The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
Their Great Value to Special Classes
and the General Public.


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
The valuable statistics that are being
compiled by the Indiana State Board of
Health, through its officers throughout the
State, are making record for Indiana of
which every citizen should be justly proud
Especially is this true in regard to NOR
tality statistics. Under the excellent rules
by which these are gathered not a single
case goes unrecorded.
Statistics, TO be of value must of neces-
sity be accurate. statistical report of a
county, state or nation is Of vast import
ance and to be of value must be technic-
ally accurate; IL not, it tells you nothing
as regards the whole; ii gives only that
which is reported. which. in fact. may only
contain a section here and a portion there,
with locality entirely unreported, and not
the thing a whole which is desired. The
progress of a nation is in manner deter
mined by its statistics. as Is its decline.
The intelligence of people Is reckoned by
statistics, as Is its illiteracy. Just so far
as the statistics of a nation, state or what
not approach perfection, just so far are the
people advancing or vice versa. BY NOR
tally statistics the onward strides Of the
medical profession can be observed. You
can point out Its successes and it's failures
In such reports can be seen at a glance
the sanitary conditions of a community
Mortality statistics the basis of all
sanitary science: In these tables the stu
dent can read the people, determine their
capacity, and even the wealth of the COM
munity can be established. He may even
with a degree of positiveness foretell what
condition will confront them in after years
OF what use are mortality statistics? To
those who would ask the question, L would
refer to Samuel Warrens Ten Thousand
a Year" Tittlebat TitmouSe was created
from the blank pages of the records of
Vita statistics in England Had there not
been lacking such records, he could not
have been placed in possession of the
Aubrey estate or elected a member of Par
lament Warren had in view the unfortun-
ate state of affairs in England as to vital
statistics. as did Dickens the laws delay,
depicted in Jarndyce and Jarndyce. There
is not a day in the long calender of the year
that a record of mortality statistics is not
essential In the settlement of estates, in
adjusting life insurance, in pension claims.
especially the widows claim. What induces
business men to have confidence in a bank
ing institution? statistical report of its
financial condition, of course How may
an executive know the condition of the
benevolent and penal institutions of a
state? Only by statistics. Why should the
statistics of mortality be of less value
wherein life. health and happiness are all In
consideration?
Ii required the loss of a hundred thou
Sdnd lives, WITHIN the snort space OF a Few
months, to arouse England sufficiently to
appreciate the value of mortality statistics.
England up TO the time OF the great plague
in 1864 and 1865 paid little attention to
mortality statistics. In fact, il may be
said that the earliest example of this class
of investigation was made by Capt. John
Graunt, of London, about this time. In 1866
he published a work entitled Natural and
Political Annotations Made Upon the Bills
of Mortality" This remarkable work dealt
with mortality in London only. but the line
OF inquiry ii suggested was followed up
by others. The attention of speculative
men had been for the first time directed TO
the important subject of sanitary science.
The great plague induced them 10 consider
with care the defective architecture. drain
ing and ventilation OF the capital. The
great fire following the plague in 1906
afforded an opportunity for effectng eX-
tensive and much needed improvements.
The whole matter was diligently examined
by the Royal Society; and TO the sugges-
lions OF that body must be attributed the
changes which. though far short of what
the public welfare require. yet made a wide
difference between the new and the old
London. and probably put final close TO
the ravases OF peStilence in the country.
A. S. TILFOnD.
Martinsvile Ind. Feb. II.