246 CLKMENTS. 



Fj'om the statistk'S it would ai)itear tliat smallpox was entirely an 

 affection of chilclhood. This probably resulted from the fact that the 

 entire existing population of 1905 was vaccinated against smallpox and 

 that this was repeated in March of the present year by representatives 

 of the Bureau of Health ; in addition, vaccinations Avere performed yearly 

 by the local health officer. 



The birth register of the town is not so reliable as that of the deaths, 

 the former being merely a copy of the baptismal records of the parish 

 church; therefore, probably a small percentage of the births escape 

 iregistration. This percentage is, however, small, as practically the 

 entire population is Catholic and religious observances occupy a large 

 place in the daily life of the people. In regard to baptisms, we were 

 told that this rite is customarily performed from thirty to forty days 

 after birth, and is the first occasion on which the mother leaves the 

 house after her confinement. 



The registered births are 114 males and 103 females for 1907, and 

 203 males and 164 females for 1908, the respective rates per thousand 

 being 35.60 for 1907, and 60.22 for 1908. 



