Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-14
ARE FEWER BIRTHS
MARRIAGES INCREASE WHILE
BIRTHS DECREASE IN IOWA
DURING BIENNIAL PERIOD.
Startling Facts Shown In the Biennial
Report of the State Board of Health
= Need Better Preventive Methods
in Contagious Diseases.

falling off of 9,59s in the total /
number OF births during the year of
1902 as compared with the total NUM-
Der OF 1901, together with an increase
OF 216 in the total number of marri.
ages, which facts are shown in the bis !
ennial report of the state board OF
health recently submitted to Governor
A. e. Cummins, leads to the question
is race suicide prevalent in Iowa? a
careful perusal OF the facts as given in
the report makes the question peril.
nent one.
The report shows that in 1901 there
were 56,437 births, while in 1902 there
were only 46,759, a falling off of 1898.
The marriage record shows 20,227 (
marriages in 1901 and 20,503 in 1902,
an increase in 1902 of 276 There were
,003 deaths in Iowa during the year
1901 and 12,497 in 1902, falling off in
deaths of 1906.
Contagious Diseases.
This information is used as an argll-
ment in favor of the recommendation
for better legislation looking to the
adoption of preventive methods in con-
tagious diseases.
Outing the past biennial period there
have been 2,11S cases of diphtheria in
| Iowa, resulting in 266 deaths. Typhoid
/ follows in the fatality column with ia
deaths, and scarlet fever comes next
| with LA deaths Smallpox leads the
| list in number OF cases, the board hav-
| ing record of 1920 cases, from
which 81 deaths resulted.
Valuable Data.
| This valuable data concerning tiis
disease and mortality records of the
| state was collected in the following
manner: Circulars were sent out in
| 1901 TO T25 incorporated cities and
1 towns ana to G21 townships, making
I a total OF 1885, circulars. Reports
We're received from 800 cities and
/ towEs, and from 934 townships, max
/ ing a total OF / 25f. a total of 1,0S3
cities and townships We're not reported.
i In 1902 circulars We're sent to 1888
| cities and townships. A total in num-
! Der of 1,170 reports We're received,
leaving asa cities and towns and 1874
townships that did not report.
Number of Cases.
/ The total number of contagious dis
eases and deaths resulting follow: AS.
/, iatic cholera, cases. no deaths; diph.
iberia 2,11S cases, 266 deaths; leprosy,
/ l case (Iumboldt county,, no deaths:
! measles, 5, LA cases, SO deaths; puer-
/ peral fever, 69 cases, % deaths, scar.
let fever, 5,02S cases, 144 deaths: &
smallpox, 1920 cases. "a deaths; ty-
! phoid fever. 116l cases, TIA Deaths
whooping cough, 1852 cases, SO
II deaths.
i While diphtheria, typhoid fever and
scarlet fever lead, in the list OF result
ing fatalities, smallpox has been far
i the most serious from an economic
;. view point In considering the figures
it must be remembered that 1882 To-
cal boards out of a total of 1888 made
4 no report The board OF health esti-
/ mates the cost OF each individual case
to the state at $40. which would make
i a total cost OF 1924 400 for the cases re-
: ported.
"Could there be stronger argument
for prompt and efficient preventive
measures?" adds the report