New Britain herald., 1916-12-29
ST0RK DURING YEAR
BESTS GRIM REAPER
Births Average About Thirty Per
Cent. More Than Deaths
CUPID. SETS FAST PACE
Up to December 1 the Record of Hav-
ing Been Called Professionally to
the Most Births is Held by May
Francesca.

Francesca.
Although the statistical records of
the fast waning 1916 have been COM
piled only to December 1 it is now
possible to get a fair estimate of the
number of births, deaths and mar
riages that have taken place during
the past twelve months. BY estimat-
ing the number of Births deaths and
marriages during the present month,
and using the figures for the other
eleven months, it appears that during
1916 the stork has bested the Grim
Reaper by making about thirty per
cent. more calls in New Britain. Dan
Cupid has also set a fast pace and
has tied we'll over 500 nuptial knots.
Compared with 1915, the number
of births in 1916 will appear we'll
over the half hundred mark in adj
vance. Also, the record will show
that using 1915 as a basis, the visits
of the Stork this year have not kept
a comparative pace with those OF the
Grim Reaper as the deaths will total
more than three quarters of a hum
dred in excess Of a year ago Dan
Cupid, while more active than in
1915, this year has not kept step with
either Of the other two visitors and
his report will be less than fifty in
advance Of year ago.
DR.. Bray Not Leader.
In many Of the years passed, DR..
Henry T. Bray has been far in ad
vance of any physician or midwife in
the city as the able assistant of the
Stork but this year, to December 1,
the laurels for having been present
at the largest number Of births do
not rest upon his head. They have
been wrested from him by May Fran
cesca who has been in professional
attendance at 169 births. Dr. Bray
and DR.. D. w. OConnell each have
164 birth attendances to their credit
and DR.. Harry A. Elcock has 129. To
the leader in birth attendance also
goes the credit for having been called
in to the greatest number Of births
in a single month. During May she
cared for twenty-three cases. DR..
Bray is close behind with twenty-five
during the same month. The rec
ord Of births for each month"; with
the exception Of December, is as fol-
lows, showing that March was the
favorite time for the winged visitor:
January, 175; February, 1853;
June, 1862; July 1863; August, 1856;
September, 149; October, 1872; No
vember 1866
Jan. Death Rate High.
Had the high death rate of Janu-
airy been maintained throughout the
year, the mortality rate Of New Brit
ain for 1916 would have been alarm
ing. More deaths occurred during
the initial month than during any 9TH
er single month Of the entire year,
and during September there were
fewer deaths than at any other time.
The record to December follows:
January, II; February, So; March,
so; April, 81; May, 81; June, so;
July, So August SO; September, 81;
October, AS; November, A.
Busy Marriage Market.
The year Of 1915 saw a busy mar
riage market in New Britain and dur
ing the merry month of June, when
brides are the chief topic of CONVEX
sation and the social items, the great
est number Of blushing maids
marched to the altar to be taken in
the holy bonds Of matrimony. No
vember was a close second and April
saw the least number Of marriages.
To the first of December the Stats
tics follow:
January, A; February, So; March,
p; April, %; May, SIS; June, Sc;
July, At; August ST; September At;
October, IT; November, 80.
Comparison With 1915.
For a basis of comparison between
the years 1916 and 1915 the follow
ing figures are interesting. In 1915
there were 1852 Births SIP deaths
and 5S6 weddings.