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

              allf? Sltbraru
ImufrBttg of 5CiirtIj OlaroUna
aiflUprlt0n of Nflrtly Olarnlimana
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
00032761912
FOR USE ONLY IN
THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
1939
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
1939
CARL V. REYNOLDS, M. D.
SECRETARY
AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER
CONTENTS
in
t
Page
Introduction 7
GENERAL TABLES
Table I.—Total births and deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) with rate
per 1,000 population for the years 1914-1939, inclusive 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, 1939 15
Table II-A.—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 lUegimate,
1939 19
Table III.^Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) for the State as a whole
from each cause, by sex, color and age 1939 (includes all deaths
occurring in North Carolina) 20
Table IV.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by color,
with rate per 1,000 population, 1939 64
Table V.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in each county, by cause
of death (abridged international list) and by color of decedent,
1939 68
Table VI.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) in cities or towns, by
cause of death (abridged international list) and by color of
decedent, 1939 118
Table VII.—Death rates per 100,000 population (by place of death,
also by place of usual residence) in each county, from nine
important causes, with estimated population, 1939 128
Table VIII.—Deaths (exclusive of stillbirths) by cause by certain
subdivisions of the first year of life, 1939 132
Table IX.—Deaths under 1 year of age (exclusive of stillbirths), and
maternal deaths in each county with rates per 1,000 live births,
1939 .„_. 134
Table X.—Cases and deaths from special diseases by month of occur-rence,
1939 136
Table XI.—Cases from 30 of the reportable diseases by counties,
1939 140
Table XII.—Death rates per 100,000 population from ten important
causes, for the State as a whole, with estimated population
for each year 1914-1939 - ._ 144
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Raleigh,
March 3, 1941.
To His Excellency, J. Melville Broughton,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh.
My dear Governor Broughton:
I have the honor of transmitting the report for the Bureau
of Vital Statistics covering the calendar year 1939.
With assurance of my very best respect, I am
Very sincerely,
CARL V. REYNOLDS, M. D.,
Secretary and State Health Officer.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF
VITAL STATISTICS
This annual report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics presents
tabulations of births and deaths for the calendar year 1939. The
Bureau of Vital Statistics was established July 1, 1913 by legis-lative
enactment and began the registration of births and deaths
in October of the same year, but it was not until 1916 for deaths
and 1917 for births that registration was complete enough for
admission to the United States Registration Area.
The first annual report contained tabulations for 1914, and a
report has been published annually ever since with the exception
of 1918 and 1919. Beginning with the 1931 report county and
city tabulations have been made according to the abridged Inter-national
List of Causes of Death. State tabulations have con-tinued
to be made according to the detailed International List.
The present report follows the plan begun in 1932 of tabulating
births and deaths both by place of occurrence and by place of
residence. Births have been allocated to the legal residence of
the mother and deaths to the place of legal residence before death
of the deceased. In order to permit comparison with years before
tabulations by place of residence were begun, deaths and births
have been recorded by place of occurrence and by place of
residence.
Although tabulation by residence corrects one, probably the
greatest, source of error in comparing the rates of different
localities there are other factors that must be taken into con-sideration.
For example, the rates given in this report are crude
rates in the calculation of which no allowance is made for the
differences in sex, age and color distribution of the population.
Furthermore, the degree of completeness of reporting may vary
in different localities and this should be taken into consideration
when comparing the rates of two areas.
Population
The population estimates for the State and its political sub-divisions
should be approximately correct since they were
calculated arithmetically following the 1940 census. State rates
are based on an estimated population of 3,534,000.
Natality
Live Births: The birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 population
was slightly lower than for 1938. In actual numbers there were
8 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
78,957 births compared to 79,903 in 1938. Of the 78,957 live
births, 53,222 were white; 24,932 negro; and 803 Indian, repre-senting
rates of 21.4 per 1,000 population for white and 24.2 for
negro. The birth rate ranged between 30 and 35 per 1,000
population from 1914 to 1924. From the latter date the rate
dropped rapidly to 24.7 in 1929 and since that time there has
been only a slight downward tendency.
Stillbirths: In conformity with statistical practice, the still-births
were not included in the totals of either births or deaths,
but tabulated separately. There were 2,870 stillbirths, or 216
fewer in 946 less births than in 1938. This represents a decline
in the stillbirth rate from 38.6 to 36.3 per 1,000 live births.
