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This paper uses Rethymno, Crete, as the site for testing the validity of one type of historical source: city death registries. This paper covers the first decade of the 20th century, which was marked by strong political tensions between the two religious communities of Crete. Having left rural areas, Muslims were concentrated in cities, but the able-bodied majority immigrated to Asia Minor with only the weakest people remaining behind. This paper focuses on the fact that, during this transition period, general mortality was relatively low while infant mortality was high. Therefore, sanitary measures and a relatively high quality of medical care helped to improve public health and thus to lower the mortality rate.