The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-02-03

Ilee!SIFduOu OF DlHane ~ with the es-
pectal object Of prevention of jnfan-
tile mortality. is being actively and
widely waged. Owing to the fact
that, with the exception of the Dis
trict Of Columbia and the territories,
all laws governing vital statistics are
state enactments. and not national in
origin. the task Of securing uniform
ity in methods and thoroughness in
enforcement Is most difficult. It is
only by cooperating with state medic
al associations and state boards of
health that any progress is being
made. The census bureau can and
does act only upon the request and
with the full cooperation of the state
and sanitary ohiciais.
The Bill Before Congress.
At the present time there is bill
before congress- providing for the bet
ter registration OF biEths in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. euch legislation
! for the district should be a model
land standard for similar bills to be
presented to legislatures in other
states. National associations have
been formed for the: purpose Of arous-
Ing public interest in campaign
SSNAAoO tAO P1 P1OVCNtdUlS CduSeS OF
death, especially the very high NOR
tallty of infants. Many leading wo-
mems clubs are also engaged in an
educational movement along these
lines. S-a
The statement adds that what is
chiefly needed in planning and con-
ducing this work are complete and
accurate statistics Of infantile NOR
taltty for individual cities, rural dis
trtcts. and states, and for the nation
as a whole. The accurate statement
of infantile mortality requires the
complete and satisfactory registra-
tion Of both births and deaths, The
statistical definition Aof the term "in-
fantile mortality" is="the ratio of the
number Of deaths OF infants under
l year Of age, exclusive Of stillborn,
to 1000 children born alive" Refer
ence is made to a recent report by
the census committee on the registra-
tion of births. in which it is stated:
Talk about registration of births
In the United States! Why, for not
more than one-half 1853 per cent? of
the total population Of this country Is
there even fairly accurate registra-
tion of deaths alone, No other civil
lized nation on the face Of the earth
30 neglects its duty In this respect or
holds the vital records Of its people
in such low esteem. America should
not mean barbarity IN it's relation to
infantile life"
The Prescribed Remedy.
The remedy proposed for this con-
dition Of affairs should provide, first,
for the enactment Of adequate laws
for the complete regiatration Of births
and deaths in all stA4es that do not
at present possess them, and. second.
for the thorough enforcement Of the
present laws and of4new laws when
enacted. 1t is atatedsthat the sprtnci-
plies upon which successful regiStra-
tion law must be nonstructed In this
country have been5 thoroughly settled
in the light Of practical experience,
and q model law in conformity with
such principles has been drawn up
and tndorsed by medical and public
health associations. This law has
BEEN put In operation in several
states and is giving most excellent
and; satisfactory results wrere its
provisions are really enforced, but in
the great majority of states the COM
pulsory enforcement Of the provisions
of the laws for the registration of
births. by means of the penalties pro-
vided for noncompliance, is practical
lily dead letter and is mainly re-
sponsible for the worthless character
of the United States statistics of
births and the utter absence of any
reliable figures for infantile mortali-
ty. In fact. NO reliable data of in
fantile mortality can be compiled un-
til there is On accurate registration
of births.
1t is estimated that in the United
States the deaths Of babies less than
annual total mortality, and of these
deaths at least 125,000 need not have
occurred II modern hygiene. as 1t is
known today, were practiced univer-
sally.
:. The bureau of the census has been
continually lahoring since its perma-
nent organization in 1902 for better
vital statistics, which means as a
very important part thereof registra-
tion of infant mortality. It is urged
that the attack upon infant mortality
begins with the diarrheal. and intes-
i tinal diseases Of infancy. The pre-
vention of these diseases, which are
ipreeminently "filth diseases" will
wipe out one-fourth of the total num-
ber Of deaths of babies under two
years OF age.
The accurate collection. tabulation,
aud analysis of records of births.
deaths. stillbirths, marriages, divorc-
es, and sickness may he said to con-
stitute the bookkeeping Of humanity
1t is fundamental to the practical ap-
plicat!on of hygiene to secure higher
efficiency, longer duration of life, and
fuller measure of happiness.
TWO FAVOR new
STATE CAPITOL
Senator Turner and Represen.