The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-06
SAVING TWO RABIES A WEEK.

practically one child of every five that died
before they were year old in 1909 survived In
1911. It means. also, that at least onef1fth of
the babies who died in 1910 and the preceding
years died unnecessarily for the climate is I'M
changed and foods and management Of chill
dren have been changed only by discoveries
made which might have been made before. by
labor and care which might have been applied
before. Indications that the next ten years
will show decrease even greater. Sanguine
doctors and health workers believe that before
many decades we will save at least half the
babies who die even with our present improved
conditions.
Statistics are honest wnen carefully analysed
ma studied In connection with companion facts.
On their faces and unexplained they may be
made to tell outrageous falsehoods. For in
stance. the infant mortality diminished much
faster In the cities than In the country. This
looks remarkable until we come to remember
that the death rate in the country was much
SMALLER to start with and therefore the oppor-
tunity for percentage OF increase was less. The
Atlanta newspapers, Atlanta style. are boasting
loudly that their city shows the largest percen-
tage of decrease of the entire country, in cities
600 and over, in infant deaths. This looks
beautiful until observe that in 1911 Atlanta
had a larger number of infant deaths in proper
ton to population than any other city of the
country, 300 of each 1000 children born there
dying in their first year: and, furthermore that
the city has been extended since the 1900 census
to take in large of suburban and rural
territory. The decrease there is SIS per cent. IN
Richmond 1t is "a per cent. Our infant death
rate In 1900 was 3oo7 to the 1000. -Four of
the fifty large cities of the country show an &C
tual increase of infant deaths. Minneapolis and
St Paul, Mimi. Syracuse. N Y, and Portland,
Ore, but their rates were small. comparatively.
The smallest infant death rate in the country
In 1911 was in Oakland Cal. s7.2 to the 1000.
a reduction of IS per cent from the census year
1900
Richmond is far from being ideal city for
the preservation of infant life. The women have
done their duty gallantly The number of births
in proportion to population Is one of the largest
We had here in 1910 total of 2,734 children
born In the city, more than 800 ahead of Atlanta
given by the census q. geo more population. 500
more imam MEMPHIS Tenn, WHICH eAcelleO us III
population by $500, many Syracuse, N, Y,
which was 10000 ahead OF us In population.
The cities in the registration most nearly
approaching In population exactly that of Rich
mond Paterson. N. J.. 1000 behind us. and
Scranton, Pa, 1000 ahead of Our births
exceeded those of Paterson by 200 and fell be-
hind those of Scranton by ZOO Yet our death
1f cbf old in
ton to the population under that age and to
births is the third highest in the union. In
1910 we had 2734 children born here and GIG
children died before they had lived year. We
are exceeded in that evil record only by Fall
River and Lowell, Mass. manufacturing towns
largely populated by foreigners CHASTITY illus.
tration is given, by the way. Of how little climate
has to do with infantile life and OF how much
food. surroundings and care have to do with
II by the figures OF the Massachusetts, cities In
Lowell the deaths az less than year of age are
$50 to the 1000 population of year old and
under; in Fall River they are 259; in Cambridge,
where the people of different class and con-
ditions better, they are 119. one of the low
est rates In the country and the two highest rates
In the same State with general climate
end under the State laws. Yet the birth
rate in Cambridge and Lowell. practically with
the same population. is about equal, while Fall
River largely exceeds both. There are natural
and obvious reasons why a high birth rate
among children should be accompanied by
high death rate, and the contrary that a low
death rate and birth rate go together
No accurate statistics of deaths by ages are
available for Richmond before 1900 The infant
mortality must have been frightful The only
evidence of it Is the countless short mounds
in our cemeteries. Judging from the figures we
have. must conclude that the estimates of
physicians. when the movement for organization
Of the health board along modern lines was
begun, that OF every three children born in
v Richmond one died within the first year OF life
~as conservative. Yet long and severe struggle
was required to secure for the health board the
money. men and authority to make 1t efficient
Nov the city government has been converted