The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-16
FLORIDA VITAL
STATISTICS
FOR 1905
As Reported by State Health Off
Ger--GO-OperatiOn of PhySi>
clans is Urged.

Incorporated in the annual report
of DR.. Joseph Y. Porter, State Health
Officer, is the following in regard to
vital statistics and the conclusion
reached is that deaths from diseases
which are generally termed as pre-.
ventable, are due to human stupidity
ignorance or a wilful refusal to OBJ
serve and adopt measures which prac-
! teal experience has taught to be nee
essary to the prevention of these dis
orders.
Marriages, Births and Deaths.
There has been reported to the
executive Office during re year 1905
3508 marriages, 4<11 births, and
2,788 deaths. OF this number of
deaths. 654 were white males, 743
white females, $40 colOred males, and
Sal colored females.
These figures are not vouched for
as accurately representing the total
life movement of the population of
the state. for the reason that the ply
I sicians of the state, upon whom the
State Health Officer must rely for re-
ports of births and deaths have gener-
ally been indifferent in making re-
ports of this kind and have for the
most part ignored the requirements
of the state statute which is manda-
tory in its provisions that all births
and deaths occurring in the state of
Florida shall be Immediately reported
TO the State Board of Health.
Various inducements have been of
Tered to coax and urge the physicians
OF Florida to fulfill a professional OBJ
legation as well as a duty of a civic
character by giving valuable informa-
ton of this kind which can be got
ten through no other source nor in
any other manner, but it seems that
no amount Of pleading, soliciting
or cOaxing will avail, Notwithstanding
the State Board of Health had agreed
to pay ten cents for each birth and
death reported to the Office. This
amount is small, it is true, but it is as
much as the Board can offer for such
service. especially as blanks are sup
piled gratis and moreover the statute
Of the state expects that these statist-
les shall be rendered without compen-
satiOn.
Cooperation Is Urged.
Unless the physicians of Florida
will give their cooperation to this
work. and view the subject as a pro
fessional duty and one of state pride,
the effort to lay before the people Of
Florida each year a statement of the
life movement Of the state by pub
lished figures of births and deaths.
will have to be abandoned because a
partial statement is deceptive, I'M
truthful and unreliable.
Comparisons of mortality for con-
secutive years cannot be made with
any accuracy, neither is it possible
to determine whether preventive
medicine, as urged by the board and
taught to the people. is successful in
results unless the statistics are ac-
curate.
The State Health officer does not
propose to enter into litigation to
enforce the statute which the, people
and the medical profession is an in
tegral part of the bOly polite of the
state-have through their representa-
tives ordained, for an enforced com
plianca with law and especially Of a
measure which has for its object a
purely humanitarian purpose, will
never be satisfactorily observed or
performed when not cheerfully dis
charged. j..
A hearty and enthusiastic spirit OF
from each physician in
the state manifested by a jealous eff
fort to build up the health reputation
OF the commonwealth, must enter in
10 the earnestness of the work before
vital statistics will avail anything
or BIO profitable for comparison or ar
gument A further effort will be-
made during the coming year to in
terest and to appeal to the patriotism
q the profession in this respect and
If is boped that a better report OF vi
tai statistics may be given at the end
of 1906.
PreVentabIe Diseases,
From an ANALYSIS of the above in
formation respecting health condi-
in the State. it is learned that of the
disease which are generally termed
Al preventable. pulmonary tubercu-
Isis consumption has caused 170I
deaths. likewise smallpox, deaths
IS deaths; malaria. AZ, and
yellow fever So.
It almost seems a paradox and bur
lesuue of terms TO speak of deaths
from preventable diseases, for if pre-
ventable. why should sickness from
such sources occur. much less death ?