Report of N. D. Stebbins, M.D., on registration.

  • Stebbins, N. D.
Date:
[1857?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of N. D. Stebbins, M.D., on registration. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    atious questions as to the settlement and support of pau- pers, and would be better enabled to avoid expensive litiga- tion growiDg out of that subject. The equitable descent and distribution of the estates of intestates would be more certainly secured, and the prompt and more certain iden- tification of individuals, when from similarity of names or other causes, it would otherwise be difficult, would be an- other important benefit. The progress of population for purposes of political economy, developing the operations of certain fixed laws relative to the subject, could be as- certained and defined at stated periods by the proposed measure. Considerations equally cogent, would seem to require a similar registration of births and deaths. Statistics of mortality, showing the extent and causes of deaths in dif- ferent localities, have been demonstrated by the experi- ence of those States and countries where such a law exists, as of the first importance in many respects. In determin- ing whether death in certain cases, results from natural causes or otherwise, whether by disease or violence, mur- der or accident, it has been frequently found of the great- est moment in the trial of important causes in the courts. For ascertaining the relative number of deaths occur- ring in the various sections of the State, and their causes, and by comparing the numbers in certain given localities, eliciting iuquiry as to any disparity that may exist, wheth- er it is caused by stagnant water, or a violation of any of the other laws of health, thus suggesting the remedy to be applied for removing disease, an act for registering deaths, would be found of great value. Much information would also be elicited as to the influence of occupation upon health, in regard to hereditary taint, such as consumption, scrofula, &c, and would show the urgent necessity of en- deavoring to remove such cause when within the reach of medical science; and it would do much, too, to awaken the public to the necessity of preventing the introduction of