The times., 1899-06-12
MARRIAGE IN BRAZIL.
The Mortality Exceeds SatnIity In
RIa de Janciro.


Rio de Janciro.
\ striking report on the mortality in
Brazilian cities has been made to the su-
pervising Surgeon General of the Marine
Hospital Service by the Sanitary Inspector
at Rio de Jansiro.
In regard TO the decided disproportion
between natality and mortality in the city
of Rio De Janeiro TO which l have had oe-
casion to refer in my annual report" he
says, "Dr. Bulhoes Carvalho has made a
valuable communication to the Academy
OF Medicine. The following shows dis
tinetly that disproportion; In 1898. 13,527
deaths, 13,S25 births. In 1894, 10 800 deaths.
1876 births. In 1895. 1926 deaths, H..
535 births. In 1896, 1925 deaths, H.125
births.
"on account. however. of the fiuctuating
character OF the population of Rio de ia
metro this disproportion is much less un-
favorable than is apparently the case.
Moreover. it may be positively asserted
that the reported number CT deaths is en-
tirely correct, but that many births are
not reported, and that in the civil registra-
tion there are many omissions. 1t is rare
that Brazilian family is not. on an av-
erage, composed of five children
AS an important cause OF that dispro-
portion, may be considered the large num-
ficient hygienic measures; for instance. in
the year 1898, when there was no serious
epidemic prevailing, the number of births
exceeded the deaths.
The second factor is the insufficient
number OF survivors among the children
born, to compensate for the mortality re-
sulting from the lack OF hygienic precau
tions.
"As the third factor. DR.. Bulhoes Car
N~a1 n i4atl -. Fa,N -
prevalence of intermarriage among Bra
ziiians which prevents the introduction OF
fresh blood for promoting the fecundity
and vigor of the race.
Statistical data show that foreigners
seldom marry here; marriage between for
eigners and Brazilian ladies are not fire.
quent; still less is the number OF mar
riages OF foreigners with each other. and
extremely insignificant is the number OF
marriages between Brazilians and foreign
women. Here foreigners, with the excep-
| tion of the Portuguese, contribute very lit
tie to the increase Of the population; they
| do not usually become permanent resi-
| dents. Very different are the circum-
| stances at Buenos Ayres. There mar
| riages between natives and foreigners
amount to % per cent; CT natives with
| each ether. only Is per cent and of for
! eigners with each other about per cent
with each other amount to more than 30
| per cent.
The city of Sac Paulo in this respect
resembles Buenos Ayres more than Rio lie
| Janeiro In that city during the year 1895,
! for instance. still births excluded. the
number of births Of children Of foreign
| parents was 5,407. against 1,659 births of
/ children of Brazilian parents; that is. 7S.5
( per cent against 235 per cent. In sos
marriages at least one of the contracting
! parties was a foreigner. and there were
only 3O4 marriages in which the contract
/ ing parties were Brazilians the proportion
being consequently 65.7 per cent to 2+3
per cent.
Just as in the Argentine Republic, the
! Italian immigration has contributed to the
/ amelioration of the Spanish blood. so it IS
/ also necessary that Brazil receive an in
/ fusion of foreign blood. which would exer-
! else a beneficial influence in the develop
ment of the nation. The Portuguese blood
is no longer sufficient to continue to pro-
| mote the developments Of the Brazilian
race. This is proved by the progress of
/ Sac Paulo under the influence of Italian
! immigration. There the Italians have
! been acclimatized and have permanently
/ settled