Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1907-01-09

lplished by requiring from physicians or
lmidwives a certificate setting forth in de-
tail the personal and statistical particulars
required to make a perfect record of the
birth. These certificates, signed and regis
ltered by the local registrars, are monthly
forwarded to the Central Bureau of Vital
Statistics, al Harrisburg, where they are
lindexed. classified and bound in the same
manner as death certificates. These GER
tihcates give not only an opportunity for
a careful statistical analysis of the sources
from which the population is renewed, but
also give individuals the opportunity OF
securing at any time a perfect record OF
any individual birth that has occurred in
the State.
Communicable diseases within the limits
of incorporated municipalities are reported
direct to the local health authorities and
by them in turn reported to the Depart
ment OF Health at the end OF each week.
In rural districts immediate reports are
made by attending physicians direct to the
Department Of Health.
IA WIDE TERRITORY.
It may be interesting to note that Pennsyl
vania comprises a land area Of 1885 squar
miles, 30 cities. $40 incorporated boroughs,
81 counties, / .5l7 townships with an urban
population of fif7,5S6 and rural popula-
ton of 2.436S02. For the collection Of vital
with e deputy appointed to act in case OF
iabsence. Illness or disability, in addition to
80 subregistrars acting in portions of the
registration districts.
1t has been said that Pennsylvania pos
Isesses features which provide for a more
interesting study of vital statistics than
lany other State I'm the Union, for the
sity OF occupations and that its popula-
ton represents the various degrees Of con-
! centration from the third largest city in
, the United States down TO the sparsely
settled rural districts. The campaign
waged by Health Commissioner Dixon for
: vaccination in order to check the spread
of smallpox has been a most important
4, work carried on by the new department.
Last year Dr. Dixon sent a letter "a
each secretary Of the $500 school districts
/, I'm Pennsylvania asking them to place in
the hands OF the teachers or principals in
4 charge of schools in their districts a cir
cular letter calling the attention Of these
Z principals and teachers to the vaccination
clauses of the act providing that no child
was to be admitted to school until 1t hac
{ presented a certificate signed by a physi
sian stating that the child had been sue
Icessfully vaccnated or had previously hat
smallpox. A supply OF blank vaccination
r certificates was sent TO each secretary OF
e a school district. Since that time the de
partmcnt has sent out about four hundred
( thousand vaccination certificates on re
e quest. This shows that thousands Of chill
J Idren have since been vaccinated and thu.
made immune against smallpox.
The departments medical inspectors II
E each county have visited schools wher
Z there was opposition to vaccination. i'm
y pressed on the teachers their duty of up
holding the law, talked with school drec
= tors and visited in their own homes parent
a who through prejudice were keeping thei
r. children from vaccination.
- The Commissioner has received thou
n sands OF letters from teachers school di
rectors and parents in regard TO the en-
r forcement Of the vaccination law. Ever.