Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-03


entire registration area, it is stated IN
the bulletin that nearly one-fifth We're
of infants under one year OF age and
over one-fourth of children less than
five years of age. 1t is declared that
the brute force of the figures repre-
senting the actual deaths is more i'm
pressive. however, than any ratios or
than the rates of infant mortality,
even if the latter could be computed
in the absence of proper registration
OF births. Here are the figures:
More than one eighth OF a million
babies, under one year of age and
fully 100000 children, under five years
of age, died among about one-half Of
the total population of the United
States in the year mentioned 1t Is
considered probable that fully 100000
more died in those cities and states
not included in the Census Bureau
death registration area In this con-
nection DR.. Wilbur quotes Professor
Irving Fishers conclusion that of all
the diseases of infancy, having the
median age one year, AZ per cent. may
be prevented; and that of the diseases
of childhood having median age two
to eight years, 81 per cent may be
prevented.
1T does not seem unreasonable" DR..
Wilbur states, when we consider the
fact that there is apparently no rea-
son why infants, if properly born, and
this means simply the prevention Of
ante natal disease and the improve
ment OF the health and conditions of
life of their parents, should die at all
in carly infancy or childhood, except
from the comparatively small proper
ton of accidents that are strictly I'M
lavoidable."
The bulletin continues with state
ment that the general death rate Of a
country is largely dependent upon it's
infant mortality, because the death
rates of infants and young children
are high and they affect a relatively
numerous element of the population
Exact study Of the incidence of disease
upon infancy and childhood is most
important, and it is imperatiVely
necessary that there should be more
effective registration of births
throughout the United States for this
purpose. The extremely important
rate known as Infant 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 import
ant ratio should be readily available
for the comparative study of deaths
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 calculated upon the re.
turns would be deceptive and unrelia-
BILE
THE possibility of great saving Of
human life during infancy and early
childhood is emphasized by the est-
mates made by Professor Irving
Fisher, on the basis of Independent
medical opinions, for his Report on
National Vitality to the National Con-
servation Commission, as to the ratio
of prcVentability (poStpOnability)
that is, ratio Of 'preventable' deaths
from cause named to all deaths from
cause named for certain diseases of
early life.
out of every 100 deaths that occur
| from each disease in which the median
age at death is under years. there
| could be prevented the following num-
bers: Premature BIRTH 40; congenital
debility, 40; venereal diseases. 70;
diarrhoea and enteritis, the most i'm
portant cause of infant mortality, so
| measles. 40; acute bronchitis, 50;
bronchopneumonia. so; whooping
cough. 40; Group (Which means
diphtheria), rs; meningitis, 20:
diseases Of larynx other than
laryngitis, 4o laryngitis, 40. diph-
liberia (under its proper appcllation),
20; scarlet fever, so.
| "Othcr diseases especially fatal to
infants and children would perhaps
show equally great rations of prevcnta- :
biity; they do not appear in the above
| list because their medan ages are
above the limit chosen or because. as
is the case with commissions they ar,
grouped with other and homogeneous
| causes.
The possible saving of life Coz
causes including heart failure,
| 'dropsy,' and 'convulsions,' median
age 35 years, is 80 per cent The
less than one year, and it is probahl :
1 tndt dt ledSt the ratio OF pTcVentaDll1ty
Of diarrhoea and enterstis ESQ 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 $3.50 deaths were compiled
there from for 1908, although, in com
pilation, any other definite cause is
preferred. The term is no longer en-
plOyed by well-informed physicians in
reporting causes of death, and it is
possible, by inquiry made by the local
registrar Immediately after the receipt
of this and other unsatisfactory state
ments to practically eliminate them
from the returns, as has lately been
done for Chicago.
I'm the light Of the figures quoted
above it would seem that practical
sanitation has only made beginning
in the work of preventing the occur
renee of infant and child mortality.
The ground has only been scratched
over. Deep stirring of the soil and