Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-20
Realthfulness Of the District.

A COMPARISON OF THE MoRTuARY STATISTICS OF
WASHINGTON WITH THOSE OF OTHER AMSRICAN
CITIES.
AS there has been considerable talk OF late
respecting the unhealthfulness of Washington
during the past summer, and as these rumors
may have gained some credence beyond the
limits of the District, comparative statement
has been prepared at the Health Office, showing
the percentage to total mortality OF deaths from
the zymotic or preyentaDle diseases. This table
covers the ten weeks ending Saturday. August
q. 1850, and was compiled from reports
state board of health OF Massachuset IS. The
per centageS and death rate for our District are
those based upon the estimated population Of
10000, While the recent census shows nearly
10000. notwithstanding this leaving OF near
ly ten thousand inhabitants out OF the count
Our showing compares favorably with the Others
as to annual death rate, and our per centage OF
deaths from zymotic diseases, including mala-
RIAL typhoid, scarlet and such other feverS
diphtheria, small pox, &C, 1ss in a large
majority Of instances much lower than
most Of the Others. This Is the class
Of diseases by which the healthfulnes5
of city is judged, and glance at the state
ment will show how grouhdleSS was any re-
port Of the kind named. In the first and sec
ond weeks only two cities, Philadelphia and
Boston, show smaller percentages OF deaths
from this class OF diseases than Washington;
the others much larger. New York percentage
is always above, sometimes double, what that
OF Washington is, and yet New York has not the
colOTed population we have to contend with
Our annual death rate is high sometimes, but
our people die from the local. constitutional
and developmental classes of disease. We have
large percentage OF our population leading
sedentary lives; who are liable to nervous ali,
merits. mea1s lung diseases, dyspepsia. &C.. but the
healthful as judged by the general standard.
The table referred to shows first the annual
death rate per thousand for the ten weeks end
Ing June 18th to August 2lSt. and second. the
NJ frnrY nNfi. n
total deaths during same period in the follow
ing places:
Annual death rate for ten weeks per thou
sanG:-New York. So 4s.6; 6os; 432 IS /; 30 1;
2t.9 2s 2: %: 259; average, 3il9 Philadelphia
293 241; 352; 21 2S1; 2S3; 2l..; 11.3; 1911; 1911;
average, 80 IS. Brookly n, 2O9; 3S.2; 43.3; Ill;
eos; 23.7: 2.:s; 25,5; 2'.2; l5.s: average, 1926.
%. s; =; average, 26 SIS. Baltimore, % 1; 10;
27.1; 21.2; 3o.6; POI; 2l.5; 2o.9; 20a; ISL;
ayeIage 24.eS; Boston, i; 1s;9: A.s 25.5;
1881. Cincinnati, =; 2ss; 1875, 90 3; III;
l54; 1874; 1862; 221; pol; average, 9o0o.
New Orleans, 2S3; 2S5; 21.S; A6; 24.S; %; Is. g.;
gl1; IA: 26.s; average, .62. District OF Co,
23.6; 2l:7; average, 2131. District, {whitsj o.
pa: 26.5 PSI; 205; lis; 1885, 1885, 137; IA; av,
erage. 2o.56. District (colored) 53.4; 5S.4: 45;
3s4: 49, 357 325; 1913: 1876; 1919; average. Al So
total deaths in the ten weeks:-New York 80 61:
40 80; 5404; 1914; 1929; 40 O9 $3.50: IS 99 80
1914; average, 50 si7: Philadelphia, 6.sl; 30;
average, 22.419. Brooklyn, 81 &c. 81: Sc IS; ST. 4S:
49.54; As 2s: 1854; $500; 4l.52; 55.44 average.
46.661. Chicago. $685. 5O14; =: IS 40; 1851;
1888; 41.S4: 1906: -; 1864; average, 36.51I
Baltimore, 4o.74; 4449; 4423; s.27; 4ss,; So Is:
SO 95; 1924; AZ; 1920; average SO 81
Boston, 1913; 1887; Psi; 35.71; SO 1e; 1902;
54.54; 35 5: 55.02; 41.94; 1855; average. Abb
Cincinnati, 1915 46. u.s. SO.41 SS.3a; 2s2s; ~ 5s:
26.13; 2o.69; 27.73 1896; average. 33.O07. New
Orleans, 3246; 27.S2; 3035; "a "A; 22 25S; 10. .3
1911; 25; 1858; average, "a 547. District o.
90; 1850; A.6s; 29.5S; average. 2I.s3l.