Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-08
VITAL STATISTICS.
Towns Must Appoint Persons t'
 Correct Birth Records.

South Manchester, Jan S.-Charles k. Hathaway of this place says that the condition of the vital statistics in Manchester is no worse than in other places throughout the state. During his two terms in office he has gone over the records throughout the state and in his first report called attention to the slack condition in which the vital statistics were kept. Mir Hatha way said that in looking up the rec ords of the vital statistics throughout the state he was surprised at the un- satisfactory condition they were in and looked up the laws governing them. He found that between 1S00 and 1853 the recording of births, mar riages and deaths was left to every body and nobody. At that time the record of births was recorded i'll dis tricts in which the birth took place. In cases where the district was being served by some rather slack person, the record was not made and but lit- tie attention was given the matter. In 1853 the present law was put into ef- feet. The recording of births. deaths and marriages was left in charge of the town clerk and in this way little better results have been obtained But as is the case in Manchester the name of the child born was seldom record ed. The returns of births were to be made by a doctor or q midwife, if such were employed. The law pro- yi1oI tbot a pa,inJ nf ton dave hn ,riv en in which to make returns of births. In many cases the child born was not named within that time and when the birth certificate was returned it sim ply stated that child, either male or female. had been born to certain couple.
 Some of the doctors were not over careful and did not always return the names of the parents of the child. and in many cases it is found that the name of only one parent was given. Then again the doctors did not make returns on the date that they should as they generally waited until the end of the month and sent in all their certificates at once. In this case
 
 blame as it made it an easier matter for the town clerk. or the registrar of birth, to make payments wnen all were returned at once. rather than have them come in at intervals of day or two apart Then in former years many times where the town was too small to support q physician. mid VK#tF aRKl being strictly bound in those days. did not even make returns at the end of the month and in this way many births have never been recorded.
 There has been nothing done by tho state tO correct this error until now. At present there is a law which makes it obligatory upon tho select their records. As this is one of the principal records that tho state has. # was decided to take steps to correct the vital statistics. The health officers Of the different counties have met and discussed this question. and al- ready steps have been taken to make tho corrections. Ii has been found AAaaa " NtNHA aAAAAbEA sA bility io complete records further hack than fifty years. but for the past fifty years there is a possibility that this can be done. The looks will show in many cases that a child has Isern horn to certain parents and it is tls pur- T-pse of tbe healih officer to sec that the towns appoint some person who will go to desceHdanfs of those fami- lies and learn from them tfs names Uf the persons whose birthday is on reFurd- They will also try tS get the rprorsIs of those who have Iren l-urn within the town CT city who have nus had even the date of their birth re- eonIed and get them entered with the oflIers- The city of New Britain hss had the matter presenfssi ts t tiIrOugh Heath Osfeer Markham and steps arp Icing taken t0 eompIete flse rrs- arfs It is goiug fo hp a hix task to .zet fhsm snywhers near con1rletr