Mortality
In the compilation of mortality statistics the cause of death
as stated by the physician is used as the basis of classification by
causes. Since the accuracy of statistics can be no greater than
that of the material upon which they are based, it is desirable
that physicians give as accurate and complete a diagnosis of the
cause of death as possible. A specific cause, rather than a
general condition or symptom, is essential if the greatest ac-curacy
is to be expected. Failure to conform with this rule
necessitates that hundreds of certificates be queried yearly as to
cause of death in order to classify them correctly.
The health conditions in North Carolina for 1939 as indicated
by the death rate were, in general, more favorable than for the
preceding year. There were fewer deaths recorded from all
causes combined and consequently a lower death rate than for
1938. The 31,785 deaths, exclusive of stillbirths, represent an
annual death rate of 9.0 per 1,000 population. The mortality
rate for 1938 was 9.5 per 1,000 population. The mortality rate
for 1937 was 9.7 ; for 1936, 10.3 ; and for 1935, 9.8. Considered
in terms of total deaths, the number reported for 1939 was 1,779
fewer than for 1938.
When the deaths are analyzed by cause it is discovered that
the group of degenerative diseases caused approximately the
same number of deaths as in 1938. This group—heart diseases,
chronic nephritis, apoplexy, cancer, diseases of the arteries, and
diabetes mellitus,—six in all, accounted for 14,675 in 1938 and
14,533 in 1939. These degenerative diseases accounted for ap-proximately
46 per cent of all deaths in 1939 and 44 per cent in
1938.
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 9
Table 1. Deaths From Degenerative Diseases
'Number
Cause of Death 1938 1939
Heart Diseases 5,819 5,704
Cerebral Hemorrhage 3,051 3,020
Chronic Nephritis 3,057 2,923
Cancer 1,915 1,993
Diabetes 379 498
Diseases of the Arteries 454 395
Total 14,675 14,533
The principal causes of death in 1939 in order of their rank
were diseases of the heart, nephritis, apoplexy, the pneumonias,
congenital malformations and diseases of early infancy, violent
and accidental deaths, exclusive of homicides and suicides, cancer
and tuberculosis. This order is entirely different from that
shown twenty-five years ago, the first year of registration, when
tuberculosis ranked first with a rate of 139 deaths for every
100,000 population. Tuberculosis ranked eight in 1939 with a
rate of 51.3.
Heart diseases rank first in 1939 in the list of causes of death.
In 1914 there were 1,780 deaths charged to this condition and in
1939 diseases of the heart, including angina pectoris, accounted
for 5,704 deaths. This represents a rate twice that of 1914.
Cerebral hemorrhage, second in importance, was sixth twenty
years ago. The death rate from pneumonias has changed little,
but due to the increase in deaths from other conditions, pneu-monia
has dropped from second to sixth place. Diarrhea and
enteritis, a major cause of death in 1914, is ninth in 1939. The
rate has fallen from 98.8 per 100,000 population in 1914 to 26.1
in 1939. Modern sanitary measures have played a large part in
reducing the death rate from diarrhea among infants.
Typhoid Fever: The death rate from typhoid fever, after a
slight increase in 1937, again showed a decrease, continuing the
downward trend shown annually since 1932 with the exception of
1937. The 48 deaths were 23 less than for 1938. The improve-ment
in the condition since the beginning of registration can be
appreciated by comparing the rate of 35.8 in 1914, or a total of
839 deaths, to the present low rate of 1.4 or 48 deaths.
Smallpox: There was no death from smallpox in 1939. With
the exception of one death in 1937 there has not been a death
10 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
reported from this disease since 1931. Fifteen cases were re-ported
to the Division of Epidemiology in 1939 and thirty-five in
1938.
Diphtheria: The record for 1939 shows five fewer deaths
and a slightly lower death rate from diphtheria than for 1938.
There were 168 deaths with a rate of 4.8 per 100,000 population
compared to 173 deaths with a rate of 4.9 for 1938. There was a
seventy per cent reduction in the mortality rate from this disease
from 1915 to 1932, but no significant decrease in the rate since.
In round numbers, five-sixths of the deaths from diphtheria
occur in children under five years of age. This indicates that
vaccination to be most profitable must be done long before the
child becomes of school age.
