Milford chronicle., 1919-11-14
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
REGULATES VITAL STATISTICS

hEGULhlEO VIAL OlAIDlILO
Delaware is one Of the few States
that is not yet included in the Death
/ Registration Area of the United States.
/ that is, in the area in which death
records are filed in a manner that is
satisfactory to the Federal authorities.
I The main objections that have been
raised against the Delaware system
of registration are % that the laws
were inadequate, (2) that the laws
that were on the statute books were
not enforced and 90 and that many
deaths were not recorded and that
proper checks were not applied to de-
termine whether or not deaths were
recorded.
The first objection has been rem0v-
ed by the adoption of regulations that
are satisfactory to the Federal author
tiles. The second objection has been
removed by the expressed intention of
the present State Board of Health to
secure full compliance with the vial
statistics law. To determine whether
or not the third objection has been re-
moved an investigation will be made
early in November by representatives
of the Federal Bureau of the Census.
If this investigation shows a satisfac-
tory condition Delaware will be ad-
mitted to the Death Registration Area
before the end of the present year.
For some time the State Board of
Health has been conducting a check
Of the death registration by means of
Independent reports received from in
terested women throughout the State
and from undertakers. The results .
warranted the application to Washing
ton for an official test The Board
wishes to express its appreciation OF
the cooperation that it has received
from the citizens of the State in fur
nishing information that has been of
the greatest value and it bespeaks the
continued cooperation of every citi-
zen to the end that Delaware may soon
acquire a leading position among the
registration States of the country.
Local Registrars Of Vital Statistics
For purposes Of accurate registra-
ton of births deaths and marriages ,
the State has been divided into nine
main registration districts, each Of
which is in charge of a local registrar. 4
While these officials are not employ
,es of the State Board of Health, they
IRE appointed by the State Registrar {
md are subject to all Of the rules and
that may be prescribed Z
~ the State Board of Health or by the {
State Registrar. The salary of these
egistration officials is paid by the re- I
pective county treasurers in the form {
f fee of twenty-five cents for each
ertificate received, entered and filed
y them. The law provides that three
xact transcripts shall be made by the
)cal registrar of each certificate that
; filed with him; one for his own
flee, one for the Office of the County
ecorder and one for the Office of the g
tate Registrar. The original certi- u
ltes are sent to the office of the d;
tate Board of Health on the tenth ol
ny of each month, where they are al
filed. n,
The effort is now being made to Sc
Ire the appointment of a suitable b
lmber of additional local registra- er
On officials, to act under the control N,
the nine registrars to whom refer TN
ice has been made, so that every sec
)n of the State will be represented an
? a person who will have practically in
mplete knowledge of every birth,
ath or marriage that occurs in his ST.
strict. By this means it is hoped hC
at accurate registration in Delaware nc
ii soon be an accomplished fact. As ia
on as these additional officials have
en- appointed, a list of all the reg SD
ration districts in the State, to- fri
ther with their respective officers
Il be published. 70
operation from Federal Authorities sn
The State Board of Health is re- Nc
living the heartiest cooperation from
e United States Public Health Ser OF
ce and from other Federal agencies w
its campaign to improve health lu
nditions in Delaware. In addition IN
the special Federal venereal dis q
Sc fund to which reference was ny
lde recently. the Federal government
paying the entire expenses of a Il"
'rker who is cooperating in the sup
essiOn of venereal diseases among "
'men. The franking privilege was tmn ~
anted the Board for all reports and ini
concerning venereal ca
seases. One of the films shown in
e education work throughout the u
ate was lent by the Government, and 2. =
the request of the Board the United F.
ates Public Health Service per-
tied the special venereal disease
ntrol officer to wear the uniform
the service, with the designation of pu
Mr.. Wells, as special health com ne ne
ssioner, has been designated collab- ua
lting epidemiologist for the United \,
ates Public Health Service, and this ~, ~,
pointment carries with it full frank p Pu
privileges on all communicable -
lease control work, reports, etc. Not D.
ly does the Public Health Service ~ ~
'nish the stationery and envelopes. eh, ~,
it prints free of charge all the ~, ~,
nker postal cards on which the
gsicians make reports OF commune Vic
lie diseases 'is
I0NC NFcK ed