The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-16

and all North Carolinians born after
! October LIST this year will have to
comply with it twice. It is at least
worth something to know about a
law that touches us at both ends OF
life, but this law will do more. Indi.
rectay It will keep in touch with us
all our life. It will be ten times more
valuable in five or six years than 1T
is now and, like a few other we'll
known things, it improves with age.
The law itself contains more print
ed matter than two whole pages of
this newspaper and Us "curst hard
reading at that. For the readers
benefit we give the gst of how the
law operates, what it requires and
briefly the benefits we may expect
from it.
Operation of the Law.
The law provides, first of all, that
the matter of it's enforcement shall
be in the hands of the State Board
of Health. This, as we shall see later,
is because it was recognized that pri-
marily it is a health measure. AS
passed originally, the law was to go
into effect July LIST THIS year, but an
other section gave 80 days for the
local authorities to get the local ma
chinery into operation. This made it
Oct. LIST before any births or deaths
could be registered under the new law.
For purposes of enforcement the
mayors of incorporated towns ap-
point local registrar of births and
deaths in each town, and the chair
men of the boards of county COM
missioners appoint a local registrar
in each township of the county. This
will make in all about 1890 local reg
istrars in the State, all reporting and
directly responsible to the State Board
Of Health
Briefly, it is the duty Of each local
registrar to send in to the State
Board Of HEALTH between the first and
the tenth day of each month, COM
plete and properly filled out certifi-
Gates for every birth and death that
has occurred within his Jurisdiction
during the preceding month. On the |
certificate of death is contained such |
information in regard to the deceased
as the name, residence, age, sex, col
Or, etc., date and medical cause of |
death. On the birth certificate will
be given the full name of the child,
the place of birth. sex, and date of |
birth, as we'll as the name, residence
age, and other information in regard |
to the father and mother. In making
out a death certificate, the under
taker secures all the information rel
alive to the deceased from friends
and learns the medical cause of death
been no doctor in attendance the To-
cal health officer makes out the med
lcal cause of death; or where there is
no health officer the local registrar
makes out the cause Of death. When
ever there is any reason to suspect
.oul play the local registrar may re-
er the case to the coroner.
In the case of births it is the duty |
II the physician, midwife or person
'ct1ng as such to file certificate of
birth with the local registrar. In
;ase there is no physician, midwife or
person acting as midwife it shall be
he duty of the father or of the moth
r Of the child, the householder or
'wner of the premises, or manager of
fhe institution in which the birth
to report to the local reg
strar the facts regarding the birth.
Furthermore, to make sure that the
ecords of all births and deaths are {
omplete, not only will the local reg
strar continue to use due diligence
o see that every birth and death
n his territory is reported, but there
viii be state inspectors making inves-
igations at irregular intervals.
Value Of the Law. ,
It is not contemplated that there =
ill be any very serious difficulty in :.
occurring complete registration of all =
irths and deaths when the people =
nee appreciate the value of such a =
NV. 1t will take perhaps five min \
ties to fill out birth certificate and
mother five minutes to fill out :
cath certificate and that insures =
lat full official record will be made.
nd filed in the state capitol for all
me, of the vital events in the lives d.
all our citizens Il
From public health point of view a.
he tabulation OF vital statistics shows =
here death rates are high and where =
eatth work is needed. In few years ,.
lie effect of health work can be u
loWn and the value of health Off !"
er can be shown in his ability to %
educe the death rate. Such records :.
so prove legitimacy the ripbt ~ u
tend school, to work in factories,
} marry, to vote, to pay taxes, to Aa
Did Office, to obtain life insurance. to al
lter into partnership, to fix respon- ca
bility for crimes, etc. By means of
lch records we can obtain indispu- o.
BILE proof of death for fixing insur- A
Ice claims, pension rights, etc. Sta os
sites obtained from such records az
so have educational value. In fact re
hen a vital Sf 9fisfiac lauy ho, - OC