The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-11-04
Waste is Heavy from Dis
eases Which Are Pre-
yentable.

WASHINGTON. ID. G., Nov. 81
American race waste-more seriou.
than race suicide, is pointed out in
Census Mortality Bulletin No. 104
in which 1t is estimated that an.
nually in the United States from
100, 600 to 100000 babies under five
years of age die from preventable
causes. This great loss OF life among
1.-THE little ones at the period when
the yare most loving and most Iowa.
bile could be prevented. in the opin-
ion of DR.. Greasy L. Wilbur, chiei
statistician for for vital statistics OF
the Census Bureau, who prepared
the bulletin. on the basis of present.
day knowledge of sanitary measures
For the accomplishment of effective
preventive work in this direction
fDr. Wilbur holds that the prompt
registration of all birts and the more
careful and precise statement OF
causes of death by physicians are es.
sential.
| In ana,yzing and comparing the to-
tails obtained in the compilation OF
transcripts of death returns receiy.
ed for the year 1908 by the Census
Bureau from the entire death regis.
tration area of the United States, as
set forth in the bulletin, those for
age periods show somewhat in
creased per cent. of deaths If 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. or the total
number of deaths. 691.574 returned
for 1908 from the entire registration
area. 1t is stated in the bulletin that
nearly one-flfth were infants under
lone year of age and over one-fourth
of children less than five years OF
Iage. 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 II
the latter could be computed in the
absence of proper registration o.
births. Here are the figures:
More than ons-eight Of 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 mention
ed 1t is considered probable thar
fully 100000 more died in those
cities and states not included in the
Census Bureau death !. registration
AREA. In this connection DR.. Wilbur
quotes Professor Irving Fishers con-
Iclusion that of all the diseases of in
fancy having the median age one
year. AZ per cent. may be prevented,
and that of the diseases of children
having median age two to eight
years, ca per cent. may be prevents
ed.
1 ut does not seem unreasonable"
DR.. Wilbur states, when consider
the fact that there is apparently no
reason why infants, If properly born,
and this means simply the proven
ton of ante-natal disease and I'M
[proyement of the health and condi-
'Itions of life of their parents. should
die at all in early infancy or child
hood. except from the comparatively
small proportion of accidents that
are strictly unavoidable"
4 The bulletin continues with a
statement that the general death
rate of a country is largely depned-
Ient upon Its infant mortality. be-
cause the death rates of infants and
young children are high and they af-
feet relatively numerous elemen.
Iof the population. Exact study oil
the incidence of disease upon in
fancy and childhood is most import
ant. and 1t is imperatively necessary
that there should be more effective
'Iregistration of births throughout the
United States for this purpose. The
Extremely important rate known as
"lnfant mortality" is the ratio OF
deaths of infants under one year OF
Iage. not to population but to the
number of children born alive during
1.-THE year. The most important rattc
-Ishould be readily available for the
comparative study of death of in.
fants in all of our states and cities
!. Ebut, the bulletin states, in the great
majority of them. unfortunately, the
registration of births is worthless
Gland ratios calculated upon the re-
turns would be deceptive and unreli
able.
The possibility OF great saving o
ihuman life durjnp infancy and earl,