The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
THREE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS IN A HUMAN LIFE
ARE REGISTERED DAILY IN OFFICES IN CITY HALL

. average percentage over W.-...... z
r a a a 4 a a 4 q 4 4 a a 4 4 q

that OF his more fortunate fellow.
The most Interesting feature of the
office. however, Is the birth records. Con-
trary to the generally expressed opinion
OF ythe medical fraternity that female
BIRTHS are more numerous in the cities
than the males. the st. Louis mortuary
Office seems to refuts this assertion.
From the records on file in the Office 4
larger number of boys are born each
month than girls; For November: Sii
OF these 41s were males and i2s females.
On postal card which IL placed In the
hands of ever, physician and m.iwiie in
the city. headed Heath Department
are the words. This certificate must nc
filled out in plain English" The depart
mens reauires the following facts in con
Name of child. date of birth, hoy or girl,
white or negro. place OF birth. father $
name. fathers birthplace, mothers name.
mothers birthplace and any further re-
wish to add. II the child Is OF Legitimate
parentage the facts must he given.
The authorities are enabled 10 keep in
touch not only with the parents Of the
child. but also with the physician in
charge OF the birth. A penalty not cv-
ceedinC 800 fine is attached to the con-
not present at the birth OF the child. the
parents. who fail to report the birth before
o'clock on the Saturday following
AVERAGE OF ONLY THIRTY BIRTHS.
To the student Of sociology these records
have more than passing interest. From
the filing OF the birth cards each day he
is enabled 10 Learn, the percentage of white
and negro children born fin the city. the
legitimacy or illegitimacy of their birth
the number OF births corresponding with
the population of the city to give It a
healthy percentage. the number of chill
dren born to foreign and native parents.
Figures in connection with these records
are Interesting. In ST Louis with its
population OF more than 769cO0 there is
an average of only thirty births record led
a day.
From Il months statistics Of births the
figures show that Is per cent of the chill
drsn born in this city are either negroes,
illegitimates or paupors.
Or this number 5 per cent are negroes.
Five per cent are Legitimate children.
These figures are sufficient to set the aver
age student Of social questions to think
Ing. Besides the authorities say there are
a number of children born each week. of
which the department. owing to the fail
ure of the midwife or physician 10 file n
record. has no coSnizance
OF the thirty births recorded each day
perhaps ) per cent OF these children are
placed III institutions and baby farms. Not
half OF them become able members of So
ciety
The sensational developments recently
following the discovery of n dead babv
near a hahv farm IN the city caused Doc
tor simon to begin an investigation which
!s now In progress. II Is said that many
children placed in certain institutions In
the city die from priyation and want
The laws of the State. which reuIIjr, n
child entering school at the age of wears
and again at the age of IA years when he
enters a factory, to have a certiilca,, of
his birth from the Office of tho Health De-
partment' often causes the applicant and