Influenza and Pneumonia: There w^ere 2,103 deaths from
pneumonia and 644 deaths from influenza, making a total of
2,747 recorded for 1939. The deaths from these two conditions
give a rate of 77.7 per 100,000 population for 1939 as against a
rate of 91.4 for 1938. There were 139 more deaths from influenza
during 1939 than for the previous year and 614 fewer from
pneumonias.
Tuberculosis: The death rate from all forms of tuberculosis
was 51.3 in 1939 and 52.2 in 1938. This represents a decrease in
actual numbers of 41. Tuberculosis ranked first among all causes
of death in 1914, but has fallen to eighth place in 1939. In the
past twenty years the mortality rate has declined by approxi-mately
65 per cent.
Of the 1,812 deaths from all forms of tuberculosis, 51.0 per
cent were males and 49.0 per cent females ; 39 per cent were white
and 61 per cent colored. The colored rate of 105.9 for tuber-culosis
is almost four times the white rate of 28.3.
Cancer: Cancer accounted for 1,993 deaths in 1939, giving
a rate of 56.4 against a rate of 54.3 for 1938 and 54.8 for 1937.
Taken over a number of years the general trend of cancer
mortality has been upward, but for four years prior to 1937 we
had at least held our own. In 1938 there were 3 more deaths than
in 1937, and 78 more this year than in 1938.
Pellagra: The 209 deaths from pellagra, representing a
mortality rate of 5.9 per 100,000 population, was a decrease over
the rate of 7.3 for 1938. There has been a downward trend in
mortality from this disease since 1930 with the exception of
1934 and 1937. The peak year for pellagra deaths was 1930 when
1,015 were charged to this disease.
NoKTH Caeoli>'a Bureau of Vital Statistics 11
Suicides and Homicides: There were 287 suicides in 1939
and 332 in 1938. The 45 fewer deaths decreased the rate from
9.4 per 100,000 population in 1938 to 8.1 in 1939. There were 39
fewer homicidal deaths in 1939 than in 1938, the totals being 408
and 369 respectively.
Accidental Causes: Violent and accidental deaths, exclusive
of suicides and homicides, accounted for 2,279 deaths, 62 more
than in 1938. Violent and accidental deaths rank fifth among
the principal causes of death. Automobile accidents accounted
for the greatest number of the accidental deaths. There were
917 deaths from all types of automobile accidents in 1939 and
906 in 1938. Railroad accidents, exclusive of collisions with
automobiles, caused 90 deaths in 1939 and 89 in 1938.
Maternal Mortality: The diseases of pregnancy, childbirth
and the puerperal state continued to exact a large number of
lives. Deaths from maternal causes and the maternal mortality
rates per 1,000 live births for the past ten years are shown in
Table 2. There were 396 maternal deaths in 1939 to 450 in 1938,
or 54 fewer deaths and 946 fewer births. This gives a maternal
mortality rate of 5.0 per 1,000 live births. There were 222 white,
172 negro and 2 Indian puerperal deaths, accounting for a death
rate of 4.2 per 1,000 live births for the white and 6.8 for the
colored.
Table 2.
—
Total Maternal Deaths and Rates,
1929-1939
Year No. of Deaths Ratt
1929 684 8.8
1930 645 8.4
1931 640 8.5
1932 555 7.1
1933 535 7.1
1934 605 7.6
1935 554 7.0
1936 532 7.0
1937 445 5.6
1938 450 5.6
1939 396 5.0
Albuminuria and eclampsia, as in previous years, accounted
for more of the puerperal deaths than any other single cause. The
second and third greatest offenders were puerperal septicemia and
puerperal hemorrhage, respectively. Albuminuria and eclampsia
12 Anxual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
with other toxemias of pregnancy account for 115 maternal
deaths, which is 29 per cent of all maternal deaths.
Infant Mortality: The total number of deaths under one
year of age was 4,670 or 791 fewer than occurred in 1938. The
rate for 1939 was 59.1 per 1,000 live births and 68.3 in 1938. Of
the total deaths 2,722 were white and 1,948 colored. This gave a
rate of 51.1 for the white and 76.7 for the colored. The number
of deaths of infants under one year of age and the infant
mortality rates per 1,000 live births for the past eleven years are
shown in Table 3.
