Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19

| classes. The form OF malarial diseases most CON-
monty met with is simple Intermittent fever. which
il the least serious and most durable form. Death
from wen deemed uncomplicated malarial diseases
Is rare event In our city. 4 careful comparison
OF the death rate OF Washington with that OF other
principal cities OF the United states shows conclu
sFeiy that ii does not exceed the average, notwth
standing the very large proportion OF colored peo
pie, one-third Of the whole, whose death rate is
generally almost or quite double that of the whites
Inc proportion OF colored race is greater in WASH
fngton than in any city north or west OF us and
when the proper reduction OF the death-rate on
dition not surpassed anywhere 1t is proper 20 re-
mark here that the records OF the Health Depart
neht OF washington are believed TO be absolutely
correct as 10 the number OF deaths annually occur
ing among us.
The total number OF deaths in the District OF
Columbia for the year ending June 80 1884, was
4156, OF which number 2,2o6 were white persons
and .93l coored, showing death-rate OF ISIS per
loo per annum for the white, 81 81 for the col
ored and p 90 for the whole population. The
mean annual death-rate from September 1, 1874 TO
June 81. 1881, was: White, 1927; colored, ss.6s;
We believe, too, that the unfavorable reports so
industriously circulated OF the unhealthy condition
or tue Presidents house are equally unfounied.
This has been the residence OF an the Presidents
Tor efghtyone years, and during all that time, with
the exception OF Presidents Harrison and Taylor,
who died after a short illness from acute diseases
IN no way dependent on climatic influences,
the CHIEF Magistrate, although generally
men OF advanced age, have enjoyed excellent
health and been able to attend to their Official
GutloS with scarcely days Interruptions most
remarkable exemption, and proof enough of itself
of the favorable sanitary condition both OF the
White House and the city, We may add, too in
coniirmation OF this view, that all the former Pre-
siiehtS spent the whole year here, except a very
snort NlSt TO their respective homes, the practice
Ol living Tor part OF the summer I'm the suburbs
having Deen hrSt adopted by Mr.. Buchanan, and
m. the present anomalous condition OF the
foComac mats opposite the city, shall have
a oreh ~ Femedied which In their present state
Know or nothing likely to prevent Washing
Ton rom being hereafter, as now and
heretofore, one OF the most healthy, as it is
one OF the most beautiful, cities In our country
The Medical society met Wednesday night and
adopted the report.
ANSWER OF WASHINGTON PHYSICIANS To THE OFFS
TIoNS PROPoUNDED TO THEM.
Answers have been received from practicing ply
scians to questions propounded in the circularlet
ter issued by the committee and already published
In THE STAR, as follows:
To the first question-Do you believe that mala-
rial diseases prevail to the Same extent formerly
In washington, forty-eight negative answers We're
returned. Ten answers were Affirmative. The
from nfty-f1ve to twenty-five years, with one eX-
ceptOn testified to the fact that mafaral diseases
answer this question: as they have not been
gaged In practice long enough to speak from their
city.
The second question-In your practice do dis
eases clearly due to malarial influences present
themselves In large proportion? was answered in
nine Several OF the affirmative answers were
qualified by the statement that this large proper
TENDER and October, and I'm certain parts OF the
city only. The almost unanimous opinion was
returned to the third question that intermittent
fever Is the most common form OF malarial disease
TO the fourth queStion-FrOm your experience
do you think that malarial diseases cause many
deaths, and what form of malarial disease have
you found most fatal? was answered by all that
maiarlal diseases do not cause many deaths
Thirty-nve answered simply ssno:" sixteen said
a a col
eleven replied ''that death in these diseases was
rare;" one that he had had but one death in five
the emphatic manner in which the unanimous
opinion was expressed that malarfal diseases are
licved to be the causes OF de th in the fatal cases.
CongeStiye forms and perncious remittent feverS
Fifty five physicians responded that malaral dis
eases were confined more or less to certain local.
ties, while six thought they were equally preva-
lent In all parts of the city. AS regards localities
the following list embraces all that were specined
chiefly or almost wholly the seat of these mala-
dies: Along the line OF the Potomac river flats,
ROCK Greek, and the canal in the neighborhOod Of
the United States Naval Observatory, the eastern
part Of the city bordering on the Eastern Branch.
the low and badly-drained suburbs in the north,
and along the lower creek canal
The opinion thus expressed in these answers
may be summarized i'm the following conclusions:
1. That malar1al diseases are less prevalent now
than ten to fifteen years ago i'm Washington, and
that this improvement has been most marked i'm
those parts OF the city which have been drained OF
surface water, where low ground has been filled
ana raised, houses built, and the streets paved
with concrete.
2 The cases OF malarial diseases do not occur i'm
large numbers In the practice OF the majority OF
the physicians in the city, and that malaria has
not widespread influence here. A large proper
ton of the called 'malarial diseases are cases
OF slight or obscure disease, due many different
causes.
3. That simple intermittent fever. the most in
durable form OF malarial disease, is the most
commonly met with.
4. That malar1al disorders have not as great in
tensity in Washington as formerly, and are sell
dom fatal
That the malarial influence manffests itself
chiefly In those parts OF the city Immediately Dor
dering on the Potomac river and its tributaries
Rock creek and the Eastern branch, and in the |
neighbOrhOOd Of low, marShy soil on the outskirts
OF the city, and that for seemingly greater immu- /
nifty from the malarial poison il is important that
these marsh lands should be reclaimed.
The committee believe that disease from ma |
laria Is leSsening every year and that when the |
Potomac flats reclaimed Washington will be |
as free from sickness from that cause as any city
in the country.