Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-15
THE HEALTH OF WASHINGTON.
Annual Report of the Health Officer Of
the District.
FREKpoM FROM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
SuIsANcEs-THE COMPARATIVE HEALTH OF
THE WHITE AND coLoRED PoPuLATIoS--S-
TEREsTING STATISTICS


THE WHITE AND coLoRED PoPuLATIoS-s-
rEREsTING STATISTICS
Health Officer Townshend's annual report to
the Commissioners for the year ended June so,
1888, states that the general health of the city
during the year has remained good, and the
community has good reason to congratulate
ltseH upon the existing conditions. The Dis
trlct OF Columbia has been left almost en-
tlrely free from those diseases which are ac-
knowledged to be caused by insanitary condi-
lions in municipal surroundings. The total
number OF deaths occurring during the year
reached 5,o40, of which ATS were white and
2,262 colored persons. The death rate of the
white population for the year was 1882 per
LOCO, and that of the colored 3016 per 1000.
The death rate of the colored population has
been gradually decreasing for the past four
years, ana this Is a source of congratulation,
for the reason that this colored population has
been the bane of the death rate Of the Dis
trict The population upon which the death
rate is estimated is 225, 600 souls, 10000 white
and 10000 colored. This estimate is consid-
cred more than moderate, from the census of
1850 and the local censuses since taken.
REMOVING ASHES.
The subject of removal Of ashes at the public
expense, the health officer says, is one which
he has been agitating for years, and he strong
ly impresses upon the Commissioners and Con-
gress the necessity for such service. Ashes are
not In themselves nuisance but small accumu-
lations invite the addition Of refuse and filth OF
| every KIND imaginable, and the ash heap con-
stltutes a nuisance which usually comprises
everything that goes to generate foul odors
ana noxlous gases. The service. the report
says. cannot be inaugurated for less than
S25, 0O0 per annum. but when once established
The work a n ia1 n,,f nr, A.
appropriation for that amount is strongly
urged. Nuisances resulting from surface drain
age numbered A. 25, mainly caused by lack of
sewerage facilities and the extension Of sewers
Is the only effectual remedy.
UNwHoLEsoME FOOD.
The condemnation of unwholesome food
shows general reduction in the amounts OF
the more important articles, indicating that
the quality furnished must have been better as
the supply must of necessity have increased.
The condemned list for the past six wears in
cludes 92,O25 pounds beef, 17,546 pounds veal,
53,46o pounds mutton, 1889 pounds bacon.
nam and pork, 3S,S63 pounds poultry. 10. $50
heads cabbage and lettuce 5,20i hundreds Of
dozen OF cucumbers, rs, $50 watermelons, 81, 6S3
camtaioupes and q, 800 quarts berries.
Inc inspection and condemnation of marine
products shows an increase in the receipt OF
shad and small decrease in the receipts of
herring. The condemnation of oil classes of
marine products is much smaller than for 1887,
THE POUND SERVICE.
The number of animals impounded during
the year, as compared with 1887, shows a re-
duction of 307, almost entirely dogs The num-
Der OF dogs killed was 2.507, and the number
redeemed 2l3. The number of animals i'm
pounded during the past six wears was IS, 722
OF which 1876 were dogs Over $4,000 dogs
were killed, and yet there were nearly as many
| lmpounded in 1888 as in 1894 Until an appro-
priation Is made for the necessary expenses of
the pound-maoter in taking up chickens run
nlng a. large rs REQUIRED by police regula-
lions, the health Office is pOwerless to act 1t is
recommended that the pay of laborers en-
ployed in the pound service be fixed at not
less than $3.50 per year. instead of IL per day.
during the year 1882 poor patients were
treated-4,7i5 white, and 10,GO7 colored. The
appropriation for the relief of the poor should.
the report says. be increased to at least 500
OO0. The amount Of garbage removed shows
an increase OF 500 tons over 1887. The report
| says 1t would be better to have the supervision
or the inspection OF plumbing transferred
from the health department and have il
directly under the Commissioners. During
the year there was less number OF
plans presented the inspector of plumb
ing than during the previous year, but
those presented were for better or more ex-
plans OF new houses approved was 1850.
~&-NOA'h
The report of the medical sanitary Inspector
to which particular attention is. called. is in.
cluded in the health officers report. He state,
| that the past year has been one of average
mortality. The total number of deaths q, OiO'
| is slightly in excess of the previous wear, bu,
the estimated increase of population brings
the death-rate down to within 10 per cent OF
| that OF last year, and below the mean-rate for
the last thirteen years. Cholera, yellow fever
and smallpox have all claimed the attention
! ana excited the apprehension of the health au.
| thorities Of the United States. but none has as
| yet made It's appearance in our midst Small.
pox though reported during the last six
| months III twenty-one states. has not gained
| an entrance into the District, but special
| attention is called to the necessity OF
\ vaccination, as every year that passes withou,
| case of smallpox increases the danger of an
| epidemic should the disease be introduced
| Measles was epidemic during the winter and
| spring, and 159 deaths resulted. Diphtheria
has been less fatal than for any year since 1894
| Typhoid fever appears to IL again on the in
crease and typho-malarial and malarial fevers
! show decrease. 1.-THE belief is entertained
that the white people are more susceptible
| than colored people not only to scarlet fever
but also to dipbtheria, Group typhoid fever,
| and measles. The fact that the deaths of the
| colored are shown to be relatively greater
| from the two latter diseases may be explained
In several ways: First, the sanitary surround.
| ms" anu VI iHtclISenC nursing. manV
! otherwise mild eases dying from neglect Then
| again their aimentary and respiratory organs
seem to be less able to withstand the attacks Of
| disease. and the bronchitis, which is an essen
tiai but not usually serious part Of measles
very frequently in the colored child is the be,
ginning of changes which terminate in death.
| This is further illustrated in whooping-cough,
which is relatively about three times as fatal
among colOred children as among their white
| neighbors. The third explanation is that MANY
OF those returned as colored were half-breeds
who acquired their susceptibility to these dis
eases from their admixture of white blood.
The necessity for more ample facilities for the
removal and destruction of bedding clothing
DC. and the need of apparatus for the proper
| ana speedy dlslnfection Of suspected articles
are daily felt. Our present method is anti
| quated and should be improved. At a small
cost much more might be done to prevent the
| spread OF disease germs. Certificates of death
have been furnished for fifty-eight persons who
died without regular medical attendance"
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The health officer asks for an increase OF
clerical force in his office. and recommends
that the appropriation for removal OF garbag
be increased from $4,000 to not less than
S25, 900. The establishment of a suitable city
wharf is strongly recommended At such a
wharf all fish, oysters and produce coming to
the city by way OF the Potomac should be re-
ceived and inspected The present lish wharf
| is disgrace to the city. and the oyster wharf
| is in but little better condition The Commits
| sioners are urged to ask Congress to designate
| some piece OF property belonging to the Dis
trict or to the United States. for this purpose.
lit Is asserted that for an eyDendture of So0 o0o