Table 3.
—
Total Infant Deaths and Rates,
1929-1939
Year No. of Deaths Rate
1929 6,112 79.2
1930 6,021 78.4
1931 5,459 73.0
1932 5,173 66.4
1933 4,974 66.0
1934 6,196 77.9
1935 5,407 67.9
1936 5,221 68.4
1937 5,164 65.1
1938 5,461 68.3
1939 4,670 59.1
Five principal causes of infant mortality accounted for 68
per cent of all infant deaths. These causes with the number of
infant deaths charged to each were as follows:
Premature birth 1,438
Diarrhea and enteritis 541
Pneumonias 489
Sudden death (cause not specified) 445
Congenital malformations 289
Total 3,202
Of the 4,670 deaths of infants under one year of age 1,221 or
26 per cent died during the first day of life and 2,037 or 44 per
cent within the first week.
Registration
Every birth and death occurring in North Carolina should be
recorded with the Bureau of Vital Statistics. To the individual
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 13
the registration of a birth occurring in North Carolina makes it
possible always to obtain an official record of the facts sur-rounding
his advent into life. The purposes for which certified
copies of birth certificates are requested indicate that their value
is becoming more generally realized from year to year. The
National Defense Program has greatly increased the demand for
birth certificates to prove citizenship. Likewise, the demand for
death certificates show that this vital record is essential in up-holding
the right of citizens in the establishment of necessary
facts in the closing event of life.
Vital Statistics are of inestimable value to the public health
workers, but without complete registration full reliance cannot
be placed on the data. For health organizations accurate certifi-cates
are essential if our true problems are to be known, if our
programs are to be intelligently planned and we are to ascertain
their effectiveness and if errors in our work are to be detected.
It is, therefore, important that every effort be made to promote
the completeness of our birth and death records.
14 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table 1. -Total Births and Deaths (Exclusive of Stillbirths) With Rate
Per 1,000 Population foe the Years 1914-1939 Inclusive
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 15
« I,
fH CO
pq SP
El
'D^ S^
O < U a,
W 5
< o
^ W
16 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 17
eq o —1 <3> lOt-rtOOtOgOOsJs'—s?ss5SSSS5S;:^f:sss
O CO lO -<
« CO -H (N CO -H rt ^^COOOiOWSCO-^Ci
18 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 19
CO
o
20 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table III.
—
Deaths (Exclusive of Stillbirths) for the Entire
Cause of Death Race and Sex
All Causes
.
I. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases:
Males
1. Typhoid fever.
2. Paratyphoid fever.
3. Typhus fever
5. Undulant fever.
7. Measles.
9. Whooping-cough.
Total. _.
White...
Indian..
Colored
-
Total.._
White..
-
Indian..
Colored.
Total..
White...
Indian..
Colored.
Total...
White...
Indian..
Colored
W fMale...
IPemale.
C fMale...
[Female-
C Male.
W fMale...,
\Female-
I Female
-
C fMale....
\ Female.
4,670
2,672
1,553
18
1,101
1,998
1,169
24
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
State From Each Cause, By Sex, Color and Age—1939
21
1
Annual Repoet Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table III—
Cause of Death
10. Diphtheria.
13. Dysentery.
15. Erysipelas.
16. Acute poliomyelitis and acute polioencephalitis.
17. Lethargic or epidemic encephalitis.
18. Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.
23. Tuberculosis of the respiratory system.
24. Tuberculosis of the meninges and central
nervous system
(Male...
I Female.
NOBTH CAEOLINA BUREAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 23
Continued
1
24 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 25
Continued
2
S
26 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III—
Cause of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 27
Continued
I
o
-2
Annual Repokt Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death
47. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
respiratory system
48. Cancer and other malignant timiors of the uterus.
49. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
female genital organs
50. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the breast.
51. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the
male genitourinary organs
52. Cancer and other malignant tumors of the sldn.
3. Cancer and other malignant tumors of other or
unspecified organs —
54. Non-malignant tumors
-
55. Tumors of which the nature is not stated-
Ill. Rheumatic Diseases, NtrrRiTiONAL Diseases,
Diseases of the ENDOCBraB Glands and
OTHER General Diseases:
W fMale-.--
l Female-.
C JMale—
.
