Annual report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the North Carolina State Board of Health

              Ci)c Hitirarp
of t^t
Onitiewitp of Bonh Carolina
Collection ot iRottf) Catoliniana
»9Bo
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
00032761832
This book must not
be taken from the
Library building.
11 Apr '4,
Annual Report
OF THE
BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS
OF THE
North Carolina
State Board of Health
1931
a>6
JAMES M. PARROTT, M. D.
STATE HEALTH OFFICER
CONTENTS
Introduction 7
GENERAL TABLES
Table I.—Births and deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) with rate per
1,000 population: 1914 to 1931 14
Table II.—Births (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by color
with rate per 1,000 population, per cent attended by physicians,
and number illegitimate: 1931 15
Table Ila.—Births (exclusive of stillbirths) in each city of 10,000
population or over in 1930, by color with rate per 1,000 popu-lation,
per cent attended by physicians, and number illegiti-mate:
1931 17
Table III.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) for the state as a whole
from each cause, by sex, color and age of decedent: 1931 18
Table IV.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by color
with rate per 1,000 population: 1931 64
Table V.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by cause
of death (abridged International List), and by color of dece-dent:
1931 66
Table VT.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each city of 10,000
population or over in 1930, by cause of death (abridged Inter-national
List), and by color of decedent: 1931 86
Table VII.—Death rates per 100,000 population in each county, from
10 important causes, with estimated population of each county:
1931 90
Table VIII.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) by cause, by certain sub-divisions
of the first year of life: 1931 92
Table IX.—Deaths under 1 year of age (exclusive of stillbirths),
and maternal deaths in each county with rates per 1,000
live births: 1931 94
Table X.—Cases and deaths from special diseases by months of oc-currence:
1931 96
Table XI.���Cases from 25 of the reportable diseases, by counties: 1931. .100
Table XII.—Death rates per 100,000 population from 10 important
causes, for the state as a whole, with estimated population for
each year: 1914 to 1931 104
LETTEE OF TRANSMITTAL
Raleigh, IST. C, November 17, 1932.
To His Excellency, O. Max Gardner,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh.
My dear Sir:
I have the honor of transmitting the report for the Bureau of Vital
Statistics covering the calendar year, 1931.
With assurance of my very great respect, I am
Very sincerely,
James M. Parrott,
p/e Secretary and State Health Officer.
IJ^TRODUCTION
The Bureau of Vital Statistics was created by an Act of tlie General
Assembly of 1913 wbich made the State Board of Health the custodian
of all records of births and deaths, and the Secretary of the State Board
of Health, by virtue of his office. State Registrar of Vital Statistics.
The law went into force on July 1, 1913, but the collection of birth and
death records did not start until the following October.
The first annual report published by the Bureau of Vital Statistics
related to 1914. Reports have been published for every year since, with
the exceptions of 1918 and 1919, although the 1920 and 1921 reports
consisted of only a few tables in the Health Bulletin.
]^orth Carolina was admitted to the U. S. Registration Area for
deaths in 1916 and for births in 1917. The Registration Area, now
comprising 47 states, is made up of those states in which presumably
90% of the births or deaths are registered with the Bureau of Vital
Statistics, with satisfactory completeness regarding certain collateral
information deemed pertinent.
In the present report the abridged International List of Causes of
Death has been used where deaths are given by counties and cities, in
preference to the complete list used in former reports. The complete
International List of Causes of Death has been used where information
has been tabulated for the State as a whole. It is believed that this
change is justified in that it makes the information more readily avail-able
and still loses nothing in the degree of completeness looked for in
published reports of this nature. Any one desiring more detailed in-formation
regarding any item can secure it by inquiry to the Bureau.
Tables have been combined, condensed or omitted when it was thought
advisable, and a few entirely new ones added. In this way much repeti-tion
has been avoided and the size of the volume diminished.
Statistics of Births
The total number of births reported in 1931 in North Carolina was
74,743 in an estimated population of 3,217,000. This gives a birth rate
of 23.2 per 1,000 population. The total number of stillbirths was
3,646 with a ratio of 4.8 per 100 live births.
The birth rate in this State has declined from 31.2 in 1914 to a low
of 23.2 for the present year, with a high of 33.4 for the year 1921.
y>/4
Annual Report, I^ineteen Thirty-One
B'ifik /^ayc
34
32
North Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 9
states. The low rate is especially noteworthy when it is considered that
29.4 per cent of our population is colored, this group usually running
a higher death rate than that prevailing among a white population. The
29.4 per cent of our population which is colored accounted for 38.7
per cent of all deaths in 1931.
2>ed// T^ak
U
/2
io
10 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
deaths from all causes, entire state—1931
Color
ISToETH Caeolina Bueeatt of Vital Statistics 11
190
12 Annual Eepoet, ISTineteen Thirty-One
Kegarding pellagra, the highest death rate ever recorded from this
disease in North Carolina occurred in 1930 when 1,015 deaths were
reported as due to this cause. This is a rate of 31.8 per 100,000. In
1931 the rate was 21.6, representing 696 deaths from pellagra and this
rate is materially less than that recorded in any of the past five years.
