Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-28
THE NEGRO DEATH RATE.
An Interesting Question Raised In the
African Conference.

WHY coLoRED PEOPLE DIE IN SUCH NUMBERS IN
CITIEs-wBAT is SAID AT THE HEALTH OFFICE
GREAT MORTALITY AMONG INFANrs-A TALK
WITH DIR. BILLINGS
At the conference of the AME. Church in
Baltimore last Friday the interesting question
OF the mortality among coiored people in cities
as compared with those in the country was
started and discussed at some length. COM
mIttee that had been appointed to look into the
subject of mortality among the colored people
made report, as published in The STAR,
which stated that while in country districts the
death rate among the colored people was
about the same as among the whites yet in
cities it Is much greater. The question of the
relative mortality of the two races is one that
has attracted considerable attention.
HOW 1T rs IN WASHINGTON.
A STAR reporter recently asked the registrar
OF vital statistics at the Health Office how the
matter stands here.
1T is a we'll recognized fact" said he, 'that
the death rate among colored people is much
greater than among whites. At least that is
the case In cities. l am not in position to
speak OF the country, but know that it holds
true In the District Of Columbia 1t is largely
caused. of course, by the difference in the
manner of life of the two races. A large pro-
portion OF the colored people live in decidedly
unsanltary nelghborhoods and dwellings, and
this tells upon their health of course. Colored
people as rule are not robust. and climate
subject to great extremes is very trying
10 them as they are especially liable to all lung
and throat diseases. But, after all. the main
cause of the great difference in the rela-
tive death rate Is the tremendous number of
deaths that occur among coored infants. This
\ ONT of < tba
ring In the District during the year ending
June 81, 1882 634 were white infants under one
year of age while 1874 were colored and within
the same limits. Yet it is estimated that the
white population of the District outnumbers
the colored two to one"
THE HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT.
The report of the health officer Dr. Smith
Townshend, for the year ending June 80, 1885,
which has just been printed, reveals some in
teresting facts in this connection. For that
year the relative death rates of the two races
per LOCO inhabitants were: White, Is. 965, and
colored, 30.4S5; for the year ending June &c.
1888, they were 1882 and 80 Isl; for 'S6-S7
7.746 and 81. 100; for $3.50, II. $50 and 80 80
In discussing the question OF infant mortality
DR.. Townshend says:
1.-THE number Of those under five years of
age who died during the year was 2.0S9, being
about eight to every 1000 inhabitants 40 per
cent of deaths from all causes. and So 2 per cent
OF all the births reported. OF the above there
were 1,463 children under one year old. or 20
per cent thereof. and composing about six to
every ,O6O of population. and 36.6 per cent of
the births reported. In respect to race GA
were white and S34 colored. - Although
the white population is estimated as being
twice that of the colored. yet it will be seen
that the deaths of the cOlored infants exceed
the white by 200. This material difference in
the death rate may be charged. to a great ex-
tent to the location of the colored people in
alleys and unhealthy parts of the city and in
:; un sann surroundings; while there
proportion OF these children die in
consequence Of being fed improper
and unhealthy food. especially cheap and badly
prepared condensed milk. and cows milk which
has been allowed to stand to the point of acid
lty after having been kept in vessels badly or
unskillfully cleaned. 1t is a well-known fact
that infant mortality in the country is much
less than that in the cities. This difference cam
not be wholly attributed to the unsantary con-
ditions of the city. Much of it can be laid to
the unnatural custom OF urban mothers in de-
privlng their offsprings of the food nature has
prepared. 1t is now well established fact
that no artificial food has as yet been manu-
featured which will convey the same amount of
nutriment to the child, without causing func-
tlonal arrangement, as mothers milk. II, then.
the statistics OF infant mortality seem astound-
ing to the general public, the cause thereof
can be found rather in the reprehensible Gus
tom Of committing little impoverished waits to
hired nurses and foul feeding bottles rather
than to the want of thorough sanitary care of
the streets and alleys of the city,
TALK WITH DIR. BILLINGS
"Why is it that the mortality among colored
people In cities is SC much larger than among
whites while in the country the difference is
nothing like SO great?" asked The STAR re-
porter of DIR. Jno. S. Billings, US.A., who is a
recognized authority on all such Questions
THAT there Is great difference in the reia-
tive rates in city and in country is a fact that
cannot be disputed" said Dr. Billings But
1t Is not so easy to say how great tins differ
ence is. As yet we have not sufficient data
gathered TO make any estimates at all reliable.
This is largely caused by the fact that in the
southern states where such data would be OF
most value they have no satisfactory system of
registration. / trust this may be remedied in
the future and 1t Is our expectation in
the coming census 10 get, in at
least one state, as complete statistics
as possible that have bearing upon all Of these
questions. AS it is now the only place where
we can make anything like fair estimate is in
the army. There the two races are Oh an equal
footing III every way. They live precisely alike
and all their conditions and environments are
the same. Yet even there the difference in the
rates of mortality is distinctly marked. For
whites 1t is 7.55 and for colored ID CO per | 900
of mean strength. In sick rates, too the dif-
ference IL marked one. In the case of dis
charge. which should be taken into considera-
ton as IL bears upon the question OF sick rates.
the rate for whites Is 27.67 and for colored SOL
diers % As. Yet this hardly answers the question
OF relative city and country mortality, and, as
said the question cannot be fairly answered
with the statistics We now have on hand but il
Is to be hoped that after the next census the
question can be answered in all its various
phases"