The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-24
RAYMOND w. PULLMAN,

a tmts WuSNtHytOH DUcUH. MtUOVOH-
tan B0nk Budding.
WASHINGTON, June 24.-Dr. Ores.
sy l.. Wilbur. chief Of the Office OF VI
tai statistics OF
Mortality Of the bureau of the
Infants. census, has just
- called public at
tention 10 the reduction OF in
FAINT mortality I'm recent years.
The new mortality statistics for
1911. which have just been COM
pleted by the census bureau. show
that the death rate Of infants under
one year of age decreased nearly one
fifth, or TO be exact 10 per cent, in
the group OF registration states dur
ing the eleven and one-half years
since the taking OF the census of 1900.
Even after giving full importance to
the great decrease In the infant NOR
tally rate, however, 1t Is found that
still there are very large numbers OF
babies who die before reaching one
year OF age.
DR.. Wilburs latest figures show
that among the babies in the coun-
try's population under one year OF
age the annual death rate Is more
than l12 In every 1000, which Is ten
times as many children as die between
the ages OF one and four years. The
new infant mortality tables show,
however. that in practically all places
where efforts have been made to de-
crease the high death rate OF babies
considerable progress has been made.
In explaining the figures which have
just been compiled by the bureau OF
the census Dr. Wilbur says:
In all the large cities, excepting
Minneapolis. st. Paul. Syracuse and
Portland the infant death rate
was lower In 1911 than In the
census year Of 1900. The larg.
est relative decrease In death
rate was in, Atlanta. with SO per cent !;
followed by Los Angeles, with 40 per
cent decrease: indianapolis, with SO
per cent decrease, and Washington.
Paterson. N. j., and Memphis. Tenn,
each with 3S per cent decrease. 1t
must be remembered. however. that
this comparison relates only to two
individual years, 1910 and 1911. and
that the data might be vitiated in GER
tain cases, by failure TO return all
the deaths Of infants under one year
OF age"
DR.. Wilbur says that 1t Is unfortu'
nate that the registration of births in
the United States is generally incom
plete and that 1t Ia impossible to pre-
sent satisfactory rates Of infantile
mortality for great majority OF
states and cities. Both DR.. Wilbur,
as head of the ofice of vital stats
tics of the bureau of the census, and
Miss Julia c. Lathrop, director of the
children's bureau, are urging that
everything possible be done In the
states 10 improve methods of birth
registration so that more be known
about rates OF infant mortality, In or
der that more can be done to protect
the lives OF infants.
The efforts made in many cities and
states to lessen infant mortality rates
by better care for the infant at birth
and during the flrst years Of its life
are sure to become more and more eff
fective, according to experts. Much
has been done, II is said, through
the educational campaigns to teach
mothers on the proper care and feed
ing Of young infants. and 1t Is believ
ed that these campaigns of education
have been in large part the cause OF
the 10 per cent decrease In the rate
of infant mortality during the last
eleven and one-half wears.