The greatest improvement in the trend of mortality in the communi-cable
diseases is shown for diphtherial In the three years 1914, 1915
and 1916 diphtheria caused 1,314 deaths. This is compared with the
829 deaths from diphtheria reported in 1929, 1930 and 1931. Diph-theria
is a disease for which we have a specific protective vaccination
and is, therefore, a disease against which public health activities can
be very eJBfective, It is to be noted that approximately five-sixths of
the deaths from diphtheria occur in children under five years of age.
This points out the group in which prophylactic measures can most
profitably be applied.
Infants under one year, comprising approximately 2,4 per cent of
the population, suffered 16.5 per cent of the total deaths. However, the
death rate per thousand reported live births was 73 in 1931, which is
the lowest recorded rate in the 18 years of registration. It is a matter
of satisfaction that the trend in mortality in this group is downward,
though it is still far above what it should be. Evein with this great
improvement in the infant mortality rate, it is higher than that of the
United States registration area as a whole. The 1931 rate for the 46
registration states, according to the provisional report of the United
States Census Bureau, is 61,7.
The rates given in this report are crude rates, in the calculation of
which no allowance is made for differences in the sex, age and color
distribution of the population. Deaths are recorded as from the place
of death, regardless of normal place of residence of the decedent, and
in calculating the death rate of any county or city, the non-resident
deaths are included. Counties and cities which are medical centers
may show an unusually high birth or death rate due to these non-resi-dent
births or deaths. These factors must be taken into consideration
when rates of different localities are compared. Tor the State as a
whole, 90% of the deaths are believed to be reported. For any single
area this percentage may be above or below that figure, and this degree
of completeness of reporting deaths should also be borne in mind when
comparing two areas.
Vital Statistics are of practical value to every citizen of the State.
Birth and death records have a wide variety of uses which are of great
importance to individuals. For health organizations, accurate certifi-cates
are essential if our true problems are to be known, if our pro-
K^OETH CaEOLIIS'A BuREAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 13
grams are to be intelligently planned, if we are to ascertain the effec-tiveness
of procedure, and if errors in our work are to be detected. In-complete
records may lead to costly mistakes. It is, therefore, incum-bent
upon every good citizen of North Carolina to do whatever possible
to promote the completeness of our birth and death records.
14 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE I-BIRTHS AND DEATHS (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS) WITH RATE PER
1000 POPULATION FOR THE YEARS 1914-1931 INCLUSIVE
Year
JSToETH Carolina Bueeau of Vital Statistics 15
table II—births (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS) IN EACH COUNTY, BY COLOR.
WITH RATE PER 1000 POPULATION, PER CENT ATTENDED BY PHYSICIANS,
AND NUMBER ILLEGITIMATE—1931
Num
ber Rate
Num
ber Rate
Num-ber
Per Cent
Attended by
Physicians
White Colored
Number
Illegitimate
White Colored
74,743
964
348
134
606
535
379
839
563
610
456
1,887
627
1,011
868
87
352
423
1,011
442
408
273
150
1,213
1,076
695
1,154
106
130
1,135
365
856
1,445
1,065
2,468
717
1,826
228
113
722
543
2,869
1,355
1.030
764
544
378
323
158
943
452
1,430
23.2
22.2
26.7
18.6
20.5
25.4
31.5
23.6
21.5
26.8
28.6
18.4
20.7
22.1
29.9
15.8
20.5
22.8
22.3
18.2
25.0
23.9
27.2
22.4
27.8
22.5
24.8
15.7
25.0
22.9
25.1
20.5
21.6
21.2
24.0
22.4
21.5
18.8
24.8
28.5
20.5
24.9
26.3
26.4
22.6
21.3
22.1
18.3
19.7
25.1
24.3
51,806
739
318
128
286
526
374
481
185
328
274
1,629
579
847
926
368
1,706
332
1,631
84
111
319
302
2,326
458
756
719
511
103
762
430
1.103
22.8
21.2
26.7
18.7
20.1
25.5
31.9
22.0
16.3
24.8
27.6
19.2
20.9
22.5
30.3
11.5
20.5
20.1
22.8
16.8
25.2
23.5
27.5
23.5
26.1
21.9
24.5
13.9
23.9
22.7
24.8
23.0
20.3
17.3
22.0
19.8
23.7
15.2
19.1
21.7
30.5
21.2
20.0
26.7
25.4
23.4
14.1
16.9
13.2
19.9
25.4
24.3
22,360
225
26.4
18.0
28.4
24.7
6.4
15.0
26.4
23.3
25.5
18.8
15.4
24.4
1,286
10
16
1
3
24
24
7
3
12
7
49
31
15
37
16 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE U—Contimied
County
North Caeolina Bureaij of Vital Statistic 17
table II-A—births (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS) IN EACH CITY OF 10,000 POPULA-TION
OR OVER IN 1930, BY COLOR, WITH RATE PER 1,000 POPULATION, PER CENT
ATTENDED BY PHYSICIANS, AND NUMBER ILLEGITIMATE-1931.
