Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-19

though not decidedly marked except in lung
diseases. July shows tendency to disease Of
the digestive organs and an increase in the
deaths OF colored persons. In August an in
crease in the deaths Of colored people 10 also
shown, while September was marked by an in
crease In diphtheria. October. when compared
with the mean of fifteen years. shows an in
crease in the death rate among white persons,
while November gives us the lowest mortality.
In December there began q marked increase in
the fatality OF lung diseases, which was con-
tinued in january, when we find the largest
monthly mortality Of the year and above the
mean for the fifteen years. In
February acute lung diseases still
reduction, as compared with January, is
shown. In March the community had not re-
covered from the effects of influenza and the
grip and the mortality still remained above
marked character, while May comes to the
front with an unusually high death rate from
pulmonary diseases. June shows o very large
number OF deaths among children under five
years OF age, and an increase in the mortality
from arrangements Of the alimentary canal
BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES.
"There were 1910 births reported during the
year. exclusive of still births, as compared with
40o1 reported last year. OF these 2,246 were
white and 1924 were colored. OF the illegiti-
mates seventy-dve were white and 483 colored
The percentage of births to deaths was 7S.1.
1.-The number Of marriages reported during
tho year was 1916 OF this number $50 were
between white persons and 1922 between col
ored persons. There were three cases Of mis-
cegenation.
Tho great value Of q marriage record il
shown daily by the numerous requests for
transcripts of marriage certificates to be used
In establishing claims for pensions and for OBJ
in cases before the courts. How any conscien-
tlous clergyman, when he reflects upon the
duty and lmportanc OF making these returns,
can neglect to do so passes comprehension"
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRIP.
Included in the health officers report is the
report Of DR.. B. g. Pool. the medical sanitary
inspector. who says: 1.-THE year past has been
unusually unfavorable in its effects on the
health and lives of the people. A mali6c iu-
fluence of some kind, which fer the want of a
better name, we call constitution of the at
mosphere, seems to have been at work not only
In this District but in all the localities from
which we have received reports. The bad ef-
feet Of this force is more apparent in its effects
on the respiratory and nervous organs.
"The cause of this condition though the sub
ject of q great deal Of discussion, is Mt present
not understood and the efforts of public sani-
tarians have been powerless to arrest it. 1t is
confidently hoped, however, that the KEY to
the mystery will ere long be found, and that in
the future health authorities may be able to
deal successfully with this influence as
they have already done with others in the past,
which have been thought to occult"
THE WORK DONE.
The following is a synopsis of the work per-
formed in the various branches Of the health
Office during the year: There were 10, SO2 nuis-
ances reported, 60. 305 pounds of meat, 1,573
pounds of fish, 1859 bushels of fruits and
vegetables. TIC bushels of oysters, 49, 800 clans
and 210. 600 crabs condemned as unit for food.
Examinations and reports were made on 2, 255
citizens complaints, 1.13S official letters writ
ten /. 1874 official notices were issued. 81 cases
were referred to the attorney and 81 to the
chemist for action, 2,108 letters were received
and referred There were 3044 animals I'M
pounded and the contractor for the removal Of
offal took away 1914 dead animals, %, 9l4 tons
OF garbage and 20.554 barrels of night soil.
The physicians to the poor treated 1856 pa
tients, of which number 5619 were white and
1887 colored. There were 1902 burial per-
mIts of all kinds issued 299 disnterment and
transfer permits and 1856 orders issued for
burials at the public expense. There were 1910
inspections Of plumbing work made; 1872 houses
inspected having water closets and hydrants in
yards, and $50 inspections of old houses. Five
hundred and thirty-five searches were made and
transcripts furnished applicants from the rec
ords OF births. marriages and deaths; ~ per-
mits issued for obstruction of travel on streets
on account of serious illness of residents there
on. and 127 permits to special garbage col
lectors.