^Female..
W Female-.
I Female-
C Female
-
W Female-
C Female-
W fMale—
\Female-
I Female
-
C Female.
W Male--
C Male—
W fMale—.
1 Female
-
C JMale—
\Female-
W fMale—
1 Female
-
C JMale-.
[Female-
IMale—
.
[Female-
Female-
(Male
1 Female-
(Male
1 Female-
Total--.
White-
Indian..
Colored.
Total- --
White—
Indian..
Colored.
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 29
Continued
><
3
to
30 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III
—
Cause of Death
56. Acute rheumatic fever
57. Chronic rheumatism, osteoarthritis
59. Diabetes mellitus
60. Scurvy
61. Beriberi
62. PeUagra
63. Ricjjets-
66. Diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands,
67. Diseases of the thymus gland
68. Diseases of the adrenals (Addison's disease,
not specified as tuberculous) —
69. Other general
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 31
Continued
s
32 Annual Report Nineteen Thiety-Nine
Table III
—
Cause of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 33
Continued
34 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III—
Cause of Death
NoKTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 35
Continued
E
i
s
36 Annual Report Nineteen Thirtt-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death
3,553
2,579
11
2,546
1,728
16
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 37
Continued
><
s
W3
Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 39
Continued
1
s
40 Annual Respobt Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death Race and Sex
103. Other diseases of the circulatory system.
VIII. Diseases op the Respibatort Sistem:
Males
104. Diseases of the nasal fossae and annexae.
105. Diseases of larynx.
107. Bronchopneumonia.
Lobar Pneumonia.
9. Pneumonia, unspecified.
110. Pleurisy.
1,123
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 41
Continued
i
42 Annual Repoet Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bxtreau of Vital Statistics 43
Continued
44 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Cause of Death
119. Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years of age).
120. Diarrhea and enteritis (2 years and over.).
121. Appendicitis.
122. Hernia, intestinal obstruction.
123. Other diseases of the intestines.
124. Cirrhosis of the liver.
125. Other diseases of the liver (including yeUow
atrophy of the liver)
126. Biliary calculi.
127. Other diseases of the gall-bladder and biliary
128. Diseases of the pancreas.
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 45
Continued
>>
S
46 Annual Repobt Nineteen Thiety-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 47
Continued
1
s
48 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death
137. Diseases of the prostate
138. Diseases of the male genital organs, not specified
as venereal
139. Diseases of the female genital organs, not specified
as venereal
XI. Diseases op Pheonanct, Childmrth and the
PuEUPERAL State:
Females
140. Abortion with septic conditions
141. Abortion without mention of septic abortion
(to include hemorrhages)
142. Ectopic gestation
143. Other accidents of pregnancy (not to include
hemorrhages)
144. Puerperal hemorrhage
145. Puerperal septicemia (not specified as due to
abortion)
146. Puerperal albuminuria and eclampsia
147. Other toxemias of pregnancy -.-
148. Puerperal phlegmasia alba dolens, embolus, sudden
death (not specified as septic)
149. Other accidents of labor
XII. Diseases or the Skin and Cellular Tissue:
Males
W Male.-
Male..
W Male..
C Male..
W Female
C Female
Total
White
Indian
Colored
White
Colored
White
Colored
White.
Colored
White
Colored
White
Colored
White
Indian
Colored
White
Colored
White
Colored
White
Indian
Colored
White
Colored
Total
White
Colored
NoETH Carolina Bubeau of Vital Statistics 49
Continued
1
s
50 Annual Report Nineteen Thiety-Nine
Table III
—
Cause of Death
155. Other diseases of the bones (tuberculosis excepted^-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 51
Continued
52 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table III-Cause
of Death
157. Congenital malformations (stillbirths not included)
.
W [Male...
1 Female.
I JMale...
1 Female.
C /Male...
\ Female.
Total
White
Indian
Colored
Total
White
Indian
Colored
W fMale...
\ Female.
I Female.
C fMale__.
\ Female.
W ("Male...
1 Female
I JMale...
iFemale
C JMale...
\ Female
W fMale-..
[Female
I Female
C fMale-.
\ Female
W fMale..
\Female
I Female
C ("Male..
