528                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 321

(2)  "Filing" means the presentation of a certificate, report, or
other record provided for in this sub-title, of a birth, death, fetal
death, adoption, marriage, or divorce for registration by the State
Board of Health and Mental Hygiene.

(3)  "Registration" means the acceptance by the State Board of
Health and Mental Hygiene and the incorporation in its official
records of certificates, reports, or other records provided for in this
sub-title, of births, deaths, fetal deaths, adoptions, marriages or
divorces.

(4) "Live Birth" means the complete expulsion or extraction
from its mother of a product of human conception irrespective of the
period of gestation, which, after such separation, breathes or shows
any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of
the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscle, whether
or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached.

(5)  "Fetal death" means death prior to the complete expulsion or
extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irre-
spective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the
fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe or show
any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation
of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.

(6)  "Dead body" means a lifeless human body or parts of such
body or bones thereof from the condition of which it reasonably
may be concluded that death has occurred. The term "dead body"
does not apply to amputated parts.

(7)  "Final disposition" means the burial, interment, cremation
or other disposition of a dead body or fetus.

(8)  "Physician" means a person authorized or licensed to practice
medicine in this State pursuant to the provisions of this Article.

(9)  "Institution" means any establishment, public or private,
which provides in-patient medical, surgical or diagnostic care or
treatment, or nursing, custodial or domiciliary care to two or more
unrelated individuals; or to which persons are committed by law.

[a] (b) General Provisions

(1) Methods, books and forms.—The State Board of Health and
Mental Hygiene shall collect certificates of birth, death and [still-
birth, permanently bind,] fetal death, shall preserve and protect
them from loss by fire and other damage, and shall make indices to
such certificates. It shall [prepare] decide [the necessary] appro-
priate methods [books] and design the necessary forms for accurate
registration of vital [statistics] records, and shall supply [county]
local health officers, physicians, midwives, funeral directors, minis-
ters, clerks of court, and other persons charged with any duty under
this sub-title, with the required forms. Upon receipt of a completed
birth, death, or fetal death certificate, the State Board of Health and
Mental Hygiene shall forward a copy of the original certificate to
the county health officer concerned. The [said Board] State Board
of Health and Mental Hygiene shall prepare annually or more often
reports of vital statistics including population estimates, and shall
have such reports printed and distributed to officials, departments,
libraries, and persons whom it may deem entitled thereto.