The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-16
RATED FOR THE FIRST TIME.

In tho preliminary report Of NOR
tnlity statistics for the year 1913. Nir-
ginia appears for the first time among
the registration States, and, strangely
enough shows a death rates precisely
that OF the registration area as whole
,--i3 3 the 1000 Of population.
Onr readers will recall that Virginias
presence I'm the select circle Of those
States whose vital statistics are rccog-
nizcd by the Census Bureau is due 10
the wise action OF the last General As
sembly In passing q law for the regis
tratlon OF all births and deaths in the
Commonwealth Administered by the
State Board OF Health. and upheld hy
strong public sentiment. this law has
been so successful that all death sta
tlstics compiled after tho law had been
in effect for six months have been ne
ceptcd 10y the Federal government The
good health Of the Commonwealth and
her regard for the we'll being OF her
SONS is thus advertised Tor tho first
time.
There arc nineteen States in tho Fed
cral registration area, of which number
only Virginia and Kentucky are I'm the
South Yet, despite climatic conditions
and our large negro population. tho
health OF Virginia is rs good as tho
average OF States without these handi-
caps. SIX registration States, less ex-
posed 10 typhoid fever. malaria and like
diseases of the South, and with a small
negro population. have q reported death
rate higher than that Of Virginia
These States with their annual death
rates the 1000 Of population. are; Con
necticut, IA; Maryland. 1913: Massa-
chusc,ts. Ii7; New Hampshire. 14i:
New Jersey i4.7. and New York. l52
The situation I'M Virginia Is nil the
more favorable when It Is remembered
that the registration States arc, almost
without exception. those In which sanl-
tarv conditions arc the best. To have
Il death rate equal TO that of the regis
tration area Is probably to have a rate
considerably below that OF the nation
as a whole.
This is NJ once cause for conTra tula-
tion and for renewed activity in the
prevention Of disease. If by the OK
pcndituro OF tho small sum given to
public health in the past. Virginia has
been able TO gain this low rate, we may
hope with larger expenditure of funds
and more public cooperation TO achieve
still greater victories for good health
We have reached that point I'm VIr-
einia where. with our State health or
ranization complete. we can get pre-
cisely that degree Of good health for
- toll wi IN IA,
want n death rate higher than 1S9 We
have only to relax our efforts; II We
wish a lower rate, we have only to
spend more money for better santa
,ion. For every dollar Invested in com
petent health officers and popular edu-
cation, disease viii proportlonately oe
" reduced
Our outlook is bright Typhoid fever
we have found 10 ho far from invinci-
bile, BY popular education and the
prompt Investigation. OF outbreaks, We
have reduceT' hT 1000 cases the year
the total number of typhoid victims In
the state during the twelve months
Immediately following the reorgani2a-
ton of the Stato Board of Health.
piphtheria. long il scourge OF child
hood, now Stays only where careless
ness neglects the specific science has
placed AT the disposal OF the physician
Cancer and pellagra. though they have
assumed serious proportions in the last
few years VIII probably be overcome
by the discovery OF new treatment
only tuberculosis looms large as posi-
tive menace 10 the existence OF the