The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-23

ttllIS BItSIdt1li, III y. vi. Il oIloNN
of Kinston, gave a brief resume of the
several State institutions in which the
medical profession are especially in
tercsted. He then passed to the dis
cussion of school hygiene, oral by
Siene and nurses homes. Under the
head of Rural Sanitation the address
says:
In this progressive age. many mat
tiers and many opportunities for SER
vice press themselves upon us. 1t
seems hat each is more essential than
it's predecessor. When you remember
that North Carolina is SOC rural:
that we are most largely an agricul-
tural people and live in the great
outdoors: that our rural sanitary con-
ditions are very bad and rural NOR
tality very high, / am sure you will
agree with me that we are living
even in this age when many vital
matters are pressing us for attention,
too little consideration to rural Sani-
tation.
The hookworm workers are doing
a great deal of good in disseminating
hygienic Information and in this line
Of endeavor, along with their par
ticular work, are rendering North al
DINA a service the value Of which very
few of us realize. The doctors of
North Carolina are giving the gentle
men in charge Of this particular work
their support. Aside from this, hoW-
ever, what are we doing to improve
health conditions in the country We
have the best Of soils, the finest Of
climates, limitless manufacturing pos
sibilities; We have a homogeneous
people, kindly and humanity loving.
There is no reason why we should
not have a rural health condition
which closely approximates the ideal.
We cannot afford longer to neglect
this matter. am convinced that our
hAs xryo~ly 20 1a 1~.o ~,- -. 80
1t represents q problem of special diff
ficulties and can only be solved by
special study. My sense of apprecia-
ton impelS me to pause just here
ito render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars In the wilderness Of
rural sanitation. one voice has cried
out, cried long and we'll. This mans
work along this line stands out pre-
eminently for work we'll done, efficient
service well rendered. We delight to
honor him. / refer to DR.. G. w. Stiles.
and l take this opportunity to say
to him that the people of North Caro-
lima and North Cardinals medical pro-
fession appreciate his services. After
giving the question Of improving
health conditions in the country dis
tricts unusual consideration and very
serious thought, l am impelled by
my better judgment to urge, yea even
insist, that our society appoint at this
StSS1oH a COIfiIillttte, Oh i've WHOSE
duty 1T shall be to study the necessi.
ties and problems of rural sanitation
and to report their findings, together
with such recommendations as they
see tit to offer. to our next meeting
Vital Statistics.
l want to call your attention
to a matter of real concern, no
only to the people of our State
but to the profession also. 1t is {
matter Of much more than passins
moment, and l regret that 1 canno
dwell on it to the extent it's import
ance demands. / refer to the vita
statistic aw. 1t is almost, if not quite
a vital matter to all health work.
wish / could impress those physician
who have not already appreciated it
value with the importance of this law
According to recent census, the dealt
rate in North Carolina is 1913, tn,
highest of any State save New Hamp
shire, and is within three decimals o
hat. Our death rate is PRACTICAL.
double that OF Washington which ha
the lowest-S.5. Says the Journal o
the a. Nj. A., 1T is significant tina
the four states in the registration are
which have a colored population O
10 per cent, Kentucky, Maryland
North Carolina, and Virginia. shout
average 1870, while a group with equa
population but fewer colored, Wiscon
sin. Washington, Vermont and Mime
sofa, average lis. The Atlanta Jour
nal has recently we'll said: 1t is
significant fact that the health rec
ord Of the United States has steadil
improved, as the registration Of vita
statistics has increased. In 1SS
when the registration area include
on II per cent Of the population til
mortality rate was 1913 per thousan
49, In 1910 the mortality ha
dropped to Is per thousand, h res
istration area having risen to $50 D,
cent. In 1912 bureaus Of vital st;
tistics had been established in a m:
1ority OF the states and covered {
per cent of the population; in IL
same year, Interestingly enough IL
death rate was only 1879 per thousar
up to that time the lowest record"
The vital statistics law is the k,
to all sanitary work, and as soon
thoroughly understood and we becon
accustomed to it. we will recogni
it's worth. and it's apparent burd,
will be lessened, if not entirely di
appear l appeal to every doctor
North Carolina to give this law +
earnest and cordial support.
Precedent is to be respecte