Totals...
Asheville
Charlotte
Concord
Durham
Elizabeth City
Fayetteville...
Gastonia
Goldsboro
Greensboro
High Point....
Kinston
New Bern
Raleigh
Rocky Mount.
Salisbury
Shelby
Statesville
Thomasville...
Wilmington
Wilson
Winston-Salem
Num
ber Rate
20.8
20.4
19.2
21.0
21.2
19.6
26.4
23.4
21.1
19.3
21.9
24.4
17.1
16.9
20.1
18.4
20.5
18.3
25.0
24.7
27.9
21.5
Num-ber
1,192
216
764
110
231
352
159
819
757
178
82
414
21.6
22.1
20.3
21.3
22.0
17.1
28.8
24.6
19.1
20.0
24.0
27.8
14.3
16.1
Num-ber
Rat«
19.3
16.0
16.7
19.5
19.9
23.6
22.8
18.1
23.3
17.3
13.7
20.3
19.7
18.5
20.2
17.0
17.8
9.4
25.8
22.4
29.6
20.2
Per Cent
Attended by
Physicians
White Colored
46.6
56
34
38
52
27
32
46
33
70
53
5
18
47
55
35
31
75
93
53
15
59
Nurnber
Illegitimate
White Colored
18 Annual Repokt, I^ineteen Thirty-One
table iii—deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) for the state
Cause of Death
Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
Males
1. Typhoid fever.
2. Paratyphoid fever.
3. Typhus fever
5. Undulant fever.
6. Smallpox.
8. Scarlet fever.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
5,459
3,077
1,803
25
1,249
2,382
1,306
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 19
AS A WHOLE FROM EACH CAUSE, BY SEX, COLOR AND AGE—1931
><
2
20 Annual Report, Nineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
Whooping cough
.
10. Diphtheria.
11. Influenza.
13. Dysentery.
15. Erysipela
S. Acute poliomyelitis and acute polioen-cephalitis
17. Lethargic or epidemic encephalitis
.
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningiti
E'OETH CaEOLINA BuEEATJ OF YiTAL STATISTICS 21
22 Annual Eeport, IThsteteen Thiety-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
23. Tuberculosis of the respiratory system.
24. Tuberculosis of the meninges and central
nervous system
25. Tuberculosis of the intestines and peritoneum
26. Tuberculosis of the vertebral column
.
27. Tuberculosis of the bones and joints (ver-tebral
column excepted)
I Male-..
1^ Female
[Male...
iFemale
(Male...
[Female
(Male...
1 Female
(Male...
iFemale
( Male...
IFemale
Male...
IFemale
(Male...
IFemale
(Male...
(Female
(Male...
[Female
fMale...,
IFemale,
IMale....
I Female.
28. Tuberculosis of the skin and subcutaneous
cellular tissue
'Male....
IFemale.
Tuberculosis of the lymphatic system (bron-chial,
mesenteric and retroperitoneal
glands excepted)
30. Tuberculosis of the genito-urinary system.
31. Tuberculosis of other organs.
Disseminated tuberculosis.
[Male...
[Female
fMale...
iFemale
(^Male...
IFemale
Male
Female.
'Male....
Female.
Male
^Female.
fMale....
IFemale.
Male....
IFemale.
North Caeolusta Bureau of Vital Statistics 23
£
><
3
Annual Report, Nineteen Thikty-One
Cause of Death
34. Syphilis.
35. Gonococcus infection and other venereal
diseases
Purulent infection, septicemia, nonpuerperal
40. Ankylostomiasis -
42. Other diseases caused by helminths
43. Mycoses.
44. Other infectious and parasitic diseases
II. Cancer and Other Tumors
Males
XoRTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 25
s
s
26 Annual Eepoet, ]N'ineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
45. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
buccal cavity and pharynx..
46. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
digestive tract and peritoneum
47. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
respiratory system
48. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
uterus
49. Cancer and other malignant tumors of other
female genital organs
50. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
breast
51. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
male genitourinary organs
62. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
skin
53. Cancer and other malignant tumors of other
or unspecified organs
54. Nonmalignant tumors
55. Tumors of which the nature is not specified.
W Female.
I Female.
C Female.
W Female.
C Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
C JMale....
\Female.
W Male....
I Male....
