Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-19
THE CITY'S HEALTH.
1t Has Been Pretty Good ALI the
Year Despite the Grip.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The Annual Report OF DIR. TOwnshend,
the Health Offscer-Ese Estimates the
Population al 250,OOo-Figures Which
Compare Well with Other Cities.

Before entering into a discussion Of the
subject Of vital Statistics" says the health off,
Ger of the District, DR.. Smith Townshend in his
annual report. which was placed in the hands
Of the District Commissioners today, Il would
state that 1 have continued to base the NOR
tally figures upon an estimated population OF
100000, and / think for very good reasons.
The population of Washington is fuctuating to
very grea. extent and / think the season of
the year at which the census was taken must
have borne a decided influence upon the result.
There Is probably 10 city in the country which
loses so great q portion Of its population during
the heated term does the national capital
very large proportion OF our bona fide resi-
dents is composed OF people OF means who
leave the city Immediately upon the advent of
warm weather In addition to the wealthy
classes there are also very large number EN-
ployed in the departments and in business who
leave rented houses, Or homes which they own,
to seek suburban residences during the months
Of June, July, August and September. That
the taking OF the census in the month of June
must have left uuenumerated very many Of
these there can be question. This feature
will be emphasized when II is remembered that
the heated term set in just as the enumeration
was to begin.
I'VE must also take into account in our NOR
tally returns every one who dies in Washing
ton, whether n citizen thereo Of or not. Take
for instance the mortality of the last Congress.
The large number of deaths which occurred IN
the House Of Representatives of $50 members
is of course accredited to the death rate of
Washington II considered upon the regular
basis of death rate per 1,0J0 per annum it
would show the House OF Representatives to be
q decidedly unhealthful body. None of these
members nor the members of their families
are accredited to our population. and vet they
must be, II death takes place within the limits
Of the District, accredited to our list of NOR
tally and go to swell the death rate.
Another thing which must be taken into
consideration in connection witt this city is
that it has become a stopping place between
two meccas for the invalid. namely: Those
travelling to the south at the approach of cold
weather and those leaving the south to find a
cooler climate in the north at the appoach OF
summer. Every one of these finds this city q
desirable stopping place and large number
who are found too weak to proceed further die
here and must be accounted for in our report
OF vital statistics.
"After all factors are taken into consideration
an allowance must surely be made for error In
enumeration. No matter how complete the
census may be many persons must have been
missed by the enumerators. while death misses
none l am perfectly satisfied that in justice
TO the District and all concerned / am not
crossing safe bounds in estimating the popula-
ton at the figures given. In fact, / am salts
fed that Remuneration today of a few of
the districts would demonstrate that upon the
whole 1000 additional is q small margin upon
which to proceed"
The report presents statements in detail
covering the operation of the health depart
ment during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1880; this being the eighteenth annual report of
the bureau and the twelfth under its present
organization. o.
The statements presented cover the usual
neid, comprising reports upon the general
sanitary inspection service; the inspection of
food; the inspection OF marine products; the
inspection of plumbing and drainage work; the
collection ana removal of garbage, night soil
and dead animals; the prevention Of the run
ming at large of domestic animals; the care Of
the sick and poor; the prevention of the intro
ductlOn and spread of infectious and contagi-
Gus diseases. and tine securemeut of u full and
correct record of vital statistics in the District
Of Columbia
THE DEATH LIST swELLyD BY THE GRIP.
The Introductory summaries of the more ex-
tended and comprehensive statements relating
to vital STATISTICS present figures which, the
health officer says, give continued reason
Tor congratuatlon as regards the healthfulness
OF Washington. The total number of deaths
for the year aggregated 1854 of which num-
Der 293i were white and 2.630 colored. This
shows an increase compared with the wear
previous OF 4l2 deaths, which may be readily
accounted for by reason of the prevalence Of
acute influenza or the grip during the
winter and spring months. The principal in
crease IN mortality Is shown to have resulted
rom lung diseases such as pneumonia, bron-
chltis and congestion OF the lungs. having as a
forerunner the influenza referred to. There
was slight increase In the annual death rate
IN each of the five classes of disease, yet the
death rate per annum still remains below that
OF the mean for the past fifteen years. The
death rate Of the colored population still holds
Its place as the main factor and is nearly
double that Of the white population.
Tables are given showing that the annual
death rate per thousand for the year ending
June 80, 1890, was 22.25. The death rate for
the whites was 1726; for the colored So So
VI the deaths reported &c SO per cent were
from zymotic diseases, 22.72 constitutional
S7.s9 local. 10. 81 developmental and l. ~ from
violence. The death rates per 1000 for the past
hfteen years are shown to be as follows: 1876.
20 40; 1877, IS 81; 1873 25.2 20: 1879 81 30; 1880
a3.Ss; 1851, p 50; 1852 24;23; 1888 2233; 1854,
4-O7; 1885, "a 80; 1886, 22. so; 1897 % 81; 1885,
x 40; 1889, O.60; 1890, 22.25.
WHAT THE YEARS WORK SHOWS.
'The labor Of the year." says the report,
Shows decrease Of 2.Ol1 in the number OF
nuisances reported. which fact argues an i'm
provement In sanitary conditions generally
The condemnations OF meats increased 10000
pounds as compared with the year previous
Nearly 1000 pounds increase in the amount of
nsh condemned is also sh own. well as 1921
bushels increase In the concentrations of yege-
tables. This is accounted for mainly BIZ the
peculiar seasons. which caused rapid decompo-
siton- There was a decrease of 100 per cent
In the condemnations OF oysters notwithstand-
ing an increase of 1856 bushels In the supply.
COMBINATIONS of other shell fish, clans and
crabs increased nearly 1.500. 090."
There were 21l more citizens complaints re-
eeived than during the year previous, which
shows that the Washington public is being ed
ucsted to write and ask for information upon
sanitary subjects.
The number o: animals impounded during
We year increased 338, and there was an addi-
ncnal S9o dead animals removed, as compared
with the year previous.
The increase in the amount of garbage COL
lected aggregated nearly 2,0OO tons, while
night-soil collections show q decrease of ss5
barrels.
The pauper list continues TO grow, as the list
OF persons treated by the physicians to the poor
shows an increase OF 2.0Oi, of which humber
LIZA were white and IN colored
The inspections OF plumbing work show an
Increase Of only twenty-three during the year.
THE REMOVAL OF ASHES
six hundred and nine nuissnces," saws the
report, stand credited to the account of
ashes. In my last annual report / quoted
from several previous reports and urged as
strongly as possible the necessity for provid-
ing service which should remove ashes from
dwellings, at the public expense. j have re-
sorted to iteration and reiteration year after
this suliect and