New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-23
M. D.S' RAP HEALTH DATA
Academy Calls Topographic
Reports Utterly Inadequate.
FOR CENSUS EVERY DECADE
Also Urges Better Understand
ing Between Lederle's De-
partment and People.

The Topographic tables Of this city. as
at present prepared by the Department OF
Health are utterly inadequate as guide
for social and legislative action and are
Of little use for scientific purposes, &C.
cordlng to report Of the public health
hospital and buget committee OF the
New York Academy OF Medicine, printed
IN to-day's issue Of THE Medical Rec
ord" This committee, which is con-
cerned with the medco-social needs OF
the city, wants TO call the attention or
the Board of Estimate, the medical pro-
fession and the citizens at large to the
need Of exact and scientific Topographic
data.
With the city's large and heterogeneous
population and it's great number OF social
problems. 1t is pointed out in the report
that an adequate statistical basis Is I'M
available at the present time because OF
the small force Of the Bureau of Records
OF the Department of Health. The de-
partment, it is said. has twice asked for
an enlargement OF the bureau, but un-
successfully.
ITO be valuable the report says
statistics must be exact and prepared
in accordance with modern scientinc
methods the tables must be carefully
planned, and arranged in such way that
no wrong differences can be drawn. This
has not been done In the past, and there
fore at the present time we are wofuhy
lacking In q reliable basis for the pre-
ventIve campaign and for social action
In regard TO health matters"
New York City. the report says, should
have q fully equipped and scientific
bureau Of vital statistics and should. IN
this respect, set an example to the rest
Of the country. The information In the
Bureau Of Records reports are inferior 70
those Of Paris and London. it Is alleged
II is also asserted that the reports fall
10 tabulate essential information con-
tained IN the marriage, birth. death and
sickness records which would throw I'm
portant light upon many sanitary and
social problems OF the city. Continuing,
the report says:
1.-THE various publications Of the Depart
ment OF Health give full description OF
the work Of the department, but the de-
lays in their publication detract great
deal from their value"
The delay in printing, the report adds,
is attributed TO the red tape" involved in
the present arrangement for printing
The committee does not attempt to place
the responsibility for the "deplorable de-
lays" but questions the wisdom Of issu-
ing at all reports which appear 80 late
In its recommendations the committee
states that the Department Of Health
ov,K1 Nd enIo hA n
Bureau Of Records and subdivide the bu-
eau into three divisions, namely, records
properly, Of research and Of publicity.
1t is recommended that the Board Of Es-
innate appropriate the necessary funds
for the enlargement in the interest Of
efficient administration, and the public
health movement and that the salaries
fixed for the responsible officers OF the
bureau be such as to enable the depart
ment to secure well trained men for the
places"
1t is further recommended that the city
undertake local population census every
ten years, beginning in 1876 and that the
forty-acre tract unit OF the last federal
census be made the basis for the tabula-
ton. and that the medical colleges in
struct their students in the methods and
principles Of medical and vital statistics
In the interest of efficient administration
and Of the public health movement IT is
recommended that more and better means
of contact between the Department Of
Health and the people be established, and
that the public receive regularly informa-
ton regarding the departments most
vital functions-fOod and milk inspection,
prevention Of disease and care OF babies
and school children.