C Male.-..
iN'oRTH Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 27
1
s
s
28 Annual Kepoet, Nineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
III. Rheumatic Diseases, Nutritional Dis-eases,
Diseases of the Endocrine
Glands and Other General Diseases
56. Acute rheumatic fever.
57. Chronic rheumatism, osteoarthritis.
59. Diabetes mellitus.
60. Scurvy.
62. Pellagra.
63. Rickets.
65. Diseases of the pituitary body.
66. Diseases of the thyroid and parathjToid
glands...
W fMale....
1 Female.
C |Male....
\ Female.
120
216
1
2
105
252
W fMale...
iFemale
C fMale...
[Female
W fMale.... 1
\Female.
NOETH CaEOLINA BuEEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 2&
£
30 Annual Repoet, I^ineteen Thirty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
Total...
White...
Colored.
Total...
White...
Colored.
W fMale....
1 Female.
C |Male....
\Female.
W fMale...,
iFemale
C |Male...,
\Female,
W fMale....
iFemale
C fMale....
\Female.
W fMale....
^Female
C |Male...
[Female
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
ISToETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 31
i
><
s
2
32 Annual Eepokt, Nineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
Progressive locomotor ataxia (tabes dorsalis)
1. Other diseases of the spinal cord.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
W (Male....
iFemale.
I |Male....
1 Female.
C |Male....
1 Female.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
[Male...,
IFemale,
IMale...
I Female,
IMale...
[Female
fMale....
IFemale.
IMale
IFemale.
IMale.-..
[Female.
W fMale....
iFemale.
C |Male....
[Female.
W fMale....
[Female.
C |Male...,
[Female.
iN'oETH Cakolina Bureatj of Vital Statistics 33
>>
2
34 Annual Eepoet, ISTineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
82. Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism
and thrombosis
General paralysis of the insane.
84. Dementia prsecox and other psyche
85. Epilepsy.
3. Convulsions (under 5 years of age).
87. Other diseases of the nervous system.
Diseases of the organs of
). Diseases of the ear and of the mastoid proc-
VII. Diseases of the Circulatory System
Males
90. Pericarditis.
W fMale....
1 Female.
C JMale....
\Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
C |Male—
.
\ Female.
2,358
1,605
5
748
I^OKTH CaEOLINA BuKEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 35
i
><
2
o
36 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE III-Cavise
of Death
Acute endocarditis
.
92. Chronic endocarditis, valvular disease.
93. Diseases of the myocardium.
Diseases of the coronary arteries and angina
pectoris
Other diseases of the heart.
96. Aneuryism (except of the heart).
97. Arteriosclerosis (diseases of the coronary
arteries excepted)
Gangrene.
Other diseases of the arteries.
W fMale....
^Female.
C |Male....
\Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
I |Male....
1 Female.
C JMale....
\Female
W fMale...
\Female
I /Male....
1 Female
C JMale...
\Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
I JMale....
1 Female.
C JMale....
\Female
W fMale...,
I^Female
I JMale...
^Female
C [Male...
\Female
W fMale...
iFemale
C |Male...
\Female
W fMale...
^Female
C |Male...
1 Female
W Male...
[Female
IFemale
W fMale..
1 Femal
C |Male..
[Female.
XOETH CaEOLIXA BuKEAr OF VlTAL STATISTICS 37
i
><
CS
O
38 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE III—
Cause of Death
North Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 39
g
s
40 Ai^^^NUAL Report, ISTineteeist Thikty-One
Cause of Death
W [Male....
^Female.
I |Male....
1 Female.
C fMale..-
1 Female.
W (Male....
1 Female.
C JMale....
[Female.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
1,254
815
10
429
1,052
645
jSToeth Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 41
1
o
42 Annual Eepoet, Nineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
115. Diseases of the buccal cavity and annexa
and of the pharynx and tonsils (including
adenoid vegetation).
116. Diseases of the esophagus.
117. Ulcer of the stomach and duode
118. Other diseases of the stomach (cancer ex-cepted)
119. Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years of age)
120. Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over).
121. Appendicitis.
122. Hernia, intestinal obstruction .
3. Other diseases of the intestines.
124. Cirrhosis of the liver
.
W (Male...
\Female,
C fMale...,
\Female,
W fMale...
\Female
W fMale...,
iFemale,
C |Male....
\remale,
W fMale..-.
1 Female.
C |Male....
\Female.
W fMale....
iFemale.
I JMale....
1 Female.
C f.Male....
(Female.
W /Male....
Female.
Male....
Female.
Male.—
Female.
W (Male....
iFemale.
I |Male....
iFemale.
C JMale....
1 Female.
W (Male....
iFemale.
I |Male....
1 Female.
G |Male....
\Female.
W fMale....
iFemale.
C JMale....
\Female.
W fMale..-.
1 Fernale
-
C fMale....
iFemale.
IToRTH Cakoli]S"a Bureau of Vital Statistics 43
1
s
44 Annual Eepoet, iSTineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
KoKTH Carolina Bukeatj of Vital Statistics 45
i
i
46 Annual Report, Nineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
132. Nephritis (unspecified, 10 years and over)
.
