The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-19

Shows That Topeka Ranks 1T
Top Of Honor Column.

ity statistics for 1919. which are the
last published. arc correct, then To-
peka stands very near the top Of the
column for the honor of having the
least number of infant deaths In pro-
portion to the total number of deaths.
Colorado Springs has less number
number of deaths than Topeka does.
but in a study of the statistics made
in the ofilce of the city health de-
partment today. following a state
ment from DIR. 8. J. Crumbine, sec
retary of the state board OF health. in
which the doctor referred to the high
infant mortality rate In the city, the
city employees were not able to dis
cover another city. other than Colo
RADIO Springs, where the percentage OF
infant deaths was such small part
of the total as in Topeka. The list of
cities included in the governments
statistics Is necessarily q long one, and
| the proportion Of deaths of children
under years OF age to the total num-
ber il not figured out on q percentage
basis, so the city officials were not
able to say conclusively that only one
city in the United States has a lower
infant mortality rate than does the
city Of Topeka. But they had found
only one such city in their investiga-
tons 50 far.
Topeka IL credited in the govern
ment statistics with 845 deaths. of
which 142 were of infants under 5
years of age. or, 1906 per cent.
Wichita's percentage from the same
authority is 18.41. Evansville. Ind.
shows up with infant deaths tOtaling
l17.94 per cent.
Springfield, capital city with cli-
matte conditions much as those of To-
peka and with q population of ap-
lproximately 10000 more people than
Topeka, is shown to have 23.44 per
cent Of her deaths made up Of in
fants under years of age. Infants
under years Of age account for 20.78
per cent of the deaths in Aurora, Ill.
In Colorado Springs the number is an
low as 1919 per cent
The discussion of the city's health
was brought about by a letter from
IDr. Crumbine to the city commission.
land was followed by a communication
from Dr. Crumbine published in the
State Journal yesterday. A statement
in this communication, which was as
follows, aroused the ire of J. A. Ram
Isey. sanitary sergeant:
Crumbine's Statement.
'The fact y. thar the death rate for
the city Of Topeka is considerably
and, indeed. is higher than any city
of this size in the country north of the
Mason and Dixon line. Judging from
the high infant mortality rate In the
Topeka's dirty milk is an important
factor in producing that high death
rate ~ '.sss-~-,ss,.
Mr.. Ramsey has written the follow
ing open letter" to DR.. Crumbine:
Open Letter to DF: Crumbfnes 80
my Dear Doctor sCrumbine: have
read with some surprise and chagrir
II lot md fvVf
to the press exploiting the fact thai
Topeka, the capital city OF Kansas, il
the most unhealthful city In the United
States. and that its milk supply is the
worst ever. ss ~ - :
what has Topeka done to you, deal
doctor. and has the state Of Kansas
been unkind, that you should SO delight
in giving free gratis this detrimental
advertising?
You have said that the high deatE
Isupply. Let me can your attention t.
a few things. doctor. which will prove
the fallacy Of your statement:
II find that the number of infants
dying in Topeka in comparison with
the total number Of deaths is yer,
small indeed. I arrive at this con
clusion from a study Of the mortality
statistics for 1912 prepared by thu
government bureau of the census
My Investigations have been incom
Dt plctc, OuI 50 10I nave xOuuQ OILY
one city making better showing
than Topeka in this respect. Yol
have referred to Topeka's high in
l fant mortality rate Would 1t not b.
we'll for you to inform yourself as t.
; what tfje infant mortality rate in To
peka is, and how it compares will
other cities, before going of half
cooked In your attempt to steal tn,
! thunder Of the social survey people
'If Topeka's dirty milk is respon
sible for producing an alleged high in
FAINT mortality rate, is Topeka's cleal
milk responsible for producing al
actual, low infant mortality rate?
IL ct have taken the pains within tn
+ last few hours to go over the deatl
! reports Of some fifteen or twent
cities in the United States noting thei
lpopulation. the deaths from tYphoil