Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-10
Hea1thfulness or Washington.
FACTS AND FIGURES VS.. FLIGHTS O

fAtIS AND FIGURES VS.. FLIGHTS
FANCY.
special meeting OF the Board OF Health
was held saturday evening, at which Dr.
III -, the registrar of vital statistics, SUB.
article published in the New York San of the
31st of March, under the head OF "Washipg-
Ion Ion I noomedP p frightiuI epidemic the prob
Dr. Bliss IN his paper says the gross mis-
representation OF the facts embodied in the
article as TO the prevalence of typhoid fe-
ver,' "typhO malarial fever" "UtrOot rOt'
and '-diphtberia," will be apparent upon
examination OF comparative statement of
mortality In the cities OF New York, Brook
lyn, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston and
the District of Columbia, for the quarters
ending December y, 1873, and March 81, 1876:
which he introduces in his statement, and
then goes on TO say: cit is, however, proper
10 state that the authorities of Philadelphia
and baltimore do not secure a correct record
OF deaths, owing, IL is believed, To defective
legislation; consequently comparison OF
the death rate etween those cities aud that
or the District OF Columbia. where an abso-
lutely correct record is obtained, is a mani
rest injustice 10 our own locality; but in
order 10 more clearly show the utter falsity
of the article, include those cities (PhiIa-
deIphla and baltimore in which the percent
aSe OF mortality from zymotic or preventa-
bic diseases exceeds that of the District OF
Columbia by more than fifty per cent. while
In the cities of New York, Brooklyn and Bos-
Ton, Wbere correct record is obtained, the
excess is more than 100 per cent. 1t will also
be observed that the mortality for the six
March 81, lslb, from the dis
eases enumerated in the article, exceeds that
OF the District OF Columbia by 100 per cent
IN the city of Baltimore, no per cent in the
CITY Oh Fnlladelphia, rs per cent. ia the city Of
cities OF Brooklyn and Boston.
For the quarter ending December 81, 1875,
The Zymotic, or preventable Diseases was
but Il .l6 per cent, while the percentage OF
mortality from the same class or causes in
the city Of Ne10 York was 5000; Philadelphia,
Ijl5; Brooklyn, $40; Baltimore, 2i.52; Bos-
4
1910, The mortality in the District OF Column
bia from ZymOtic or preventable diseases
was only sG per cent, showing a remark
able and unprecedented reduction, and per-
centage much below that of any city in the
country, where correct record is obtained.
The same facts obtain, although I'm not
Sprn . marked degree, to the mortality from
this class Of In the cities named during
the past wear. a. eon cred with this Dis
trict, and are prominently SCI roi Al tne
last annual report of the board.
DR.. Bliss says: THE statement fully de-
monstrates the fallacy Of the declaration
made by the correspondent, and exhibits the
TACT that the diseases he enumerates as sspre-
vailing 10 an alarming extent and daily in
creas1Dg in intensity and fatality" are purely
creatures of his disordered IMAGINATION and
nights OF journalistic fancy.
As 10 the startling statement with which
The article closes, viz: that 'twe have strong
reasons to expect terrible epidemic during
lhe coming summer months, that will de-
stroy hundreds, II not thousands, ofour citi-
learn-and we have every facility for know
ing, through our daily extensive sanitary in
spectlonS-there are no conditions existing
IN fhe District OF Columbia which would
lead any intelligent or unpreiudiced seeker
AFTER truth TO anticipate OF fear an epldemic
OF any disease within our limits. Present
experience and the progress of sanitary
science, sustained by statistical evidence
warrants me in the assertion that our health
department, thoroughly organized as it is,
power To enforce its regulations, can success
fully and effectually check and stamp out
the most formidable and destructive cpl
cemic which may invade our District.
Any result less satisfactory In the care of
the health and lives ofour people should Just
~ be considered evidence OF the incom peten-
cy or criminal neglect on the part OF the le-
sally constituted authorities.
THE NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE AS
ISOLATION will hold its ninth annual con-
vention, In Masonic Hall, New York, May
10Th and 18th. The call for the convention
says: Liberty to-day is but the heritage of
one-half the people, and the centennial will
De but the celebration OF the independence of
one half the nation. The men alone of this
country live in a republic, the women enter
political slaves"
, CEsTSNNIAL CoUNcIL, No; I, Sons of
Chief j. q. l.. FoxwelI. assisted by the
Grand Council, who also installed the off,
GERS for the new council as follows: p C.
James Ruhl; G., X II. Webb; ID. c., Wm.
Boron, K. 8, Ii. Nelson; f. s., w. H. Young;
Treasurer, Thomas Summerscales; G., Thos
BaIlentyne; A. G., Benjamin Leach; I. w
r. Gallagher, o. W. Martin Ahrenz; Patri,
arch, VIM. Phipps.
CELLULoID, coral and silver jewelry-in
all the spring styles, received at Prigg's
Jsweiry store, No. 45I Pennsylvania avenue,