133. Other diseases of the kidneys and ureters
(puerperal diseases excepted)
134. Calculi of the urinary passages.
135. Diseases of the bladder (tumors excepted)
.
136. Diseases of the urethra, urinary abscess, etc..
137. Diseases of the prostate.
Diseases of the male genital organs, not
specified as venereal.
139. Diseases of the female genital organs, not
specified as venereal .-
XI. Diseases of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and
THE Puerperal State
140. Abortion with septic conditions.
141. Abortion without mention of Septic condi-tions
(to include hemorrhage)...
142. Ectopic gestation.
W Male....
C Male...
W Male..
C Male..
W Female
C Female
143. Other accidents of labor (not to include
hemorrhage)
Total
NoKTii Caeolixa Bureau of Vital Statistics 47
><
2
S
48 Annual Repokt, ISTineteen Thikty-One
TABLE III—
Cause of Death
XoRTH Cakoli:s"a Bureau of Vital Statistics 49
50 Annual Repokt, JSTineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
154. Osteomyelitis.
155. Other diseases of the bones (tuberculc
excepted)
156. Diseases of the joints and other organs of
locomotion
XIV. Congenital Malformations
Males
157. Congenital malformations (stillbirths not
included)
XV. Diseases of Early Infancy
Males...
158. Congenital debility.
159. Premature birth.
Male.—
Female-
Male....
1 Female.
(Male-..
[Female.
C fMale....
\Female.
W fMale.-..
1 Female
Total...
White...
Colored-
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored-
Male.—
Female.
I /Male....
Female.
C /Male....
Female.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
W (Male..-.
I Female.
Male....
Female.
*Male....
[Female.
'Male.-.
Female.
Male
.Female.
Male....
1 Female.
1,723
1,006
15
702
1,333
694
10
ISToRTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 51
12
52 Annual Report, ISTineteen Thiety-One
TABLE III-W
(Male....
^Female.
I |Male....
1 Female.
C |Male—
.
\Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
C JMale....
\ Female.
Total...
While...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
W (Male...,
iFemale.
C JMale....
[Female
iN'oKTH Caeolina Bukeau of Vital Statistics 53
£
03
>>
«5
54 Annual Repoet, I^ineteen Thiety-One
TABLE Ill-
Cause of Death
167. Suicide by firearms.
168. Suicide by cutting or piercing instruments..
9. Suicide by jumping from high places.
171. Suicide by other means
.
172. Infanticide (murder of infants less than one
year of age)
173. Homicide by firearms.
174. Homicide by cutting or piercing instruments
175. Homicide by other means.
176. Attack by venomous animals.
177. Poisoning by food.
178. Accidental absorption of poisonous gas.
Male....
Female.
Male....
[Female.
fMale...
iFemale
[Male...
1 Female
(Male....
(^Female
fMale...
iFemale.
(Male....
\Female.
[Male..-.
1 Female.
fMale....
\Female.
fMale....
I Female.
(Male...,
I Female
(Male...
[Female.
fMale...
IFemale
fMale
I^Female.
fMale
iFemale.
[Male
l^Female.
fMale....
1 Female.
[Male....
\Female.
[Male....
[Female.
[Male....
(Female.
fMale....
[Female.
fMale....
iFemale.
ISToETH Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 55
i
3
56 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
XoKTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 57
1
s
58 Annual Kepoet, E'ineteen Thikty-One
Cause of Death
189. Hunger and thirst.
Excessive cold.
191. Excessive heat.
192. Lightning.
193. Accidents due to electric currents.
194. Other accidents.
195. Violent deaths of which the nature (acci-dent,
suicide, homicide) is unknown
198. Legal executions
201. Accidents in mines and quarries.
202. Accidents in agricultural machinery.
205. Other machinery accidents.
206. Railroad and automobile collisions
.
XoKTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 59
j2
o
2
60 Annual Eeport, Nineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
207. Other raikoad accidents.
208. Street car and automobile collisions
209. Other street car accidents.
210. Automobile accidents (primary)
.
211. Motorcycle accidents.
212. Other land transportation accidents.
213. Water transportation accidents.
214. Air transportation accidents
XVIII. Ill-depined Causes of Death
Males -
199. Sudden death.
W I Male....
\Female.
W fMale....
1 Female.
I JMale...
iFemale.
C |Male....
iFemale.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored-
IMale.
IFemale.
IMale....
I Female
I Male
IFemale.
590
204
12
374
121
72
2
5
75
73
I
XOKTH CaEOLIXA BuREAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 61
Annual Report, ITineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
ISToKTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 63
2
64 Annual Report, ^STineteen Thiety-One
TABLE IV-DEATHS (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS) IN EACH COUNTY, BY COLOR,
WITH RATE PER 1,000 POPULATION—1931
County
Entire State
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Avery
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden
Carteret
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay
Cleveland
Columbus
Craven
Cumberland
Currituck
Dare
Davidson
Davie
Duplin. _
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth
Franklin
Gaston
Gates..
