The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-05
QUEER STATISTICS.

The monthly mOrtuary report of the
Board of Health is a much more in
teresting document than it used to be.
1t has not been revealed who the gent
us was that invented the FORM which
may be well enough, nor is it stated
who the gigantic genius is that fills it
out. There are certainly some strange
statements appearing in it.
The two reports for October and No
Vember form subject for comparison.
In October there are 1O2 deaths given.
The monthly death rate is given as
22.92. Last month, November the total
number of deaths recorded was SO, and
the monthly death rate is given as 2
per thousand Of population. OF course
1t is plain that in the October report is
not intended for the monthly death
rate, but is meant for the yearly death
rate. But the figures are utterly erro-
neOus. In the November report the
monthly rate per thousand is given but
it is also erroneous.
The Board of Health figures it's death
rate on an estimated population of
44,5OO, which is officially incorrect, but
that can be allowed to pass. The num-
Der of deaths in October were 1922 This
would give for the month a death rate
of 2.O6 per thousand, and at the same
ratio a rate of 24.72 per thousand, for
the twelve months, which is what all
statistics call for, no one talks of a
monthly rate but the brilliant statis-
ticians of the Board of Health. There
fore when 22.92 per thousand was fig
ured in the October report it was
wrong.
In the report for November there is
given the monthly rate per thousand
of "onulation. This is stated to be 2
per thousand or in twelve months "a
per thousand. Therefore according TO
the Board of Health reports 1O2 deaths
in month would give %. 92 per thou
sand annually, and SO deaths in
month would give "a deaths per thou
sand annually. Valuable statistics in
deed. And these statistics are graveIy
published in our various newspapers,
The Star among the rest of the victims.
The rate for the month of November
upon the erroneous estimate of popula-
ton taken by the Board of Health was
not ? fiat as given, but was III, which
would give an annual rate per thou
sand of 2052.
Any one who is acquainted with the
accuracy required from statistics on
the mainland, will be astonished at this
showing of utter carelessness in the
Boards statistics. The document is
not signed, but it is issued from the
office of the Board and the Board is
responsible for its vagaries and alb
surdities.
On the first page there are a num-
Der of lines filled with figures, next
to the mortuary table which really
mean nothing to the ordinary reader.
What does Hawaiians 3.51 mean? The
writer knows, because it has been his
business to follow up the intricacies
of these wonderful statistics. But to
person unacquainted with the mys-
teries it must be utterly unintelligible.
1t means the deaths per thousand for
the month among the Hawaiians, but
there is nothing to indicate such
fact. In the same column occurs Non
Resident. H." Does that mean II per
thousand. By no means. 1t is intend
ed to signify II actual deaths.
The Star has always urged that the
births should be reported. The law
provides a penalty for not reporting