Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-03
RACE WASTE MORE
SERIOUS THAN
RACE SUICIDE
100000 Babies Die Annually
in Country from PreventabIe
Diseases Says Census Nor
taIity Bulletin.
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsey Building,
w ahinptOn d C. Nov

census hOidiIty PNiitNlu NJ, Iva, IL
which it is estimated that annually
In the United States from 100, 900 tc
10000 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 low
ing and most lovable could be pre-
vented, is the opinion of DR.. Greasy
/. Wilbur, chief statistician for Vita
statistics of the censu 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, DR.. Wilbur holds that the
prompt registration OF all births and
the more careful and precise state
ment of causes of death by physicians
are essential.
In analyzing and comparing the
totals obtained in the compilation of
transcripts of death, returns received
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 q somewhat increased
PC VIZ VI htoNl VI th uiioti
one year for 1908. although the ratios
for each Of the individual years from
one to fou are identical for 1907 and
1908. OF the total number of deaths,
691,574 returned for 1908 from the
entire registration area, it is stated in
the bulletin that nearly one-fifth were
of infants under one year of age and
over one-fourth of children less han
five ynurc nf pa II iG lep1o rod that
the brute force of the figures repre-
scnting the actual deaths is more i'm
pressive. however. than any ratio or
than the rates of infant morality, even
If the latter could be computed in the
absence OF proper registration of
births. Here are the figures:
More than on~e-eighth of n million
babies under one year of age, and
fully 200. 900 children under five years
OF age, died mon about one-half of
the total population of the United
tates I'm the year mentioned. 1t is
considered probable that fully 200 600
more died in those cities and states
not included in the census bureau
MISREPRESENTATION area. In this con-
nection DR.. Wilbur quotes Prof.
Irving Fishers conclusion that of all
the diseases of infancy. having the
median age of one year, A per cent
may be prevented; and that of the
diseases Of childhood having median
age two to eight years, CT per cent
may be prevented.
ut does not seem unreasonable"
DR.. Wilbur states, when we consider
the fact that there is apparently no
reason why infants. IL properly born.
and this g simply the prevention
OF ante-natal disease and the inn
provement Of the health n condi-
tions 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 n state |
ment that the general death rate of a
country is largely dependent upon its
infant morality, because the death
rates OF infants and young children
are high and they affect q relatively |
numerous element of the population. |
Exact study of the incidence OF dis
ease upon infancy and childhood is
most important, 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 morality" is
tho 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 i'm
portant ratio should be readily avail
able 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. I'M |
fortunately. the registration Of births
Is worthless. and ratios calculated
upon the returns would be deceptive
and unreliable.
THE possibility of great saving Of
human life during infancy n early
is emphasized by the esti-
mates made by Prof. Irving Fisher,
on the basis of Independent medical
opinions, for his Report on National
Vitality to the National Conservative
Commission. as TO the ratio OF pre-
(postponability),' that is, /
ratio of 'preventable' deaths from
cause named to all deaths from cause
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 five II
years, there could be prevented the
numbers; Premature birth, I
40; congenital debility. 40; vencreal
diseases. 10; disrrhoea and enterities.
the most important cause Of infant !
SO: measles. 40; acute
bronchitis. 80: neutrality-suspicious.,
whooping cough. 40: Group
(Which means diphtheria). 10; men-
20; diseases of larynx. other
than la~ryngitis. 40; laryngitis. 40;
(undcr its proper appella-
tion), 20: scarlet fever. so.
'other diseases especially fatal to
Infants and children would perhaps
show equally great ratios Of preven-
liability: they do not appear in the
above list ecaus their median ages
are above the limit chosen or he
cause. as is the case with 'convul-
sions.' they are grouped with other
ineongruous causes.
The possible saving OF life for
general ill-defined and unknown
causes including heart failure.
'drofsv' and commissions. median
age 35 years. is 80 per cent. The
median age of COMMISSIONS alone is
than one year. and IL is probable =