Graham...
Granville
Greene
Guilford
Halifax
Harnett.
Haywood
Henderson
Hertford
Hoke.
Hyde.
Iredell
Jackson
Johnston
Jones
Lee
Num-ber
10.2
9.5
7 .5
5.7
10.1
8.5
12.7
10.9
8.5
12.1
12.3
12.4
8.8
8.2
6.9
10.7
8.4
7.6
9.5
13.3
6.3
14.2
12.2
9.9
8.0
9.0
10.6
8.9
14.0
10.7
11.1
2.0
10.8
9.6
10.6
9.1
8.6
12.0
11.8
5.9
9.9
9.1
11.5
Num-ber
20,107
305
90
40
126
151
102
226
92
107
110
10.3
8.1
7.6
11.1
11.6
12.4
6.0
8.3
5.1
10.3
6.5
7.0
8.2
10.9
11.2
9.6
7.9
8.5
10.3
7.4
11.4
9.1
8.0
8.6
7.7
11.8
Num-ber
Rate
IsToKTH Cakolhsta Bueeau of Vital Statistics 65
TABLE 1\—Continued
Lenoir
Lincoln
McDowell
Macon
Madison
Martin -..
Mecklenburg...
MitcheU
Montgomery.-.
Moore
Nash
New Hanover.
Northampton
.
Onslow..
Orange
Pamlico
Pasquotank...
Pender.
Perquimans
Person
Pitt
Polk
Randolph
Richmond
Robeson
Rockingham..
Rowan
Rutherford...
Sampson
Scotland
Stanly
Stokes
Surry
Swain
Transylvania.
Tyrrell
Union
Vance
Wake
Warren
Washington...
Watauga
Wayne
Wilkes
Wilson...
Yadkin
Yancey
Num-ber
12.9
7.9
9.0
11.3
8.4
11.6
10.5
7.2
9.3
9.0
11.5
15.4
9.5
10.3
9.0
8.9
13.3
10.0
11.2
7.6
10.0
9.0
8.0
10.8
10.8
9.8
9.5
9.0
Num-ber
8.6
11.1
11.4
7.6
10.4
7.2
8.7
9.2
8.0
10.2
10.0
8.6
8.5
8.2
8.5
Num-ber
292
364
173
47
75
35
147
95
64
69
301
12
33
175
293
165
157
79
179
141
54
29
35
1
9
21
135
173
548
198
Note.—No estimated Indian population.
66 Annual Report^ Nineteen Thirty-One
table v—deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by cause of
Cause of Death
Entire State
White Indian Colored
Alamance
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Typhus fever
Smallpox
Measles
Scarlet fever...
Whooping cough
Diphtheria
Influenza
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Pellagra
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis..
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosi
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of respiratory (tuberculosis excepted)
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis
Cirrhosis of the liver
Other diseases of the liver
Other diseases of the digestive system
Nephritis
Other diseases of the genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy..
Senility
Suicide
Homicide
Violent and accidental (suicide and homicide excepted)
Cause not specified or ill-defined
32
419
1,177
114
30
38
6
76
201
32
1,369
317
25
213
607
713
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 67
death (abridged internatiomal list) and by color of decedent—1931.
Alexander
68 Annual Repoet, ISTineteen Thiety-One
Cause of Death
XoETH Cakolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 69
Burke
YO Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE V—
Cause of Death
NoKTH Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 71
Clay Columbus Currituck
W.
43 24
n Ajs^isruAL Eepoet, I^^ineteen Thikty-One
Cause of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Edgecombe
74 Annual Report, Nineteen Thiety-One
Cause of Death
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Typhus fever ,
Smallpox.
Measles
Scarlet fever ,
Whooping cough
Diphtheria -..
Influenza...
Tuberculosis of respiratory system
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis... ,
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Pellagra
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis..
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of respiratory (tuberculosis excepted)
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis
Cirrhosis of the liver..
Other diseases of the liver.
Other diseases of the digestive system...
Nephritis
Other diseases of genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy .
Senility
Suicide..
Homicide.
Violent and accidental (suicide and homicide excepted)
Cause not specified or ill-defined
NOETH CaEOLINA BuEEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 75
HajT^'ood
*7Q Annual Repoet, jSTineteen Thiety-One
Cause of Death
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Typhus fever
Smallpox
Measles
Scarlet fever
Whooping cough- -
Diphtheria -
Influenza
Tuberculosis of respiratory system
Other forms of tuberculosis ..
Syphilis
Malaria
Dysentery...
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors...
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatisfn and gout.
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Pellagra
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sens
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of respiratory (tuberculosis excepted)
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis
Cirrhosis of the liver
Other diseases of the liver...
Other diseases of the digestive system
Nephritis ---
Other diseases of genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy ...
