II. THE INAUGURATION OF A MODERN SYSTEM, 1800-1849
ROBERT GUTMAN
GOOD vital statistics system should record all the births
and deaths which occur in the communities covered
by the system. The records of birth should list, in
addition to the name of the new born, the name and age of
the child's parents, the father's occupation and age, and the
birth order of the child in the family. The records of death
ought to include the cause of death, the age and sex of the
decedent and his occupation. Other facts might be added, but
what is essential is that the registered information enable the
demographer, the statistician, and the physician to understand
the sources of change and variation in the trend of fertility and
mortality. The records should be collected by a central agency,
preferably an agency staffed by personnel trained in medical
and statistical matter. Collection by a central agency allows
a registration system to possess still another characteristic of
a good system, namely, the analysis and presentation of fertility
and mortality data in a fashion useful to the professions work
ing in the fields of demography and public health.
Original Title
Birth and Death Registration in Massachusetts: II. The Inauguration of a Modern System, 1800-1849
II. THE INAUGURATION OF A MODERN SYSTEM, 1800-1849
ROBERT GUTMAN
GOOD vital statistics system should record all the births
and deaths which occur in the communities covered
by the system. The records of birth should list, in
addition to the name of the new born, the name and age of
the child's parents, the father's occupation and age, and the
birth order of the child in the family. The records of death
ought to include the cause of death, the age and sex of the
decedent and his occupation. Other facts might be added, but
what is essential is that the registered information enable the
demographer, the statistician, and the physician to understand
the sources of change and variation in the trend of fertility and
mortality. The records should be collected by a central agency,
preferably an agency staffed by personnel trained in medical
and statistical matter. Collection by a central agency allows
a registration system to possess still another characteristic of
a good system, namely, the analysis and presentation of fertility
and mortality data in a fashion useful to the professions work
ing in the fields of demography and public health.
II. THE INAUGURATION OF A MODERN SYSTEM, 1800-1849
ROBERT GUTMAN
GOOD vital statistics system should record all the births
and deaths which occur in the communities covered
by the system. The records of birth should list, in
addition to the name of the new born, the name and age of
the child's parents, the father's occupation and age, and the
birth order of the child in the family. The records of death
ought to include the cause of death, the age and sex of the
decedent and his occupation. Other facts might be added, but
what is essential is that the registered information enable the
demographer, the statistician, and the physician to understand
the sources of change and variation in the trend of fertility and
mortality. The records should be collected by a central agency,
preferably an agency staffed by personnel trained in medical
and statistical matter. Collection by a central agency allows
a registration system to possess still another characteristic of
a good system, namely, the analysis and presentation of fertility
and mortality data in a fashion useful to the professions work
ing in the fields of demography and public health.