IMPROVEMENTS IN CHILD HYGIENE

Abstract

to make a record of each person buried in a cemetery and these records should be available for inspection by agents of the State Board of Health at any time they so desire. In our state the law requires that the State Board of Health may require reports at any time from sextons or other cemetery keepers to this department. Another possible means of securing death returns which may be previously unregistered is that of requiring casketmakers to return the sale of caskets within the given community, and that these be checked against the death certificates returned. Both of these means while of relative value, are not in any way to be expected to check many failures to return death records. Perhaps the greatest means of all is the constant education of the public to the value of the registration of births and deaths and with the special emphasis upon that of births. We have found that by means of motion pictures, newspaper editorials and lectures that we reach a great many people. A vast majority of the persons directly interested in their children may be reached through the Parent-Teacher Association and through the individual women's clubs. In those states which are largely rural, you will also secure publicity through the Grange. Finally, frequent reference to registration should be made in the bulletins of your department, so that the physicians and others concerned will be constantly reminded of their duty in this matter.