The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-12-27

gle minute, after birth, "stillborn"
should not be reported as the cause Of
death.
Approval Of State Authorities.
This leaflet Is distributed, with the
cordial approval of the state authori-
ties, II any, in states not having any
registration Of deaths. or having in
complete registration, as we'll as in
those states of the registration area
from which transcripts are received
by the bureau of the census and COM
piled for the annual bulletin and an
nual report on mortality statistics.
1t is expected that careful observ-
ance Of the suggestions herein made
will result in great improvement in
the quality of the registration returns
received from registration states and
cities, and may also lead physicians
in non-registration states to labor for
the enactment of adequate legislation
for this important purpose. Advice
and aid will be given by the bureau
of the census, and by the American
Medical association and American Pub
lie Health association cooperating in
compliance with the joint resolution
of congress, approved Feb. IL, 1903,
the concluding clause of which is 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 representa-
tives of the United States hereby ex-
presses approval Of this movement
and requests the favorable considera-
tion and action of the state authors
ties, to tho end that the United States
may attain a complete and uniform
system of registration"
The Registration Movement.
The progress of the movement for
better vital statistics for the United
States is briefly summarized, and the
essential principles of registration, as
embodied in the model law adopted
by the American Public Health asso-
citation and approved by the bureau
of the census, are stated as follows:
"W Immediate registration deaths
before interment, births within ten
days and, compulsorily, not less than
three days in rural districts); (2)
standard certificates COPIES on re-
quest); (3) compulsory burial or re-
moval permits for deaths, and some
effective check on the accuracy Of
registration for births (by deaths of
infants under one year, special enum-
Grafton, newspapers) (4) efficient
local registrars, properly compensat-
ed (25 cents) for each certificate regis
tered and returned in compliance
with law only. and SO distributed that
the least possible inconvenience Will
be caused physicians and undertakers
in filing certificates; t5) sole respon-
sibility for registering deaths and OBJ
tanning burial or removal permit IN
advance of interment upon undertaken
or person disposing of body and sole
responsibility for registering births,
within the time limit set by law, upon
the attending physician or midwife
(parent in absence of such attend
ance); (6) an efficient state registrar,
with full power and responsibility to
enforce the law. in direct connection
with the local registrars (any county
official intervening in any capacity be-
tween the state registrar and local
registrars means failure Of the law {:
(7J prompt monthly returns Of the
original certificates from the local
registrars to the state registrar, with
report Of no births or no deaths
when such was the case and official
statement of completeness Of registra-
ton or report of delinquents; (S) all
this is useless to secure complete
legal records and statistics of the
highest practical value unless penal
ties are provided in the law and those
penalties are enforced.
''The worthlessness of great part
of our birth registration laws depends
upon the non-enforcement Of the pen
alties of the laws by those officials
who are charged with their enforce
ment, largely from unwillingness to
antagonize prominent members of the
medical profession who occasionally,
or regularly, disregard their duties
relative to. the registration Of births.
The profession should encourage the
effective administration of such laws
by cheerfully and promptly complying
with them, and by supporting the eff
forts of health officers and other reg
istration officials in the performance
of their plain duty. Have you failed,
doctor, to record any birth that has
occurred in your practice? Your neg
.lect may mean loss Of money, lack Of
proof Of legitimacy, difficulty in proof
of age for the requirements Of school
and labor laws, and may perhaps
work an irreparable wrong to the
child In future years. II 80, please
complete your service to the family
by registering the birth. Do It now!''
The census bureau will. upon re-
quest, supply physicians reference
leaflets. specimen copies Of the revised
United States standard certificate Of
death and NJ the modal rarinfrat30y,