PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, ESQ., GOVERNOR. 1131

tics;" said sections to follow immediately after section 19
of said Article 43, and to be designated as sections 6, 19A,
19B and to repeal sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18 and 19 of said Article 43, title "Health," sub-title
"State Registrar of Vital Statistics," and re-enact the same
with amendments.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18 and 19 of the Code of Public General Laws of Maryland,
title "Health," sub-title "State Registrar of Vital Statistics,"
be and the same are hereby repealed and re-enacted with
amendments so as to read as follows:

SEC. 6. The secretary of the State Board of Health shall
be the State Registrar of Vital Statistics for Maryland. He
shall under the direction of the State Board of Health prepare
the necessary methods, books and forms for accurate registra-
tion of births and deaths and shall supply the local registrars,
deputy local registrars, health officers, ministers, physicians,
undertakers, midwives and other persons charged with any
duty under this act, with the proper blanks, forms and books
of record. The State Registrar shall collect, permanently
bind, preserve and make indices to the records of vital statis-
tics collected by him, and shall tabulate and annually prepare
a general abstract and report of the vital statistics for the pre-
ceding year so tabulated and arranged as to render them of
particular utility, and shall have printed not more than one
thousand copies, of which he shall forward five copies each
to the Governor and the State librarian, one to each member
of the General Assembly of Maryland, one to each local health
officer, one to each local registrar, one to each deputy local
registrar, one to the Board of Health of each State and terri-
tory of the United States, and the remainder to such depart-
ments, libraries, and persons as may seem to the State regis-
trar entitled to the same. Such records shall be carefully
preserved from loss by fire or other damage.

SEC. 7. Health officers of the various counties shall be ex-
officio county registrars of vital statistics. Health officers of
all towns and counties shall be ex-officia local registrars of
vital statistics, excepting in the case of incorporated cities or
towns where by charter or ordinance the method of appoint-
ment of a local registrar of vital statistics is specifically
designated. All county registrars, local registrars and deputy
local registrars of vital statistics shall quaify by oath to per-