The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-05-08
PREMATURE Births
CLAIM HEAVY TOLL,
REPORT INDICATES
CongenitaI Debility, MaItorma-
ton, Commissions, Entritis
Other Causes
PNEUMONIA GREAT HAZARD
Expert Recommends Education
Program in Connection With
Health Department

A total of 7,O18 children under 10
years of age died in North Dakota
during the last five years from causes
termed largely preventable," accord
ing to figures compiled by Miss Vi
letta Roche, director of the state bu-
reau of vital statistics.
Miss Roche, in a tabulation OF
death causes for various ages up to
70 years and over, covers a flve-year
period from 1925 to 1923.
The largest number of c!ll.d deaths
occur at birth or shortly afterwards,
North Dakota statistics show. In the
age group of one day to three weeks
a total Of 2,05l deaths are recorded
for the five year period, premature
births taking the heaviest toll, LAG.
Congenital debility caused 32l deaths,
malformations, 100, commissions l4l,
pneumonia 140, and enteritis ll3.
Pneumonia was the greatest hazard
for children one month to one year
old, with 572 deaths attributable to
that cause out of a total death toll OF
l.1O8 within the group for the five
wear period. Enteritis, whooping
cough and commissions were the aus
for the remaining fatalities.
A total of 1927 deaths Is recorded
in the age group Of under one year.
with 1920 fatalities caused from pre-
mature births, 703 from pneumonia
AIS from c%ongenital debility. 382 from
enteritis, 269 from commissions. 264
from malformations, 1859 from injury
at birth, $50 from whooping cough.
$50 from influenza and 104 from dis
eases of early infancy.
Many Premature Births
Commenting on these figures, Miss
Roche pointed out that premature
birth causes almost four times as
many deaths as any other cause IN
the early age group.
Premature BIRTH" she said, us
classed as one of the 10 leading causes
of death in North Dakota. The extra
hazard to the mother of a stillbirth
Is enormous. This excessive loss OF
life surely calls for special study"
"Once through the natal period
with a reasonable degree Of safety
the baby spends the balance OF the
year fighting enteritis and pneu-
monia. Outside Of the hazards at
tendant upon birth, pneumonia Il
away in the lead. Enteritis follows
with about half as many. Whoopine
cough and influenza are in the II
leading causes under one year.
In this connection, it is interesting
to note that more males die under
one ear of age than females.
During the period from one to two
years, the baby'S troubles are mucr
the same, except that he Is beginning
his trips of exploration and accidents
enter the field. They are to be most
prominent the rest Of his life, II the
baby is really a he because accidents
are the leading cause OF death tol
males up to so years OF age"
For the five-year period 44S chill
dren within the one year age group
died in North Dakota, the most prom
inent cause being pneumonia, With
accidents next.
Has Many Diseases
The child after the age OF one
seems to be "a walking dictionary OF
communicable diseases" Miss Roche
said, and tuberculosis joins the lead
ing causes and perSistently remains
there until 10 years Of age"
"Diphtheria makes its bow In the
leading causes and remains there up
to 20 years of age" she continued
In Germany. every death from diph-
liberia results in an investigation and
the person responsible is prosecuted
Are we too careless with a disease
that is 100 per cent preventable?
1.-The two-year group is much the
same except that accidents and en-
teritis change places. and Appendix
citis Joins the ranks and remains
until so, as a leading cause"
In the two-year age group, 299
deaths occurred in the state from
1925 to 1929, with pneumonia causing
70, enteritis So, accidents so, influenza
q, appendicitis %, and whoopine
cough, measles, scarlet fever, diph-
iberia, Ind tuberculosis the remain
der.
A toll of 26O was taken in the
three-year age group, pneumOnia
again causing the heaviest number Of
fatalities, AZ. Accidents are next with
81, and appendicitis third with 81.
"A diminishing mortality in gen.
eral makes all factors Of less impor-
lance in the three-year group" Mis-
Roche said. If the baby gets by
the first two years, he stands q pretty
good chance in the third year as thu
STI(KfRS