Senility
Suicide
Homicide
Violent and accidental (suicide and homicide excepted...
Cause not specified or ill-defined
XoRTH CakoliXxS. Bureau of Vital Statistics
Lenoir
78 Annual Eepokt, ITineteen Thiety-Onj
Cause of Death
ISToRTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Naslx
80 Annual Eepoet, Nineteen Thiety-One
TABLE V—
Cause of Death
IsToETH Caeolina Bureau of Vitai. Statistics 81
Pitt
82 Annual Kepoet, N"ineteen Thirty-One
Cause of Death
Sampson
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Typhus fever
Smallpox
Measles
Scarlet fever
Whooping cough
Diphtheria
Influenza .._
Tuberculosis of respiratory system
Other forms of tuberculosis^
Syphilis
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant, tumors. _
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus - -
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Pellagra
Other general diseases and cnronio poisonings
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sense.
Diseases of the heart.
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis...
Pneumonias _
Other diseases of respiratory (tuberculosis excepted).
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis
Cirrhosis of the liver
Other diseases of the liver
Other diseases of the digestive system
Nephritis
Other diseases of genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy-
Senility
Suicide
Homicide
Violent and accidental (suicide and homicide excepted).
Cause not specified or ill-defined
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 83
Scotland
84 Annual Report, Nineteen Thikty-One
Cause of Death
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratjrphoid fever
Typhus fever
Smallpox.
Measles
Scarlet fever
Whooping cough
Diphtheria
Influenza..
Tuberculosis of respiratory system...
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis..
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis.
Epidemic cerebrospinal menmgitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors ,
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus..
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)...
Pellagra
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings ,
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of respiratory (tuberculosis excepted)
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)..
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis...
Cirrhosis of the liver
Other diseases of the liver.
Other diseases of the digestive system
Nephritis
Other diseases of genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy .
.
Senility
Suicide
Homicide
Violent and accidental (suicide and homicide excepted).
Cause not specified or ill-defined
North Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 85
Warren
86 Annual Report, ITineteen Thirty-One
TABLE VI-DEATHS (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS) IN CITIES OR TOWNS, BY CAUSE
Cause of Death
Asheville
Char-lotte
All causes—Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid iever
Typhus fever.-
Smallpox
Measles -
Scarlet fever
Whooping cough..
Diphtheria
Influenza.
Tuberculosis of respiratory system.
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and acute polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, nonmalignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Pellagra
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis .
Other diseases of nervous system and organs of special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of the respiratory (tuberculosis excepted)
.
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over)
Appendicitis
Cirrhosis of the liver...
Other diseases of the liver
Other diseases of the digestive system.
Nephritis
Other diseases of the genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and the puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformations and early infancy ...
Senility
Suicide
Homicide.
Violent and accidental deaths (suicide and homicide ex-cepted)...
Cause of death not specified or ill-defined
3,812
13
North Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 87
OF death (ABRIDGED INTERNATIONAL LIST) AND BY COLOR OF DECEDENT- 1931
88 Annual Report, Nineteen Thirty-One
TABLE VI—
North Cakoli^'a Bureau of Vital Statistics 89
Rooky
Mount
90 Annual Report, I^ineteen Thirty-One
TABLE VII—DEATH RATES PER 100,000 POPULATION IN EACH COUNTY, FROM TEN
IMPORTANT CAUSES, WITH ESTIMATED POPULATION OF EACH COUNTY—1931
County
Entire State
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Avery
Beaufort.
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden
Carteret -..
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay
Cleveland
Columbus.
Craven
Cumberland
Currituck
Dare...
Davidson
Davie
Duplin.
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth
Franklin
Gaston
Gates
Graham
Granville
Greene
Guilford
Halifax
Harnett
Haywood
Henderson
Hertford
Hoke
Hyde
Iredel!
