The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-07

OLaI6S lOI I'LL pun POoC.
ly important rate known as in
FAINT mortality" is the ratio of deaths
OF infants under one year of age, not
to population but to the number OF
children born alive during the year.
This most important ratio should be
readily available for comparative
study of death of infants IN all OF
our states and cities, but the bulletin
states, in the great majority OF
them, unfortunately, the registration
of births is worthless, and ratios cal
culated upon the returns would be
deceptive and unreliable.
1.-THE possibility of great saving OF
human life during infancy and early
childhood is emphasized by the esti-
mates made by Professor Irving
Fisher, on the basis of Independent
medical opinions, for his report on
national vitality to the Natianal Con-
servation Commission, as to the
ratio of preventabilityN (uostpon-
ability,) that is, ratio of proven
table deaths from cause named to
all deaths from cause named for
certain diseases of early life.
"Out of every 100 deaths that oc-
cur from each disease in which the
medium age at death is under a year
there could be prevented the fellow
ing numbers: Premature birth, 40;
congenital debility, 40; veneral dis
eases, 10; diarrhoea and enterltis,
the most important of infant
mortality, 60; measles, 40; acute
bronchitis, 80; bronchepneumon1a,
so; whooping cough, 40; Group
(Which means diphtheria,) rs;
meningitis, 70; diseases of larynx
other than laryngitis, 40; laryngitis,
40; diphtheria (under it's proper APP
pellation,) 20; scarlet fever, SO.
"Other diseases especially fatal to
infants and children would perhaps
show equally great ratios of prevent
ability; they do not appear in the
above list because their medium ages
are above TIE limit chosen or because
as is the case with commissions
they are grouped with other and in
congruous causes.
THE possible saving of life for
general, ill defined and unknown
causes including heart failure
'dropsy' and COMMISSIONS alone is
less than one year, and it is probable
that at least the ratio of preven-
liability of diarrhoea and enteritis
(6O per cent? would apply to it.
The term is an indefinite one, being
expressive merely of the symptoms
attending the true cause of death;
nevertheless no fewer than o.
$50 deaths were compiled therefrom
for 1908, although, in compilation,
any other definite cause is preferred.
The term is no longer employed by
we'll informed physicians in report
ing causes of deaCn, and it Is pos
sible, by inquiry made by the local
registrar Immediately after the re-
ceipt of this and other unsatisfactory
statements, to practically eliminate
them from the returns, as has lately
been done for Chicago.
t'In the light of the figures quoted
above it would seem that practical
sanitation has only made a begin
ming in the work of preventing the
occurrence of infant and child NOR
tally. The ground has only been
scratched over. Deep stirring of the
soil and thorough cultivation of all
the means available, with our pres
ent scientific and medical knowledge,
for the guarding of young human
lives would produce startling, an0
lTOm oil past uuUudu experience d.
most unbelievable, results. Public
health, as a function of government,
is itself only a creation of the middle
part of the last century, dating from
the utilization of the knowledge
as a result of the operation of the
English laws for the registration OF
vital statistics (1837.) Even in
England, however, no systematic eff
forts have been made until very re-
cent years to utilize to their utmost
possibilities the facts already known.
The infant mortality Of England was
higher for the years 1898 to 1900
than for the years 1851 to 1865, and
no marked reduction in the early
rates occurs until the present decade.
at is time that greater attention
be given to the subject in the United
States. The prompt registration of
all births and the more careful and
precise statement of auses of death
by physicians are essential. Such
terms as Commissions 'marasmus,'
debility and the like should no
longer be tolerated when the true
cause of death "a be determined"