The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-13
BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS TROUBLES
Finds 1t Impossible to Get Doctors and
Midwives to Make Required
Reports.
NOT A DEATH IN ONE COUNTY.
While In Others Practically No Births
Are Reported--IAw Generally Dis
regarded, Much to the Bureaus
Embarrassment,

The following interesting facts are
taken from a recent extra Health De-
partment bulletin treating of the work
Of the Bureau of Vital Statistics:
While the Bureau of vital Statistics
is highly gratified with the support
which has been given during the past
four years in organizing and perfect
ing it's work. by no means all deaths
and births are now being repo,"ed In
perfect shape. In many cities and
counties deaths are reported adequate
~, but births ar~a not, the false state
ment being advertised to the world
that more deaths than births occur,
much to the injury OF the community.
The remedy consists in each physi-
clan doing his duty by his own pa
tients and in each parent seeing that
the physician or midwife protects the
child and tho community by report
ing the birth within ten days, In ac-
cordance with the law.
In some counties excellent reports
OF births are sent in, while fewer
deaths are being reported than could
be accounted for by the loss of only
one infant out of ten during the first
year of life. together with the deaths
of elderly persons which must occur
everywhere. A striking illustration OF
this point Is the May report of Dick
enson County. This contained thirty
nine births and not ono death. The
joking attempt OF some Of the local
registrars to claim the unusual skill
of their physicians and their marvel
QUE climate. as the cause for this sort
Of report. will not work. We know
that infants and old people are dy-
ing. Local registrars permit GROSS
violation Of the law in not demand
ing that the death certificate be filed
and burial permit secured before
the funeral. in every case. Proof has
not been submitted to show that any
county or district In the State has a
death rate as low as ten per 1000
population. while some counties have
been reporting a rate even lower than
that.
We expect every local registrar to
avail himself OF the remedy for non
! reg istrasioGf without even eaning upon
the state Registrar for further ad-
vice. Enforce the law to the letter
and impose the fine upon physician,
undertaken. midwife or householder
who wilfully violates the law. The
registrar who is lacking In the cour-
age and spirit 10 do his duty IL not
the man for the place. The report of
/ the death OF an infant one minute old
10 just as important az that OF the
most prominent citizen in the county
Newspaper clippings and lists of
conn sales sent TO us by dealers, show
that the deaths OF many persons of tho
! latter class have not been reported
| If that he true what must be the case
| as TO the infants of obscure colored
| and white families. Local registrars
are culpahle II they permit such
violation of the law without taking
| legal action against the violators.
| yIr know ha Ia az Ga~ y,
| district and the number OF deaths
/ likely to occur. and can locate the
| registrars who are allowing the law to
| be violated
| The undertakersr as a rule, are law
abiding, but the people who buy cof-
| fms and have friends assist at the
| burial OF their dead, do not always
know the requirements of tho law I'M
less shown by the dealer. local regis
| trar or physician. Our Appeal is TO
every one TO do his duty as a. mat