Arizona republican., 1920-04-21

actual necessity for requiring the fii- ing of the birth certificate within five days. This not only tends to secure accuracy. but it guarantees that the number of births accredited to each month will be approximately correct. A longer delay would serve no good purpose since 1t would, undoubtedly. result in less accuracy. and because II would provide additional ''tomorrows'' for the procrastinator. would provide just that many additional temptations to delay.
 The undertaken is made responsible for getting the data required by tho death certificates and the local regis trar is required to see that the matter Is properly attended to. The law quires that bodies must be buried promptly. It also requires burial permit before the interment can be made. and the local registrar is for bidden to issue such a permit until a complete and satisfactory death cer- tificate has been filed with him.
 The medical profession has a special interest in the accuracy and fullness of that part of the certificate relating to the cause of death. The course Of epidemics. the presence of widespread infection, the existence of various i'm proper conditions are all exposed and emphasized by the death certificate. Yet it is in the medical data that the most culpable carelessness is usually exposed.
 Every death certificate must be signed by either the attending physi- elan. or, in case there was no medical attendance. by the local registrar or the coroner. The local registrar may sign the death certificate when he is satisfied by the evidence of dependable parties as to the cause of death and is sure that there was no criminahty in volved. The coroner is the only person authorized to sign a certificate read ing. Cause unknown" This indicates that the matter has been fully invest- gated and that neither the relatives nor the county or city physician can as- sign a cause.
 clans of the state are not reporting the existence of infectious and com municable diseases fully.
 But with July l. 1919. and the begin ming of our cooperation with the fed eral government in it's campaign for the control of venereal diseases, came the absolute necessity for using these records. We were also allowed linn ited funds that. while not ample, still made it possible for us to make val uable use of all the reports called for. Our department arranged not only to file these reports, but to tabulate them daily so that a glance would show the existence of various diseases in any part of the state. With the pro feSSion reporting as the law requires, the state board of health will be able to sound warning of the spread of an infection and. as you all know, the pre- knowledge of danger adds to the eff fectiveness with which it can be com batted.
 It would be waste of your time and mine to point out to this meeting the necessity for the prompt reporting Of infectious diseases. You have all suf- fered from the laxnesS of the practi- tioner who. through ignorance, care IeSSneSs or because he wanted to curry favor with some patient, failed to make his reports and allowed carriers free access to unsuspecting neighbors.
 We are up against the question: Gan we afford any laxness?" l think you will agree with me that it is too costly.