The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-07
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

During the month of December there were reported 4636 births. Of these 3147 were white and 14S9 were colored The to- tai birth rate was 23.4 per 1000 of popula- ton. The rate for the whites was 27 s and for the colored 1S7. This rather up- sets the general notion about the prolific ness of the negro
 
 There were 204S deaths reported; white 1079 and colored 975. Total death rate, 1O.5; white 9.4; colored 12.2. Here we see the negro death rate the highest. I daresay Dr. Eaves could tell why.
 
 The death by age periods was interest ing and suggestive. Under 1 year, 922; from 1 to years, 16O; from to 10 years, 62; from 10 to 20 years, 121; from 20 to 30 years, 236; from 30 to 40 years, PIP; from 40 to 70 years. 56s; over 70 years, BPS; age not stated, 51.
 Fayette county had the smallest death rate. Jefferson. owing to size and per- haps from other causes, leads with 394. Fayette's percentage of population was IA while that of Jefferson was 14.4 It's rate was lower than that of Talladega, 2O.3; Dallas 1S.O; Madison, 1855; Mobile, 1s.9; Perry, 15.2.
 Here Is the birth rate showing: Win ston leads off with 400; DeKalb, S5.s; Walker, $50; Cherokee, S2.1; Franklin, 31.s; Marion, 90.5; Lauderdale, 3O4. I was about to jump to the conclusion that north Alabama was overdoing its share in populating the state when discovered that Bullock rates 33.3, Geneva $40, Perry 31.1, while the citizens of Pike were no "pikers." as their rate was 35.e. Imperial Jefferson scores only 23.2. I'm willing to agree with the old farmer who said:
 Puzzle aia't no word for the confusion that comes to a feller who messes up all the statistics available and tries to draw out a certain sure conclusion
 Here is the data for the year 1915: Per thousand, Marion county had the great est birth rate, S6.1; Chambers county the lowest, 9.S, while the states average was PIP; the normal birth rate being put at 25
 
 The death rate per 1000 for the entire state for 1915 showed Mobile county the highest, with 17.6, and Choctaw the low est, with 2.4, the states average being 1O.5; the normal death rate being put at 15. , These figures show that Alabama is a little behind on bringing children into the world but is also economical in dying.
 France has long been disturbed over the low birth rate. Here in America a woman in New York has been imprisoned for advocating the limiting of births. Eu- genics is to the front. I believe, how ever, if mothers have say they will answer: I've either got too much to do or too little. I'll produce much better crop of men if the sociologist and re- formers and the agitators will let me alone'
 I'm backing the mother instinct.
 The Mercy Home had between HOO and 1900 children from months to IS years of age pass through the institution last year without death. They average about 100 permanent residents in the home. It was the low death rate at the Mercy Home which made the Russell Sage Foundation sit up and take notice.
 
 Reportable diseases in Alabama show typhoid fever cases 104, deaths SS; ma laria, 6S cases, 9 deaths; scarlet fever, 70 cases, deaths; smallpox, 43 cases, no deaths; diphtheria, 70 cases and 24 deaths; tuberculosis, 2O5, 152 deaths; infantile paralysis. 4 cases, deaths. Here is dread ed smallpox showing no deaths and scar let fever only out of 70, while pellagra had 42 out of 4s.
 The laboratory of the state board of health of Alabama wishes to aid the health officers, physicians and citizens of the state. but unless they make use of the laboratory, how can it aid them? . All specimens for the diagnosis of tuberculosis are received up to the last delivery of mail, and reported on the same day. Swabs for diphtheria examina- tion are planted on media, then an ex- animation of the swab is made. If the swab is positive a report is made at once, otherwise it must wait for the growth of the culture
 A report by wire is made immediately when requested. All reports are sent by mail daily, even when a report has been made by wire.
 Few people realize just what part labor atory work plays in modern medical prac- tice. Take pneumonia. for example: Detailed investigation, says a writer, has shown that there are four distinct types of organisms which, injected into ease known as pneumonia. Under the microscope these organisms all look alike; only delicate laboratory tests disclose that they are really different species. The workers at Rockefeller hospital prosaical- ly describe them as Type 1, Type 2, Type Is, Type 4; years of investigation have made the experimenters so expert that, a few hours after solating a culture from the human throat, they can definite ly determine to which type it belongs. This shows the need of laboratory work
 There seems to be great misunder- standing in regard to the value of a bacterial examination of water. It should be borne in mind that this is but one part t-Pthe examination. The most im- AL.