\ Female
Total
White
Colored
Total
White
Colored
1,155
740
1,153
740
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 53
Continued
54 Annual Repobt Nineteen Thibty-Nine
North Cabolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 55
Continued
56 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table III—
Cause of Death
175. Homicide by other means,
176. Attacks by venomous aoimals.
177. Poisoning by food.
178. Accidental absorption of poisonous gas.
179. Other acute accidental poisonings (gas excepted)
.
180. Conflagration
181. Accidental burns (conflagration excepted)
182. Accidental mechanical suffocation
183. Accidental drowning
184. Accidental traumatism by firearms (wounds of
excepted)
NoBTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 57
Continued
1
0-.
58 Annual Report Nineteen Tiiibty-Nine
Table III—
Cause of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 59
Continued
1
s
Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 61
Continued
s
2
S2
62 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Cabolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Continued
1
s
64 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
O <) o >o o
C0-<0'«><-*0000
1001.-<TJ<-Hcot0010000IMl«-*C^O
f-*.-icococct-*e<i'^a3005t-H^HiccooococO'^cDoocccqoocccoc^
00 CO 00 O CO t^
OS 05 CO o
g3 2
O-^iCi'SOiCOCOCQl^C^OWilOeOO rf 03 O (M 'I'
O to t- 00
"ill i i i^ Ull iN^Jiiid il|Ji
^^^ 050303030000 oooooooooS
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
CO C» lO o •nff ^H CO CO OS t*
—(OS^T»IOO-«1<ONO O * U5 O C- O <M
oa>-<noooco"5t^aig;oo-<j<T«o
CC
66 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
>> m
North Carolina Bxjeeau of Vital Statistics 67
=
68 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V.
—
Deaths (Exclusive of Stillbirths) in Each County, by Cause of
Caise of Death
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Res.
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Res.
Place
of
Death
All caiises—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 cerebro spinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases -.
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, non-malignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Pellagra
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis..
Other diseases of the nervous system and organs of
special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of the respiratory system (T. B. 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 puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformation and early infancy
SeniUty
Suicide (total) --
Homicide (total).
Automobile fatalities (total)
Violent and accidental (suicide, homicide and auto excepted).
Cause not specified or ill-defined
11,403
21
39
47
9
15
120
1,532
100
380
59
299
140
42
1,922
4,007
259
51
1,246
156
373
179
1,635
131
22
853
101
282
74
76
34
37
265
1,041
166
38
134
38
764
103
24
264
244
458
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 69
Death (Abridged International List) Also by Color of Decedent—1939
Alamance
70 Annual Repoet Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 71
Continued
Ashe
72 Annual Repobt Nineteen Thiety-Nine
Table V—
NoBTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 73
Continued
Bladen
74 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 75
Continued
Cabarrus
76 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V—
NoKTH Carolina Bubeau of Vitat- Statistics 77
Continued
CasweU
78 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 79
Continued
Chowan
Annual Repobt Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V
—
North Cabolina Bukeau of Vital Statistics 81
Continued
Craven
82 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V—
North Cabolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Continued
Davidson
84 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V-
North Caeolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Continued
Edgecombe
S6 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V—
Cause of Death
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Res.
Place
of
Death
All causes^-Total recorded
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever
Typhus fever
Smallpox
Measles
Scarlet fever
Whooping-cough
Diphtheria
Influenza
Tuberculosis of the respirator}' system
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, non-malignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Pellagra
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of the nervous system and organs of special sense-
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias -
Other diseases of the respiratory system (T. B. 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 sj-stem
Nephritis
Other diseases of the genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformation and early infancy
Senility _
Suicide (total)..
Homicide (total)
Automobile fatalites (total)
Violent and accidental (suicide, homicide and auto excepted) .
Cause not specified or ill-defined
North Carolina Bxtbeau of Vital Statistics 87
Continued
Gates
Annual Report Nineteen Thirtt-Nine
Table V—
North Cabolina Bubeau of Vital Statistics 89
Continued
Guilford
90 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V—
NOETH CaBOLINA BtTBEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 91
Continued
Henderson
92 Annual Report Nineteen Thikty-Nine
Table V-
NoBTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 93
Continued
Iredell
94 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Continued
Lee
Annual Report Nineteeix Thirty-Nine
Table V
—
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 97
Continued
Macon
98 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table V-
NoETH Carolina Bubeau of Vital Statistics 99
Continued
Mitchell
100 Annual Report Nineteen Thirtx-Nine
Table V—
Cause op Death
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Place
of
Death
All causes—Total recorded. -
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever-
Typhus fever
Smallpox
Measles
Scarlet fever
Whooping-cough
Diphtheria
Influenza
Tuberculosis of the respiratory i
Other forms of tuberculosis
Syphilis.
