Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-13

American race waste-more serious
than race suicides pointed out In
Census Mortality Bulletin No. lOi, IN
which II is estimated that annually
in the United States from 100000 to
2OO. 900 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
NOSE loving and most loyahle could be
prevented, is the opinion of Dr. Cressy
L. Wilbur, chief statician for vital
statistics OF the census bureau. who
prepared the bulletin. on the basis
OF present day knowledge OF SAM
tary measure. For the accomplish
ment OF effective preventative work
in this direction, DR.. Wilbur holds
that the prompt registration OF all
births and the more careful and pre-
else statement of causes of death by
physicians are essential
In analyzing and comparing the to-
tails obtained In the compilation OF
transcript OF death returns received
for the year 1908 by the census bu-
reau from the entire death registra-
ton area OF the United States. as set
forth in the bulletin, those for age
periods show a somewhat increased
ner centage of deaths OF infants under
one year for 1908. although the ratios
for each of the individual years from
che to four are identical for 1907 and
1908. OF the total number OF deaths,
69l ,574 returned for 1908 from the en-
tire registration area, 1t is stated In
the bulletin that nearly one-fifth were
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
pressiye, however. than any ratios or
than the lAtes of infants 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. IL is
considered probable that fully 100000
more died in those cities and states
not included in the census bureau
MISREPRESENTATION area In this con-
nection DR.. Wilbur quotes Professor
Irving Fishers conclusion that of all
the diseases of infancy. having the
median age Of one year, AZ per cent
may be prevented; and that OF the
disease OF childhood having median
age two to eight years. 81 per cent
may be prevented.
1T does not seem unreasonable,
DIR. Wilbur states. when we consider
the fact that there is apparently no
reason why infants. II properly bcrn'
and this means simply the proven
ton OF ante-natai disease and the i'm
provement of the health and con-
ditions 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
The bulletin continues with state
ment that the general death rate OF a
country Is largely dependent upon its
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 dis
ease upon infancy and childhood is
most important, and it Is imperatively
necessary that there should be more
effective registration Of births through
out the United States for this pur-
pose. 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. rbis most import
ant ratio should be readily available
sor the comparative study OF deaths
of infants in slI Of our states and
cities, but, the bulletin states. IN the
great ratios calculated upon the re-
turns would be deceptive and unre-
liable.
The possibility Of great saving OF
human life during infancy and early
childhood is emphasized by the esti-
mates made BY Professor Irving Fish
n s~Il~.n-An~f mod