Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1901 — Dr. Hurty Writes a Letter [ARTICLE]

Dr. Hurty Writes a Letter

Giving Good Reasons Why the Burial Permit Is Good. Editob Republican: Dear Sir: The laws of Indiana command that dead human bodies shall not be interred without a permit, and that no permit shall be issued by health officers until there is presented a Certificate and Record of death fully filled out. The form of Certificate and Record is furnished by the State Board of Health, and all that is required upon the death of any one, is for the attending physician to immediately fill out the Certificate which would not take three minutes. If no physician is in attendance then the householder or health officers may write the. Certificate. As a burial permit may be secured wherever a coffin can be purchased, and there is no fee, it is plain no hardship is impose. Now the object in telling this is to show the great importance to the people of knowing who are dead, where they died and what was the cause of death. Au instance illustrating this iinportanoe appears from Jasper County. Sometime in 1900, one Ray W. Drewett died in the county, but no Certificate and Record was made out and the body was buried without a permit. Probably the physioan, if any. and probably the family also thought getting a permit was all nonsense. Anyhow, as said, Certificate was not made out. Now comes the family and for some suffioent reason, possibly on account of property, pension or insurance, wants a transcript of the Certificate and Record of death of the deceased. Of course, none is to be had, but a good illustration is given of the advantages of the law, and now the family wanting the Certificate and the physioan who failed to issue it can fully appreciate what an error it was not to comply with the law. It is always best to obey laws, even if they are bad laws, but it is especially foolish and wrong to disobey or disregard a good law. Another and greater benefit of correct death records is the lesson they contain for the whole state. A civilized state should obviously know the number of people in the state, know how many die eaoh year and where they die and what they die of* As much disease and consequent death may be.presented, and as death records tell when the preventable deaths occur, such statistics show when prevention may best be applied. Again, every person will contend that it is important for intelligent government that all possible information concerning the state should be secured. Let us hope that the good people of Jasper and all other counties of Indiana, demand for their own good, that the law in regard to recording deaths and also all the laws be faithfully obeyed. Respectfully

J. N. HURTY, M. D.,

Secretary of the State Board of Health, Indianapolis, Ind.