number of mar
riages.
OF the 4, 745 marriages in 1880, there were
3,055 where both parties were born in Ame-
RIGA, but it is impossible to tell by the returns
what ratio are of foreign descent within the
last generation or two; 1,012 were where both
parties were born in different foreign coun-
tries. In 25S the husband was born in this
country, the wife emf grant, in 372 the
husband was an emigrant and the wife bern
in this country. In these cases both parties
are almost always foreign one generation
back; that is, their parents emigrated to this
country There were 4S marriages where the
nationalities of the parties were not stated.
The husband resided in other States in 35S
cases, and there were 1923 marriages where
neither party we've residents.
DIVORCES.
Since the repeal of the omnibus clause in
the divorce laws there has been marked de-
crease In the number of divorces, and ratio
of one divorce to every 1879 marriages. The
number of divorces to marriages for 1880 in
Hartford county was 1 to 20 New Haven,
to 1913; New London, 1 to 20; Fairfield,
to IL, as also Windham and Litchfeld Mid
dlesex, to "a Holland, to IS. The large
percentage of cases in which the wife was
the petitioner is very noticeable feature
The report says in addition Desertion
stands easily first among the causes, although
sometimes associated with others. Intemper-
ance ranks next, while adultery, which the
Divorce Reform association would make the
principal cause, ranks an easy third. How
ever it may be on moral grounds, 1 fail to see
the advantages to society of making adultery
the sole cause. Cruelty, this year, comes
very near adultery in frequency as a cause,
and this is about the ratio for a number of
years. To compel woman to live with a
man who IS an intolerable drunkard, or cruel
to extreme, or to endure long years of soil
tude because her iege lord chooses to travel
abroad, is of questionable utility.
The question is profound one, but here
is good place to advance slowly. Let US be
sure, that our facts are comprehensive and
exact in the consideration of these very COM
plicated relations, before perfect system is
attempted, for these often prove awkward
mechanisms if carelessly constructed. A law
requiring applicants for divorce to be regis
tered has been introduced this year. 1t is q
move in the right direction; a blank should
be required stating how long the parties have
been residents of the State, their nativity and
whether they have been previously divorced.
The report treats of great variety of topics,
among them vaccination, malaria and its
causes, cess pool ventilation, blood-poison-
ing, lead poisoning, canned goods, drainage,
insanity, pneumonia authorizations of food,
fre-escapes, infectious diseases, sanitary
laws, pollution of water, sale of N edicines,
unsafe buildings, slaughter houses, health
conditions of the different valleys and sec
tons of the State, and many other subjects.
The report assumes that infants should be
vaccinated at the age of about four months,
but not during the period of teething. I"
vaccinated in infancy there should bfre-
vaccination at the age of IA or j, and this
will last through life Une-fourth of all the
tsstal cases of smallpox in England are of
children under one year of age. The bovine
virus is the BEST as the humanized is dete-
and it may be impregnated with
or some other disease.
A case is given in which drain from
cellar to a cesspool, untrapped, caused diph-
iberia in the family, and other sickness. The
owner was wealthy gentleman, and was not
aware that a water drain was doing him SO
much damage. An inspection uncovered the
defect, and it was remedied. The furnace
had no cold air box, and when the foul gases
were forced into the cellar they were carried
up through. the heating pipes and registers
and distributed through the house. By fol-
lowing sanitary rules under sanitary
engineer, New Haven has been brought into
the list of six of the healthiest cities of the
world; and Detroit, from one of the I'm
healthiest cities, has been brought to rank
among the healthiest, by observing scientific
sanitary rules. Almost all of the popular
hair-dyes and cosmetics contain more or less
Of lead, and they are often the source of
disease; ill-health comes on insidiously, and
the cause is unsupported A harsh, dry skin,
failing appetite, dyspepsia constipation,
neuralgia and collie are signs of lead poison
ing. The report also alludes to canned
meats. When soluble lead folder is used
considerable lead is dissolved; and when fat
meats and acid fruits are canned, more or
ess tin is dissolved and it is deleterious.
There are many cases cited in the repsrt
and practical suggestions are made.