Malaria
Dysentery
Acute poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis
Epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Ttimors, non-malignant or unspecified...
Chronic rheumatism and gout.
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic) -
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Pellagra ---
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of the nervous system and organs of special sense.
Diseases of the heart ---
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of the respiratory system (T. B. excepted)
Diarrhea and enteritis (under 2 years)
Diarrhea and enteritb (2 years and over)
Appendicitis -
Cirrhosis of the liver
Other diseases of the liver .--
Other diseases of the digestive system
33. Nephritis.
Other diseases of the genitourinary system
Puerperal septicemia
Other diseases of pregnancy and puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformation and early infancy..
39. Senility.
40. Suicide (total)
41. Honucide (total)
42. Automobile fatalities (total)
42. Violent and accidental (suicide, homicide and auto excepted).
43. Cause not specified or ill-defined
NoBTH Cakolina Bueeau of Vital Statistics 101
Continued
New Hanover
102 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
NoETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 103
Continued
Pamlico
104 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 105
Continued
Person
106 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
NoETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 107
Continued
Richmond
Annual Repokt Nineteen Thiety-Nine
Table V-
NOETH CaKOLINA BuEEAU OF VlTAL STATISTICS 109
Continued
Rutherford Sampson
110 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V��
North Cabolina Bxjbeau of Vital Statistics 111
Continued
Stokes
112 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table V-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 113
Continued
TyrreU
114 Annual Report Ninetbxn TniBTy-NiNE
Table V-Cause
of Death
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Res.
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Place
of
Death
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 polioencephahtis
Epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic diseases..
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, non-malignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout
Diabetes mellitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic)
Other general diseases and chrome poisonings
Pellagra
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis.
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral emboUsm and thrombosis
—
Other diseases of the nervous system and organs of
special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of the respiratory system (T. B. 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 puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformation and early infancy
Senility
Suicide (total)
Homicide (total)
Automobile fatalities (total)
Violent and accidental fsuicide, homicide and auto excepted)
Cause not specified or ill-defined
3
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 115
Continued
Warren
116 Annual Report Nineteen Thiett-Nine
Table V
—
NoETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 117
Wilkes
118 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table VI.
—
Deaths (Exclusive of Stillbikths) in Cities ob Towns, by Cause
Total
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Place
of
Death
Place
of
Res
Place
of
Death
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 cerebro spinal meningitis
Other infectious and parasitic dbeases
Cancer and other malignant tumors
Tumors, non-malignant or unspecified
Chronic rheumatism and gout..
Diabetes meUitus
Alcoholism (acute or chronic) -
Other general diseases and chronic poisonings
Pellagra
Progressive locomotor ataxia and paresis
Cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral embolism and thrombosis
Other diseases of the nervous system and organs of
special sense
Diseases of the heart
Other diseases of the circulatory system
Bronchitis
Pneumonias
Other diseases of the respiratory system (T. B. 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 puerperal state
Diseases of skin, bones and organs of locomotion
Congenital debility, malformation and early infancy
Senility
Suicide (total)
Homicide (total)
Automobile fatalities (total)
Violent and accidental (suicide, homicide and auto excepted).
Cause not specified or ill-defined
3,787
4
3,747
10
76
NoETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 119
OF Death (Abridged International List) Also by Color of Decedent—1939
Ashe^nUe
120 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table VI-
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 121
Continued
Elizabeth City
122 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table VI-
NoBTH Cabolina Bubeau of Vital Statistics 123
Continued
Greensboro
124 Annual Report Nineteen Thibtt-Nine
Table VI
—
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 125
Continued
Raleigh
126 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table VI
—
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 127
Continued
ThomasvUle
128 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
}
1
i
1
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 129
130 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
NoBTH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 131
132 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
Table VIII.
—
Deaths (Exclusive of Stillbirths) By Cause and
Cause of Death
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
By Certain Subdivisions of the First Year of Life—1939
133
1
134 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table IX.
