Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-02-08
The Registration of Births.


passed no single act except that pro-
viding for the Immediate registration
of births and deaths in this Common
wealth, it would have conferred last
ing benefit upon our people aud have
earned for its members the title of true
statesmen and patriots.
Vital Statistics constitute the founda-
ton stone of all legislation for the
public health, and are an important
factor in Judging the prosperity of a
State.
The newborn child is recognized and
recorded as a citizen of the Common
wealth from the moment of birth, and
the record is a permanent one at the
Capitol of the State. Not only are the
exact date of birth, the sex, aud the
name in full recorded, but also certain
facts which differentiate the individual
from every other of the same surname,
such as the names of both parents, and
their nationality. The identity of the
peason is thus carefully maintained.
1t is almost unnecessary to point out
the great value of an official register of
this kind in the determination of many
legal questions, such as relate to the
succession of property, the validity of
wills, legitimacy of birth, and insurance
claims.
There is not a Department of the
State government from the State Ex-
ecutive down, which does not frequent
ly receive communications from other
states and countries inquiring for the
recordstof the birth of certain individ
uals.
The Health Departments OF our large
cities are often able to give accurate
information Of this kind, but up to the
present time State officials could only
hang their heads in shame and confess
that this great and venerable Common
wealth had not yet progressed suffi-
ciently in the scale of civilization to
possess a State system of registration
of births.
1t is quite true that in some churches
where the rite of baptism is practiced,
an entry was made in the baptismal
record of children, and every lawyer
knows how often such records are
searched TO obtain evidence of incalcu-
liable Importance in the decision of con-
tested wills. But these records are
purely voluntary, often careless and at
the best unreliable.
1t is also true that so far as the birth
of domestic animals is concerned there
has been a very commendable care ex-
ercised, not by the State, but by asso-
Citations, who desire to preserve n con-
nected history of the more valuable
animals in the possession of their men,
bers. The herd book, the stud book
and the kennel book contain every de.
tail in connection with the birth and
pedigree for generations back, Of COWS,
horses and dogs supposed to be Of es-
peciaIly good ancestry.
Many man possessed of a fine herd
ofSwiss or Aldernoy cattle who could
take down his herd book and point
with absolute confidence to the date of
birth of valuable bull calf, would find
himself greatly embarrassed if called
upon to prove by documentary evi-
dence the birth of one of his own child
ren.
The duty furnishing these valuable
records falls upon the physician or
midwife, should either be in attend
ance, if not upon the parents them
selves.
It can easily be imagined that the
mother, usually the most deeply in
terested party upon an occasion of this
kind, will not rest until the require
ments of the law which give her off
spring proper legal existence and
citizenship have been complied with.