THE

REGISTRATION OF VITAL STATISTICS

IN

CONNECTICUT.

BY

PROF. C. A. LINDSLEY, M.D.,

NEW HAVEN.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, YALE COLLEGE, DECEMBER, 1878.

REGISTRATION.

It is one of the remarkable illustrations of real progress in modern times, that up to a very recent date, in the history of civilized mankind, no visible efforts whatever were made to ascertain the number of births and deaths within a given period, or the actual population of any political organization or state. It seems surprising to us that the cultured Greeks and the practical Romans should have overlooked the great importance and the political relations of these matters. After the decline of the Greek and Roman civilization, it is quite intelligible, however, that they should be neglected through the dark period of the middle ages. Doubtless after the reviving influences of the Christian era, the subject would have received much earlier attention had not a theological element interfered and retarded any early efforts to obtain statistical information respecting the condition of the people. As in the time of Galileo, misinterpretation of the Holy Scriptures barred the progress of astronomical investigation; so for long after, certain words* of the Bible were understood to imply that any attempt to number the people was contrary to the Divine will, and would provoke the resentment of God.

It has been only in quite recent times that any have been bold enough to declare that it is not sinful to "number" the people, but a positive duty of those to whom the interests of the people are entrusted, not only to number them, but also to obtain as much other information bearing upon their physical condition as is convenient, in order that it may be best known how to promote the people's welfare.

To England, more than any other country, belongs the honor of

*1 Chron., xxi: 1. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." Seventh verse: "And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel." And again, chap. xxvii., 24th 'Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel."

verse:

establishing the foundation upon which is based the most successful system of the registration of births, marriages, and deaths. Whatever of the character of science belongs to the study of vital statistics, is due, in great part, to the persevering earnestness and effectiveness with which the subject has been pursued in that country.

It is the policy of the English government, when it has determined upon an important undertaking in any department of the civil service, to address itself to the execution of it by applying to it at once the means and the men which are best adapted to carry it to a successful issue. The conservative nature of their government, and their long experience, have established settled. maxims and rules of legislation, by which, as a matter of course, the men for official trusts are chosen with an intelligent discrimination respecting their fitness for the duties to be imposed upon them. And they in turn, confident of the positions to which they are appointed, and not subject annually to the fickle caprices of a popular election, give their attention to the fulfilment of their trusts, as to a permanent pursuit, from which they are not liable to be ejected at the next turn of the political crank. And so they devote themselves to discharge the duties of their office with the enthusiasm and zeal arising from personal interests.

In this special branch of the civil service in England, a most remarkable progress has been made; and it is largely through the special efforts of its officers. By their own personal influence, and by their writings and addresses, diffusing the knowledge which they acquire among the people, England has advanced beyond all other countries, both in legislation respecting the vital statistics, and in their practical results. But under our government, "the best government the sun ever shone upon," the circumstances are vastly different. The uncertain tenure of office, the character of the officials, who so often hold their positions as a reward for party service rather than because of fitness for their duties, have, with other things, almost wholly divested this service of any feeling of interest or zeal in its performance. So it has too often happened that the registrars of births, marriages, and deaths have performed their duties in a perfunctory manner-indifferent to, and perhaps even ignorant of, the magnitude of the interests entrusted to them. Neglect on the part of officials has been contagious, and seriously affected those whose duty it is to furnish the registrars the facts for record. It is the lamentable truth that in almost every town in the

State, disregard of the requirements of the law, both by physicians and clergymen, is so common as to excite no attention. Even mutual agreements are often arranged between them and the registrars, by which the methods of the law are ignored and their own adopted instead. Indeed, there are many physicians and some clergymen who wholly neglect, under any methods, to render to the registrars certificates of births, marriages, and deaths.

PUBLIC SENTIMENT A FORCE, TO BE CULTIVATED AND UTILIZED.

The great governing power in our times is public sentiment. Legislation is an apt and ready means of carrying into effect and making practical public sentiment. But legislation opposed to public sentiment is inert, inoperative, and almost a blank.

Not only in Connecticut, but everywhere, the prominent hindrance to exact registration of vital statistics which has been encountered, is, public indifference. The people are not informed of the importance of the subject, and do not appreciate its value. The recording and preserving a few facts concerning the birth, marriage, and death of the individuals of a community does not impress the common mind with any ready appreciation of its utility. The scant attention that it occasionally attracts among the people too often only provokes the half scornful and wholly uninterested question, "What's the use of it all?" The average American citizen is eminently practical, and his never-to-be-surrendered love of liberty will not tolerate any new restrictions upon his personal actions, or the imposition of any new social duties, unless they commend themselves to his approbation by their practical utility, and their promise of results productive of personal advantage. The first most desirable thing, therefore, to bring about is the education of the said American to the just appreciation of the value of vital statistics. He must be taught to "see the use of them. Just as soon as a fair majority of the people can be made to understand that the collection and full registration of the few particulars relating to the three great events in a human life, viz., the birth, marriage, and death, may be made the source of information which is essential to their physical and social happiness, health, and prosperity, then may success be expected. We can rely with confidence upon the expectation that our citizens are sufficiently endowed with the selfish principles of human nature to look out for their own interest when the certainty of that interest once is made plain to them.