Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-19


IL is satisfactory to note the spirit OF conces-
sion and compromise which prevailed at the
conference last evening between the Board of
Health snd n committee OF the Medical Society
Of the District OF Columbia on the important
subject of vital statistics 1t indicates we hope,
that there will be an agreement on plan in
which ali will cheerfulIy cooperate. They all
agree at least in recO Znizing the great value Of
such statistics in the several directions briefly
referred to in The STAR some weeks since and
it II only = question OF methods TO reach results
Tie bSSt devised system would be yalueless
without the hearty cooperation OF the medical
faculty. and therefore every proper concession
should be made to their professional scruples
A correct mOrtuary report Tor this city, even
Tor one week, may contain facts from which the
most important conclusions and suggestions
may be drawn. When such reports are con-
tnued for a term OF years and compared with
those N other cities, their importance in a sani-
tary ard scientific view vastly increases. We
have now before u the mOrtusry report for the
District for the week ending August 18th, 1874
with specific details, 10 which is appended
meteorological record for the week. Notwith-
standing the delightful weather, clear and
warm, with mOders tely cool nights we find that
OF the 81 deaths recorded, 20. or nearly one-half
the entire number, were children under wears
OF sge. Ofthe 40 only Is are set down as caused
by cholera infsntum. The disease next in order
CT fatality was consumption, the victims of
which numbered IL. The board cay in this
report
sit - painfully apparent upon comparing the
former with the recent reports, that under the
Old regime, although Our death rate is less than
many cities, and has been greatly reduced dur
ing the lsst three years, nevertheless We were
cEcoDsciOusly encouraging the delusive hope
that the rate WAS less than that of any other
city OF The same population in this or any for
eign country. We now with confidence appeal
10 the physicians and all citizens OF the District
for their cooperation ard moral support in for
vsTding the good work 80 auspici0usIy begun,
IN abating the pestilence- breeding nuisances
existing in cur midst, thereby removing the
causes Of Giscase, and reducing the death rate
TO the minimum The principal cause of death
during The month Of July and the first two
weeks OF August have been cholera infantum.
In other cities We ECte the same; in many, a
gTest6r IrepODderance of deaths from this fatal
malady Our next weekly report will give the
boundaries or sanitary divisions in which the
District has been divided, and the number of
deaths IN each division; and very soon we ex-
Hect 10 be able 10 present sectional lithOgraphic
maps, showing the boundaries of the sanitary
DIVISIONS and the localities where deaths NAV
have occurred from epidemic, endemic or Nv.
motto diseases, depending upon local causes"
Another significant fact in the report for last
week is the greater proportion of deaths among
the colored people than among the whites
While - colored people died ODt Of a populs-
toI Of 40, l33, only i5 whites died out OF a popu-
I@tion Of 1G9,sG7.