—
Deaths Under 1 Year of Age (Exclusive of Stillbirths) and
Maternal Deaths in Each County With Rate Per 1,000 Live Births—1939
Entire State
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Avery
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe
Burke
Cabarrus
CaldweU
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
Infant Mortality
Number Rate
4,670
37
15
14
59.1
34.2
47.6
100.0
43.7
47.8
52.4
107.0
107.5
48.0
49.1
70.1
29.4
51.1
58.2
68.4
55.3
40.1
64.5
41.5
43.0
91.2
80.3
40.4
66.6
92.5
78.7
72.3
65.0
49.5
69.4
51.4
71.3
64.1
60.1
55.2
53.3
57.6
41.4
42.4
45.4
48.1
50.0
45.3
47.4
49.9
66.4
43.5
48.5
65.4
Place of Residence
Number Rate
4,661
44
15
14
59.0
38.7
44.8
94.6
45.6
45.7
46.2
101.2
107.8
54.6
54.8
69.6
62.6
73.8
65.8
45.8
51.7
47.5
37.7
92.4
72.7
39.2
70.3
93.0
53.9
76.9
51.4
76.7
67.1
53.0
62.0
58.6
66.6
55.7
58.4
51.7
43.9
49.2
45.5
56.8
62.8
50.4
50.9
74.0
45.0
48.5
64.5
Maternal Mortality
Number Rate
0.7
4.9
4.5
11.7
12.0
Place of Residence
Number Rate
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 136
Table IX
—
Continued
Jackson
Johnston
Jones.
Lee
Lenoir
Lincoln
McDowell...
Macon
Madison
Martin
Mecldenburg.
Mitcliell
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.
TyrreU
Union
Vance
Wake
Warren.
Washington.
-
Watauga
Wayne
Wilkes
Wilson
Yadkin
Yancey
136 Annual Reipoet Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table X.
—
Cases and Deaths from Special
Diseases
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 137
Diseases By Month of
138 Annual Repobt Nineteen Thibtt-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 139
Continued
March
140 Annual Report Nineteen Thibty-Nine
NoETH Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics
Reportable Diseases By Counties—1939
141
•1
142 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
North Carolina Bureau of Vital Statistics 143
Continued
3
144 Annual Report Nineteen Thirty-Nine
Table XII.—Death Rates Per 100,000 Population from Ten Important
Causes, fob the State as a Whole, with Estimated Population fob
Each Year—1914-1939, Inclusive
Estimated
PopiJation
Death Rate per 100.000 Population from—
fc £ S
^5
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
81.2
72.9
72.7
91.4
77.5
55.1
59.9
61.7
52.4
53.0
54.5
52.0
49.8
40.7
44.8
33.3
35.0
26.0
19.9
24.5
30.3
24.9
24.2
24.6
29.2
18.8
10.8
12.7
12.9
12.0
8.2
8.1
8.2
6.6
6.7
5.6
4.5
4.3
2.9
1.8
2.2
2.2
1.4
1.5
1.7
1.5
2.4
2.8
4.5
2.6
2.2
1.8
7.6
0.5
7.1
44.8
12.4
5.0
2.3
4.9
0.4
19.0
15.6
0.4
2.9
7.9
17.0
0.5
0.06
3.1
1.8
2.8
10.1
2.0
0.3
1.3
23.6
35.0
19.4
24.9
25.7
15.3
11.6
12.7
11.5
8.3
10.0
14.1
16.0
23.7
29.2
32.0
32.0
21.6
14.6
12.0
13.2
11.4
10.3
13.0
7.3
6.9
1.1
0.4
0.5
0.4
0.1
0.3
1.0
0.8
0.2
0.4
0.8
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.03
0.1
0.06
139.3
156.4
146.3
141.5
137.5
120.3
113.6
101.0
97.5
94.7
99.1
89.0
85.8
76.4
71.4
67.8
64.4
64.8
56.7
60.8
54.8
52.3
51.3
18.7
11.5
18.1
26.2
28.5
8.7
13.4
14.6
7.2
18.6
17.4
5.3
10.1
21.8
6.5
9.0
9.6
6.5
7.4
6.1
12.9
9.0
1.1
4.9
7.6
6.4
*U. S. Census years.