| Show health board summarizes statistics infant mortality rate decreases as compared with last year on the basis of returns of the first six months of this year as released by the state board of health 1939 gives promise of being another record year in public health in utah the most striking evidence of this is the trend of infant mortality which is said to be the truest index of public health conditions the rate for the first six months was per 1000 live births as compared with the all time full year low figure of in 1937 and the second lowest of in 1938 maternal mortality thus far is exactly the same as last years record low of 3 per 1000 live births during the first six months there were in the state births indicating a years total of approximately as compared with last years the highest number since 1926 on the other hand the general de death ath rate for the first six months of this year was 9 as compared with a record low of 93 in 1938 the three largest cities with the exe exception c eption of ogden have a general death rate slightly higher than the average while the rural rate 82 I 1 is s low lower e r ta than i an the s state ta te rate sevier county showed a higher general death as well as a higher infant mortality rate than the state average district 5 under the utah state board of health with headquarters here was about in the middle of the scale not lot taking into consideration the three largest cities in the state e only one other county daggett dagge with a death rate of 15 had a higher rate than sevier countes coun tys rate race of 11 beaver iron uintah and utah rated 10 deaths each 1000 population while other counties varied from 4 in some oi of the smaller counties to 9 in sevier county during the first six months of this year there were 64 deaths or 11 to the thousand of population births with 10 cases of infant mortality reported to give the infant rate of 60 per 1000 live births and one stillbirth for other counties under the district 5 office of the utah state board of health figures are as follows juab 37 deaths births seven cases of infant mortality giving a rate of 70 per thousand births 2 stillbirths a general death rate of 9 per 1000 population millard 39 deaths births 4 cases oi af infant mortality giving an infant death rate of 31 2 stillbirths a general death rate of 8 sanpete 75 deaths births with 7 cases of infant mortality giving an infant death rate of 35 per 1000 live births 1 stillbirth and a general deathrage death rate of 9 per 1000 population wayne 4 deaths 36 births one case of infant mortality giving an infant death rate of 28 23 per 1000 births and a general death rate of 4 per 1000 of population death certificates and birth cir indicate whether or not the persons are utah or out of state residents and they are separated in the statistical report those from out of state not being included in the above figures several important causes of death indicate a marked improvement for 1939 respiratory tuberculosis bercu losis diabetes pneumonia and all violent and accidental accident ai deaths show an enormous decline thus far compared with 1938 on the other hand degenerative diseases associated with old age which have been increasing steadily for years are again higher this year cancer cerebral hemorrhage heart disease sea and nephritis a of the kidneys all show a marked increase over 1938 communicable diseases with the notable exception of influent luena which reached its highest in january F february and march ire ae r an eplly very much lower than in 1938 according to the summary of causes of death persons died of disease of the heart during the first six months of this year while cancer placed second as a cause of death with victims next in line were diseases of early infancy infancy Y and nephritis is apoplexy accidents c other than automobile bronchopneumonia 82 other pneumonia 67 auto accidents primary Tary 57 appendicitis 47 and various others while the figures disclose points of interest they should not be accepted as conclusive because they represent reports over a short period only authorities maintain that a five year period gives a fair picture of health conditions condition s and the state board will continue its work until such figures can be completed maintained was sent to cal flood fl d stricken families 1000 was given transient war vets and their families who had not been able to secure aid from other local agencies mrs edith poulson and mrs T mr S H E beat beal have served as president and secretary respectively of the chapter the past year A call will be made in the near future for everyone who has joined the red cross to meet and elect officers for 1941 A fact little known to the public is that the red cross accounts are audited by the war department and approved by congress it is also interesting to note that the american red cross donated heavily to war veterans and those in army and navy service last year it sent to the league of red cross societies for work vork in other countries As an utah assisted persons stricken by the jordan bus tragedy the bingham snow slide and the carbon mine accident each year a new day is born in which we as americans and the most fortunate people on earth have the opportunity to provide vide a fund against the inevitable disaster and human need with a major catastrophe in some american city every third day and our own possible involvement in in war we appeal to your generosity ero sity there yet remains 15 days in which to join the red cross if you have not all ready done so keep the red cross ready KEN ISBELL roll call chairman |
