The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-26

Continued from Pare One.
statements are not accepted as estab-
fishing any theory in sanitary science.
If the figures I have given are not bas-
ed on fact, why does he not furnish
the correct figures?
AS regards his reported statement,
that deaths Of patients brought from
other points to hospitals are charged
to the cities where the death occurred.
surely the doctor knows that the death
rate Of any city is the number OF
deaths in hat city during one year in
proportion to the population-usually
expressed as the number of deaths per
1000 population, annually.
or course there are a great many
factors that affect a city's death rate
and not always rejecting on the
healthfulness of the city. In intercen-
sal periods 1t is almost, if not quite,
impossible to arrive at the exact popu-
lation and for the local authorities to
make an estimate always leads to an
oVer-Statement.
To charge a high death rate to well
equipped hospitals and skillful physt-
clans, as is often done, is as stupid as
it is untrue. Mandan, which has prob
ably better hospital accommodations
for its population than any city in tho
state, has the lowest death rate, Of the
six largest cities reporting. jamestown
figures do not include the state hosp!-
tai for insane. which is outside the city
limits.
Bismarck which has the highest
proportion of nonresident deaths has
not by any means the highest death
rate as a matter Of fact, in spite of
increased hospital accommodation
Der of patients treated in those in
stitutions, the death rate of the lat
ter city has decreased from 200 per
1000 population, in 1910, to 1873 per
1000, in 1912.
In Grand Forks, which has a very
small number of nonresident deaths.
the death rate has increased in the
same period from Ill, in 1910, to 14.0
per 1000 population. in 1912.
OF course these figures being, with
the exception of those for Bismarck,
taken from the official bulletin Of the
state board Of health are probably
unreliable but they are the best we
have and can be used for comparison.
The death rate Of the city of Min
neapolis for the year 1912, as given
by the United States Census bureau,
was 1914 per 1000 population.
Now Mr.. Editor, this is too import
ant a matter to leave to private con-
troversy. If the state board Of health
mas done It's duty In the past and Is
doing its duty now it has nothing 10
fear from a thorough investigation.
The United States public health
service will always detail an officer
to investigate conditions in a state,
detrimental to the public health, when
request by the state authorities. The
United States Bureau of Vital Sta
tistics is much interested In the col
lection of reliable statistics - this
bureau does not accept returns from
North Dakota-and would probably
send an expert if requested.
All that would be necessary would
be for the state board of health and
Governor Hanna to make the request
and 1t would not cost more than the
actual expenses incurred in the in
v~estigation.
North Dakota is without doubt one
OF the healthiest states in the union
and the abnormally high death rate in
the cities is not due to unhealthy con-
ditions but to the apathy and neglect
Of the state board of health.
Respectfully.
F. r. Smyth,
Commissioner of Public Health, Bis
marck.