100 BIRTH REGISTRATION 



States, and is giving most excellent results. As examples may 

 be mentioned Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Missouri. Pennsylvania 

 had endeavored to secure registration of vital statistics for fifty 

 years, but it was not until the model law was adopted in 1905 

 that results were secured; the State was admitted to the regis- 

 tration area for deaths for the year 1906. Ohio had much the 

 same experience. Imperfect laws had been in force since 1857, 

 resulting only in worthless vital statistics ; the model law enacted 

 in 1908 was an immediate success and the State was admitted 

 to the registration area for deaths beginning with 1909. Missouri 

 had virtually no system of vital statistics, although a foolish 

 law constructed on the old county system had been in effect 

 many years. The model law adopted in 1909, went into effect 

 on February 1, 1910. The State is thoroughly organized and 

 excellent results are already being obtained. 



In all of these States, and in other States where advanced legis- 

 lation has been adopted, some slight opposition has been en- 

 countered, but the cordial support of the more progressive 

 members of the medical profession, and the hearty interest of 

 the press and public in the valuable results gained, may be fully 

 counted upon. We may cite an editorial comment from the 

 Journal of the American Medical Association, July 9, 1910, on 

 "Upholding the Ohio Law:" 



"An Ohio physician was convicted of violating the vital 

 statistics law by persistently refusing to report births. He was 

 not a member of a county society, but in appealing the case to 

 the Supreme Court he solicited financial aid from the societies. 

 On this account the matter came before the House of Delegates 

 of the State society. That body wisely expressed its disapproval 

 of this violation of the law, and also of the action of those county 

 societies which had extended aid to this physician. In effect the 

 resolution adopted by the Ohio House of Delegates says that the 

 vital statistics law of Ohio should be upheld by physicians and 

 strict compliance with it insisted upon. We believe this is right. 

 A physician who refuses to comply with the law does not ap- 

 preciate his responsibility or his obligation to the State. The 

 attitude of physicians in such matters should be carefully con- 

 sidered. It is an axiom in the legal profession that every lawyer 

 who has been admitted to the bar is in fact an officer of the 

 State. The State has granted him certain privileges, in addition 

 to placing its seal of approval on him in the form of a license to 

 practice medicine. In return for this he is under moral, and 

 in some states legal, obligations to render a fair and proper 

 return by promptly performing the duties his position requires. 

 The importance of vital statistics is known better to physicians 



