Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1889 — CIRCULAR LEITER DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOT, [ARTICLE]

CIRCULAR LEITER DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOT,

Census Office, Washington, D. 0.. May 1,1889. To the Medical Profession : The various me leal associations and the medical prefession will b* glad to learn that Dr. John S. Billings, Surgeon U. S. Army, has com* tented to take charge of ihe Report on the Mortality and Vital Statistics of the United States as io th* Eleventh Census: As the United Stales has no system of registration of vlt d statistics, sueh as is relied opon by other civilized nations for the purpos of ascertain ing the actual movement of population, our census affords tho only opportunity of obtaining Dear an ape proximate estimate of ths birth and d®ath rates of much the larger partoi the country, which is entirely unprovided with any natisfaetory system of State and municipal registration. In view of this, tho Census Office, during the month of May this year, will issue to the medical profession throughout the country “Phvsician’s Registers” for the purpose of obtaining more accurate returns of deaths than itis possible for the enumerators to make. It is earnestly hoped that physicians in every part of the country will co -operate with the Ceacu-’ Cffiee in this importaat work, The reeord shou'd oe kept from June I, ’BB9, to May 31,1890. Nearly 26.000 of these registration books were filled up and returned to the office in 1880, and nearly all of them used for statistical purposes. It is hoped that do ble this number will be obtained for tho Eleventh Census. Physicians not rec iving Registers can obtain them bv sending their names and addresses to the Census Office, and. with the Register, ac official envelope which requires no stamp will be provided for their turn ‘o Washington. If all medical and surgical practitioners throughout the country will lend their aid, the mortality and vital stati tics of the Eleventh Census will be more eomprehensive aud com* plete than they have ever been. Eve. rv physician should take a personal pricU in having this report as full and accurate as it is mssiole to make K It is hereby promised tfi.-.t all information obtained -hroKgh this source shall beheld strictly confidential. ROBERT P. PORTER, Superintendent of Cetsus.