The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-11-03
WASTE N LIVES Of
CHILDREN
ABOUT 100000 DIE ANNUALLY
FROM PREVENTABLE DEATH
CAUSES-LACk OF kNOWL-
EDGE.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 3.-Amer-
lean race waste-more serious than
race suicides pointed out in Cen
sus Mortality Bulletin No. 1O4, in
which it is estimated that annually
in the United States from 10000 to
100000 babies under five years of
age die from preventable causes. This
great loss of life among the little
ones, at the period when they are
most loving and most lovabie could
! be prevented, is the opinion of Dr.
Cressy L.. Wilbur, chief statistician
| for vital statistics of the census bu-
reau, who prepared the bulletin, on
the basis of present-day knowledge of
sanitary measures. For the accom-
plishment of effective preventive
| work in this direction. DR.. Wilbur
holds that the prompt registration of
all births and the more careful and
precise statement of causes of death
by physicians are essential
In Analysing ana comparing the
totals obtained in the compilation of
transcripts of death returns received
for the year 1908 by the census bu-
reau from the entire death-registra-
tion area Of the United States, as set
forth in the bulletin, those for age
periods show a somewhat increased
per cent of deaths of infants under
one year for 1908, although the
ratios for each of the individual
years from one to four are identical
for 1907 and 1908. Of the total
number of deaths, 691,57 returned
for 1908 from the entire registration
ar a. it is stated in the bulletin that
nearly one-fifth were of infants I'M
der 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 representing the
actual deaths is more impressive,
however, than any ratios or than the
rates of infant mortality, even if the
latter could be computed in the alb
sence 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.
200. 900 more died in those cities and
states not included in the census lu-
reau death registration area. In this
connection DR., Wilbur quotes Profess
soysIrving Fishers conclusion that. OF
all the diseases of infancy, having
I the median age of one year, AZ per
cent may be prevented: and that Of
the diseases of childhood having me-
dian 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
reason why infants, if properly born,
and this means simply the prevention
of ante-natal disease and the i'm
prOvement of the health and condi-
tons of life of their parents, should
die at all in early infancy or child
hood, except from the comparatively
small proportions of accidents that
are strictly unavoidable.
The bulletin continues with
of a country is largely dependent
upon its infant mortality, because the
death rates of infants and young chill
dren are high and they affect a rel
atfvely numerous element of the pop
ulation. Exact study of the incidence
of disease upon infancy and child
hood is most important, and it is i'm
peratively necessary that there
should be more effective registration
of births throughout the United
States for this purpose. The extreme
ly 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 chill
dren born alive during the year. This
most important ratio should be read
lily available for the comparative
study of deaths Of infants in all of
our states and cities, but, the bulle- !
tin 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
"The possibility of great saving of
human life during infancy and early |
childhood is emphasized by the esti-
mates made by Professor Irving Fish
er, on the basis of Independent med
ical opinions. for his Report on the |
National Vitality to the National |
Conservation Commission, as to the
ratio of preventability (postponabil-
ity)', that is, ratio of 'preventable' |
deaths from cause named to all |
doafhc fran, ca,,co paY,oI Co.. oon4.;~