Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-18
AS TO DEATH REPORTS.

The chief statistician In charge OF The
division of Vital statistics In the gov
eminent census bureau, has written to
DIT. y. Beatty secretary OF the Utah
State board OF health, In reference to
the registration of deaths required by
law. He intimates that unless the nee
essary reports are made by physicians
and undertakers. 1t will be necessary
10 resort to some prosecutions. This
course Is not desired, nor Is VI desirable
II can be avoided II the laws Of this
State in relation to the registration Of
deaths are carried out.
Under chapter forty-dye Of the laws
Of 1892 no burial must take place with
out a permit from the board OF health
of the county, city or town. That per-
nit il to be issued on the certificate of
death signed by the attendant physl-
clan, or In his absence, by two repu-
table citizens, or by the coroner II an
inquest is held. This certificate must
be registered at the Office OF the board
OF health, and a record Of permits must
be kept by the board. Any undertaken,
sexton or other person who engages In
a burial or the removal of a dead body
from the State I'm violation Of these
provisions, Is liable TO prosecution for
mlsdemeanor.
Under the Revised Laws Of Utah Of
1898, section 2O33, the county clerk Is re-
qured to keep a register OF births and
a separate register Of deaths, 1t is the
latter to which we now efer' The clerk
OF the board Of health Is required 10
report to the county clerk the certih-
Gates of death, that they may be
duly registered by that officer
We believe these provisions are
honored In this city and county,
II is complained however that in
many country districts OF this state
there is much carelessness in reference
to these regulations, In every incor-
porated city or town, u board Of health
should be appointed by the city council
or board OF trustees. In every county
outside the limits Of such cities and
towns, health officer should be APP
pointed by the county commissioners
for each district Of the county, as d.
vided by the commissioners, and he
with them Is TO constitute the board Of
health.
II these provisions Of the law are car
red into effect then the registration re-
quired can be properly attended to-.
Forms are provided for certificates Of
death, TO be filled out by The person or
persons reporting the death There
should be uniformity in the manner Of
certifying and registering. The form
prepared by the government census Of.
fee ought to be adopted In every state
OF the Union, as II Is by many OF them
Utah should not be behind in attending
20 this important matter and every
city, town and county In the State
ought 10 take II In hand, and see that
some competent persons are appointed
each to be responsible for the proper
registration and reporting Of all deaths
that occur In his district.
Particulars on all points IN relation
TO this subject can be obtained Of the
Secretary Of the State board OF health.
DR. T. b. Beatty who is deeply inter-
ested IN all matters pertaining to the
public health and desires to cooperate
with the Government census bureau In
obtaining vital statistics, to make the
national reports as complete as possi-
bic, lie will Cheerfuly respond to ques.
lions on these points, and letters may
be addressed 10 him in this city.