New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-01-10
WHY STATES SHOULD SUP.
PORT VITAL STATISTICS
By Louis I. Dublin, Phi. D.
ofatistician MetroOo1itan ife Tn

surance Company New York
Vital Statistics is a system of ac-
counting for human life. Just as
the business man gets accurate in
formation for the proper manage
ment of his affairs, so the State
should secure knowledge of the ma
ture and extent of It's vital resources.
Without vital statistics, the State
cannot know how best to safeguard
the health and prosperity of its citi-
zenship.
Births, marriages and divorces, and
cases Of sickness and death, are
facts with which the modern State
is most concerned. They correspond
to the income and disbursements of
the business man. A balance sheet
properly kept by the State shows
whether or not progress is being
made.
The birth of baby should be reg
istered. Such a record in the pos
session of parent answers a thous-
and questions. 1t admits the child to
school. 1t gives the child work
ing papers when the proper age is
reached and it prevents the child
from being put to work before time.
A birth record is all-sufficient to
admit a young man to the rights and
privileges of citizenship. Many a
young man has been thwarted in
his plans to enter one of the pro-
fessions or to take a civil service
examination because he could not
produce sufficient evidence of the
date of his birth.
Speed the day when every baby
born in your community shall en-
joy the benefits of official birth
registration.
Records of marriage and divorce
should be kept most faithfully by
the State. Marriage and divorce
laws are being revised in many
States. The marriage of detectives
should be made more and more diff
ficult, while every encouragement
should be given by the State to the
of healthy and normal peo-
pie. Every legislative change should
be most carefully, considered N the
light of our marriage and divorce
statistics.
Statistics of sickness and death |
are among the community's chief
means Of preventing suffering and
saving life. The health officer must
know where cases of contagious
disease are found, for only IN this !
way can he check epidemics and pro-
tect the people. Death certificates
tell the modern health officer just
what are the chief weaknesses in his
arrangements. Too many
cases Of typhoid fever point to bad
water supply, to an inadequate sew
erage system or to polluted milk /
A large number of deaths from tub
erculosis points out distinct health
policy to the community and tells !!
definitely whether the facilities ut
hand are sufficient to cope with the
situation. To-day, no community
can properly safeguard the health of |
its people if it has not at hand ac-
:urate and complete statistics Of sick
ness and death.
The United States Government
'as made Registration Areas of those
States that possess accurate records
Of births and deaths. The Regis
tration Area for deaths includes
States; the Area for
births, on the other hand, consists
Of only eight States. These are the
six New England States and Penn
sylvania and Michigan. In other
words, this Area is still in its in
fancy
Is your State included in the Reg
stration Area for births, as we'll as
for deaths?' If not, your State is
not taking proper care of the in
.erests of its citizens.
You should safeguard the welfare
IF yourself and of those near and
lear to you by supporting in every
manner the registration
If accurate and complete vital statis-
,ics. Id.
T. Vital statistics cost money. The
'unds at the disposal OF the health
officer must be sufficient to cover
he cost of gathering and interpret
q the records of his office Pro-
,ide him with sufficient assistance
md you will find that his work will
show results from the beginning.
The saving in human life and ener-
~ will be more than sufficient to
,av for the small added cost.
Run your government on the same
plan that good business men
rave found necessary and profita-
,le. Discover where there is disease
md check it. Learn where there is
oss of human life and provide facil-
ties for saving it.
Vital statistics is good business.