The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-13

me that the reports Of the Rex and st
agnes show that of the 116 deaths al
these hospitals the physicians GER
tficates show that thirty-two were
from Raleigh. This leaves 81 deaths Of
people, presumably, not residents of
Raleigh.
This 81 added TO the 90 deaths At
the State institutions gives a total of
1S2, which total have deducted from
the sos. the result being 424
The inmates Of these State institu-
tons If not counted would reduce the
population to approximately $4,000,
but inasmuch as the students in the
various educational institutions here
total over 1000 tand there was not
a single death among all these) it is
certainly fair to let the figures remain
al $4,000. On this basis, with aga
deaths CATER above deductionl the
death rate is 21.2 per thousand
OF course this result made me feel
considerably better.
Another interesting point was de-
veloped. You know the average per
son wants to be buried at home"
The records Of the Sanitary Depart
ment shows that Of the 631 deaths in
Raleigh last year, 243 were buried
'elsew here that is. not in the Raj
eish cemeteries. This rather carries
out the idea advanced by Governor
Raleigh so we'll that they come here
TO die. They, however. prefer TO be
buried at home"
Mr. Gold was then asked about the
matters referred to as sadly neg
! lected"
Said Mr.. Gold: I was struck hy
two facts. One of these is that the
| death records Of the city Of Raleigh
| SHOW that during 1911 not a single
death was caused by drunkenness or
alcoholism, although the records Of
January, 1912, show one death from
/ this cause. The other fact is that dur
ing 1911 fifty babies died from in
| fantile troubles such as cholera in
| fantum. etc.
When l learned that in the aver
| age city Of the size Of Raleigh anly
~ babies died each year OF these
troubles ! was astounded and horri-
fed. Think Of it. There can be but
one answer to this excessive death
rate among the babies impure
milk supply, and l had thought that
in this city, within a stones throw Of
: a college where the best dairyins
methods are demonstrated and taught
and to which the dairymen of this
section certainly have access. infan-
tile diseases would be reduced to the
minimum.
Il made inquiry and was informed
that Raleigh spends $500 per year
to inspect milk. Last year 1872 sam
pies of milk were taken from dairy
wagons and tested. Seventy -eigh
samples were found polluted with
| harmful bacteria and unfit for foo6
for healthy people, much less to sick
babies?
IF a single dairy license was re-
voked the official records did not show
it. If single change was made il
these diaries whereby the little SUI
, ferers could get a supply Of healthy
milk-nay, II the mothers Of thes'
sick babies were even warned tina
their babies were being poisoned, m.
informant did not know Of it.
Il wondered if these things coult
, be.
rs there any way to prevent this
Y es and yes. and again yes.
, What a splendid opportunity 70
the recently organized Law and Or
der League to do work which will
. be q monument to it. In addition t
q the splendid work outlined for the en-
+ forcement OF the prohibition laws
8 why should it not endeavor TO en-
2 force the laws which will save tn
q babies?"
y "A better system Of meat inspec
i. ton, q rigid enforcement Of the LAY
I requiring the physicians to report tn
g presence OF certain diseases wi
G be splendid work for the Law an
d Order League.
h yes, there is an ordinance whic
4 imposes q fine Of $40 upon a Ralcig
e physician who fails to repOl
9 the presence Of certain infectious dis
1 eases The purpose Of this is to sc
Q the Information to the proper author
tiles for the establishment Of an AIDE
t quate quarantine. And yet last yea
a only 147 cases Of these rcportab1
n diseases were reported and "a death
o from these diseases was also report
= ed.
Can it be possible that this pei
q centage OF death occurred? Would
e not be 4 reflection on the medic:
q fraternity Of our city to say that owe
I, half Of their cases were lost: 1t W.
~ either that or the law was Violate
>. in nOE-repOrting
y mo, / believe that II the heaN
10 lN,.tT Al ~