Esti-mated
Popula-tion
,217,000
43,300
13,000
7,186
29.500
21,000
12,000
35,500
26. 100
22.700
15,900
102,100
30,200
45,600
29,000
5,500
17,100
18,500
45,200
24,200
16,300
11,400
5,500
54,100
38,600
30,881
46,500
6,710
5,200
49,400
14,500
35,700
70,200
49, 100
115,900
29,800
81,400
10,600
6,000
29,000
19,000
139,600
54,400
39,100
28,900
24.000
17,700
14,600
Rate per 100,000 Population
26.0
18.4
15.3
27.8
6.7
4.7
53.5
22.9
44.0
69.1
15.6
3.3
19.7
10.3
54.5
17.5
10.8
22.1
16.5
18.4
149.1
18.1
18.4
38.8
19.4
38.7
14.9
12.1
34.4
36.4
12.8
50.9
27.6
36.9
15.9
37.7
10.3
42.1
14.3
25.7
38.3
20.7
12.5
62.1
27.3
13.9
16.9
14.2
50.0
11.2
3.8
8.8
6.2
10.1
6.6
2.1
10.3
5.8
5.4
6.6
12.3
36.8
8.7
18.1
7.3
3.2
6.4
4.3
10.0
6.1
7.1
5.5
10.2
17.3
12.5
21.6
16.1
16.9
4.7
16.6
19.7
22.9
4.4
12.5
12.7
172.1
35.0
6.6
41.3
6.1
8.7
16.6
12.9
29.1
25.8
14.9
19.2
16.1
34.4
11.2
27.0
12.2
23.2
16.7
27.0
9.4
|«l
65.4
38.4
44.0
23.8
16.6
73.2
45.9
48.4
88.0
!86.9
79.4
59.2
34.4
18.1
17.5
54.0
37.6
45.4
49.0
87.7
18.1
27.7
18.1
97.1
51.6
14.9
19.2
36.4
68.9
53.2
99.7
71.2
95.7
70.4
27.0
56.6
75.8
15.7
50.8
60.6
61.3
41.5
25.0
112.9
198.6
11.6
46.0
ISToKTH Caeolina Bureatj of Vital Statistics 91
TABLE \U—Continued
92 Annual Eepoet, Nineteen Thirty-One
table viii—deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) by cause,
Cause of Death
NoETH Caeolina Bueeau of Vital Statistics 95
BY CERTAIN SUBDIVISIONS OF THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE-1931
94 Annual Eepoet, ITineteen Thirty-One
TABLE IX—DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR OF AGE (EXCLUSIVE OF STILLBIRTHS), AND
MATERNAL DEATHS IN EACH COUNTY WITH RATES PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS-1931
County
Total for entire State
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Avery
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe..
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden
Carteret
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay.
Cleveland
Columbus
Craven
Cumberland
Currituck
Dare
Davidson
Davie
Duplin
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth
Franklin
Gaston
Gates
Graham
Granville _
Greene
Guilford
Halifax
Harnett
Haywood
Henderson
Hertford
Hoke
Hyde
Iredell
Jackson
Johnston
Jones
Lee
Infant Mortality
XoRTH Carolina BrKEAU of Vital Statistics 95
table IX—Continued
County
Infant Mortality
Number
Deaths
Maternal Mortality
Number
Deaths
Lenoir
Lincoln ,
McDowell
Macon
Madison
Martin
Mecklenburg..
Mitchell
Montgomerj'.
Moore
Nash
New Hanover
Northampton.
Onslow
Orange
Pamlico
Pasquotank...
Pender
Perquimans..
Person
Pitt
Polk
Randolph
Richmond
Robeson
Rockingham _
Rowan
Rutherford
Sampson
Scotland
Stanly...
Stokes
Surry
Swain
Transylvania.
Tyrrell
Union
Vance
Wake
Warren
Washington ..
Watauga
Wayne
Wilkes
Wilson
Yadkin
Yancey
112.0
84.1
62.0
74.9
49.9
89.6
69.3
58.9
62.8
53.6
88.2
114.2
92.1
53.6
64.0
62.0
89.4
73.5
111.5
50.0
94.8
49.3
57.7
81.2
78.5
67.5
60.0
60.5
70.1
129.5
67.6
68.2
57.2
61.1
27.1
62.0
58.5
80.0
72.0
81.9
128.2
32.8
82.3
41.7
100.2
46.9
52.3
96 Annuai Eepoet, N"i]srETEEN Thiett-One
TABLE X—CASES AND DEATHS FROM SPECIAL
Disease
]^OETH CaBOLINA BuEEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS
DISEASES BY MONTH OF OCCURRENCE—1931
Mar.
98 Annual Report, Nineteen Thertt-One
Disease
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Mar.
100 Annttal Eepoet, Nineteen Thikty-One
table xi-cases from 23 of the
County or City
Opa
Alamance,.
Alexander
.
Alleghany
.
Ashe
Avery
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe
Asheville
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden
Carteret.
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee.
Chowan
Clay....
Cleveland.
Columbus
Craven
New Bern
Cumberland
Currituck
Dare
Davidson
Davie .-
Duplin
Durham
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth..
Winston-Salem
.
Franklin
Gaston
Gates
Graham
Granville
Greene..
Guilford....
Greensboro
High Point
Halifax
Harnett
Haywood
Hertford-
Hoke
Hyde
Iredell..
-
Jackson...
Johnston
.
ISToRTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 101
reportable diseases, by COUNTIES-1931
102 Annual Eepokt, JSTineteen Thirty-One
TABLE XI—
County or City
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 103
1
104 Annual Report, ^"ineteen Thikty-One
TABLE Xir—DEATH RATES PER 100,000 POPULATION FROM TEN IMPORTANT CAUSES,
FOR THE STATE AS A WHOLE, WITH ESTIMATED POPULATION FOR EACH YEAR—
1914 TO 1931