Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-27
CAUSES OF DEATH
Census Bureau Plans for Cor
rect Registration.
AN APPEAL TO PHYSICIANS
Pocket Reference Issued and Direc-
ton for Uniform Statistics.
BIRTH REPORTS ALSO WANTED
Movement Is International in Scope,
Twenty Countries Assisting in
the Revision.
AN APPEAL TO PHYSICIANS
BIRTH REPORTS ALSO WANTED

in furtheyance Of its advocacy of the
extension Of the registration of deaths
and births throughout the United States,
tho census bureau is issuing to the health
officers and medical students of the
country a physicians pocket reference
to the international list Of causes of
death. In his letter Of transmittal on
the subject to Secretary Nagel of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor Census
Director Durand states:
1t seems to me that there is almost
nothing more important in the entire
field Of statistics than vital statistics. be-
cause of their direct bearing upon the
health and consequent welfare of the
people. 1t certainly is both strange and
shameful that the United States should
be so tar behind the other leading coun-
tries of the world in the registration of
deaths. and even more so in the registra-
ton of births.
Intended for Physicians.
This leaflet is designed for distribution
to every physician in the United States
as part Of the continuous effort Of this
bureau. since its permanent organization,
to remedy this defect
Twenty countries participated in the
work Of revision. and other countries en-
ploy the Classification, preferably known
Is the International list, or have adopted
It for use In the immediate future. Thus
practical agreement In this most impor-
tant and fundamental feature Of mortal
ity statistics is insured among all the
countries of the globe. besides Belgium,
France, Holland, Japan and many other
countries.
The International list Of causes OF death
and statement of undesirable terms are
appended.
Other Information Desired.
These are followed by observations re-
garding the statement Of occupation and
other important data, in which it Is noted
that:
The ply sician's responsibility is usually
confined to the correct statement of the
cause Of death, but he may in some in
stances fill out the entire certificate, or
he may note errors in the statement Of
personal particulars the correction Of
which will be OF service to statistical &C
curacy, as we'll as insuring more truthful
legal records. Hence. his interest is So
lictted In the completeness and correct
ness in all respects OF all certificates
pecially in the correct statement OF sex.
color, marital condition, age, occupation.
birthplace, birthplace OF father, birthplace
Of mother and length OF residence, when
the latter IL required.
Age Is Of special Importance and as a
check on the accuracy Of the statement
the date Of birth Is also required. For
infants under one day old, state the
hours. or even the minutes II less than
one hour old. This is necessary in Or
der that stillbirths may be distinguished
with absolute precision from deaths Of
children born alive.
Should Be Precise.
Precise statement Of occupation is very
important, so that the relative health
fulness OF various pursuits can be known.
The statement should include: ca Trade.
profession or particular kind of work
,e.g., spinner: and CO. General nature Of
industry, business or establishment In
which employed Tor employer, when
ever the latter is indicated {e.g., cotton
nilO.
1t is expected that careful observance
OF the suggestions herein made will re-
suit in great improvement In the quality
Of the registration returns received from
registration states and cities, and may
also lead physicians in characterization
states to labor for the enactment Of ade-
Huate legislation for this important pur-
pose. which Is In compliance with the
concluding clause Of an act of Congress,
as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House OF
Representatives of the United States OF
America In Congress assembled. That the
Senate and House OF Representatives OF