The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-06
MAY LICENSE THE MIDWlvES.
SANITARY BOARD is CONSIDERING
THE SUBJECT.

The Heavy Increase in Mortality
Among CoIored Infants Brought to
the Attention of the Board by the
Health Omcer-The Cause Now Be
ing sOught-BeIieved, That Many
COIOred Midwives Are IncOmpe-
tent-NOrthern Cities Require Ex-
animation and License.
The sanitary board spent some time at
its meeting yesterday afternoon in con-
sldering the question whether or not mid
wives should be required to stand an ex-
animation before being allowed to prac
tice their profession in Savannah. The
question was brought before the board
by a discussion of the death rate among
colored infants, among which there is a
startling mortality.
The mortality among the colored pop
ulation and especially among the infant
class, has always been large, and instead
of decreasing is apparently on the in
crease. What appears to be a reckless
waste of life is going on, and Dr.. Brun-
ner thought it well to call the attention
of the board to the subject.
Mayor Myers, when seen after the meet
ing, said: THE board has under consid-
Grafton the advisability of licensing mid
wives, requiring them to stand a prelimi-
nary examination before being allowed to
practice. There is now no regulation of
this business, and so far as 1 know, there
is no Southern city which requires mid
wives to pass an examination before being
allowed 10 practice. Some of the Dl6tth-
ern cities have such regulations
"Our attention has been drawn to this
matter" said Mayor Myers. "by the start
ling mortality which prevails among the
infant colored population. The mortality
of khis class and among - aolored popu-
lation generally, has always been large,
but it has been unusually large this year.
A large percentage of colored infants die
at birth and a considerable number more
within thirty to sixty days after birth.
No eXplana ton can be offered of this in
creased rtality unless it can be placed
TO the incompetence of the midwiYes. This
may not be the case, but it seems to be
the most likely cause which can be as
signed. Many of the colored midwives
are undoubtedly ignorant, and probably
are untitled TO carry on their business"
The cclored mortality generally is
large" said Mayor Myers, due no doubt
to their general disregard of sanitary reg
ulations. A matter which has been pre-
viously commented upon by the health Off
Ger is the number Of negroes, both minors
and adults, which die without the attend
ance of a physician. In the effort to REM
edy this evil, two colored city physicians
have been provided by Council in order
that there might be no cause of complaint
on this score. Their services do not seem
to have been taken advantage of. however.
and the number who die without physi-
clan having been called in is as large or
larger than before"
Mayor Myers said that the board had
not decided what steps it would take in the
matter of licensing midwives, but that the
subject is still under consideration. 1t is
| felt that some steps should be taken TO de-
crease the heavy infant mortality among
the colored population and the only ques-
tion is the proper step to be taken.
The white mortality has also been larger
this year, especially during the earlier
months. This was due in large 10 the en-
| campment of the troops here, all deaths in
| the camps and at the army hospital being
| credited to the city's mortuary record.
Due note will be made of this fact in the
| Health officers annual report. The NOR
| tality has very sensibly decreased since the
| departure of the troops.