The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-16
Babies as National Asset
 To Be Discussed by Doctors

Among the subjects scheduled for discussion at the Conference on the Prevention of Infant Mortality to be held in New Haven. next November. under the- auspices of the American Academy of Medicine. is~the economic value of a baby considered as q na- tional asset.
 As a matter of fact 50 low a valua- ton has been placed upon the babies in this country, that it hos not been con- sidered necessary to have an accurate registration of their births. England and other countries have thought diff ferently. and away back in 1888, Great Britain passed the necessary laws. Having been instructed by precept and example by the Mother Country in the way in which they should go statistic ally, the British colonies are as careful in this regard as the home land.
 Massachusetts was the first State in the United States to require the accur- ate registration of births. but the Hay States laws have been on the statute books for only thirty-eight years. Other States have adopted registration laws since then. and a large number ot cities are enforcing registration regu- lations independently of the States in which they are situated. Laws requir- ing the registration of deaths have been operative AOk WI SAANy~ y~Oe and the records are accepted as au- fhoritative by the United States Census Bureau for ahout one-half the total population of the United States. While 1t is possible. therefore, to have a fair ly accurate Idea of the ratio of deaths to the population for the country as whole. since the birth rate is obtainable for scattered sections only. 1t is not possible to gauge accurately the rela- tion> between the birth rate and the death rate for the entire country.
 Public health officers and statisti- clans who have made a careful study of the situation. claim that much of the periodic alarm at the alleged de- cline of the birth rate below the death rate is without Foundation. pr. Jonn s. Fulton, Secretary General of the International Congress on Hygiene and Demography to be held In Washington, next year. expressed the opinion re- gently. that an examination of the rec ords would prove that the birth rate fs not lower than thirty in any part of this country. The death rate, per thou sand. for the registration area, IS given in the census report as 1G1 '! One reason assigned for the apparent decline of the birth rate fin some sec tions was the carelessness of physi- clans who neglect to register the births. Another was the latitude of the law in not requi-ing practically im- mediate returns on the part of the phy- aician. It was claimed that such legal ized delay was responsible for much of the tacit disregard of the obligation.
 New York has recently passed a law which requires the registration of births within thfrty-six hours. and this time limit is said to typffX the convict ions of the most enlightened members of the medical profession in this cpun- frv and abroad. Early registration makes possible the immediate enforce nent of the regulations that are accom- nlishing a great deal toward the pre- vention of infantile diseases and blind- ness, and toward the ulpmate reduction of the death rate.
 Once in a while. 1t is possible for a country to see itself as others see it. rake Australia as an Illustration, Hayy