The Washington times., 1903-08-20
RECORD Of BIRTHS
MOST UNRELIABLE
Hundreds Not Reported to
Health Office.
AFFECTS VITAL STATISTICS
Shows Excess of Mortality, When,
Probably, None Exists-Negligence
of Physicians and Midwives.

Health Officer Woodward Is very
much perturbed because of the inability
of his department to compel compli-
ance with the law requiring all births to
be reported. According to the records
in his Office the number of deaths in the
District of Columbia is daily exceeding
the number of births, and if those fig
ures could be relied upon. native Wash
ingtonians would soon become extinct.
During the calendar year 1902 S56 more
deaths than births were reported.
Health Officer Woodward. when ques-
toned concerning these vital statistics.
said he did not believe the records could
be relied upon. for the reason that
many births were not recorded by the
parents.
Il do not believe the conditions are
as serious as the records would indi-
cate" said DR.. Woodward this morning.
THE Health Office is positive that some
births are not recorded. but the exact
number or percentage cannot be eati-
mated. There is regulation
which provides that all physi-
clans or midwives shall report to the
Health Office every birth that comes
to their attention, but we have no
means of enforcing this regulation.
Law Not Complied With.
''The number of white births during the
calendar year of 1902 was 9.Os6. coIored
1,s46, or total of 1882. The number of
deaths for the same period was white
1882, colored 2.59s. or a total Of 5,7SS.
The deaths exceed the births by $50. It
is more than possible that there are $50
births in the District of Columbia which
the Health Ofice has no record Of what
soever
The causes for this negligence are
many. In the first place the parents DC
! not seem to know that they are re-
quired by law 10 report births. and no
plausible method has ever been sug-
gested which will compel a compliance
with the law 1t is far different in cases
of death, because a permit must be OBJ
tanned before the deceased can be
buried. which makes it almost impossible
to escape going on record.
I'm many cases OF infant deaths. we
find that its birth has not been recorded
but the department is then placed III the
embarrassing position of bringing the
against a physician or midwife who has
| neglected 10 comply with the law. For
this reason such prosecutions are seldom
Instituted.
Seeking a Feasible Plan.
About year ago the Health Depart
ment drafted an Acknowledgment o.
record which is now sent to the parent.
of every infant whose birth is recorded
These forms specifically state that the
| law requires every birth to be reported
and we hope by this method gradually
to acquaint the people of the District
| with the provision. II will be a long
time, however, before this system viii
achieve the results intended
I'm some of the larger cities of tho
country premium system is in opera
tlon, the municipal government paying
| from 10 to 25 cents for every birth re
| corded. 1 believe II a corresponding
provision were made ia the District o1
Columbia the conditions would improve
greatly. but the government is then II
| a position Of paying a premium TO per.
| sons for conforming to the law, which
is bad in principle. The Health De
| partment is anxiously awaiting the sug.
gestion OF a method which will enable
| it to compel a compliance with the law
and the discovery of some means where
| by its violators may be detected anC
| punished.