Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-05
THE YEARS RECORD
Westinghouse Have Enjoyed Bet
ter Health Than Formerly.
TIE DECREASE IN DEATH RATES
Suggestions and Recommendation
Of Health Officer Woodward. =.
AN INTERESTING REPORT


Health Officer Woodward today submitted
| to the Commissioners the annual report Of
the workings of his office for the past fiscal
year. The report sets forth:
The total number of deaths occurring in
the District of Columbia during the year
specified was 5,5G5, of which 3.114 were
| white and 2.451 colored. The death "a te per
annum was, therefore, 1897 per 1000 white
| Inhabitants. 2S1S per 1000 colored inhabi-
tants. and 2O.57 per 1000 Of the entire popu-
lation.
There were 1856 deaths from all causes
during the year. For the previous year
they numbered 6,O39. The decrease (47D is
distributed as follows: Zymotic diseases,
362; constitutional diseases. II; local dis
eases, %: developmental diseases 50, and
from violence, 10. An examination Of the
decrease according to the ages Of the dece-
dents shows that the deaths during the first
five years of life numbered 451 less during
the year 1S94-95 than during the year 1855
81. while the difference for all other ages
was but II.
Peculin rifles of Epidemic Influenza.
The deaths from zymotic diseases num-
bered 1885, as against 1888 in the pre-
ceding year. OF these ISL were white, with
an annual death rate Of 31.7O, and 455 col
ored, with a rate of $3.50 per 10000. The
principal causes of mortality were diar-
rhoeal diseases 600, typhoid fever Q7S,
diphtheria Q24), epidemic influenza go and
whooping cough $50. The fact of 81 deaths
occurring from epidemic influenza illustrates
how an infectious disease may, when once
imported, become q permanent factor In
the death rate. since this is the sixth
years presence of this disease. During the
entire period it seems to have presented
the same form of attack and in most cases
reached a fatal result through sequelae,
chiefly involving the lungs. brain or kid
neyS.
motto diseases, 906 were classed as Mas
matte, amounting to 1853 Per cent of the
tota! mortality from all causes. The white
population suffered to the extent of 2S.5
ard the colored 44.O per ten thousand.
Neglect to Record Births.
There were 4,74 returns of births made
during the year. of which ISIS were white
and 1916 colored. OF the total births re-
ported 624 were illegitimate, 104 being
white and $50 colored. Compared with the
year 1894 twenty-seven more illegiti-
mate births were reported among the
" hites and nineteen less among the color
ed. The births, as reported. fell short of
| the deaths by III. They amounted to SCI
per cent of the total mortality.
Estimated from the increase in the pop
ulation large number of births probably
$1,000 were not reported, as required by
law.
Decrease In the Death Rate.
1t Is gratifying to note that at no
previous time during the entire period for
which definite information can be OBJ
tanned, twenty years, were the death rates
SO low. either for the whole population OF
for the white the colored element of it,
as they were the year just ended. Espe-
cially gratifying is the decrease of death
rate for the colored population from 40. rs
per 1900 to 2S.1S. 1t is a matter of re-
gret, however. that it remains even this
high, and is SO potent a factor in MAIN
tanning high general death rate for the
District
whole the duration of life was in 1881 thir-
ty-two years and three days. and in 1895
thirtySfX years, nine months and twenty
two days. an increase of four years, nine
months and nineteen days. Further ex-
| animation shows that this increase has not
| been confined to any che age period. but
has been generally distributed.
The average age of colored decedents
and eleven days in 1881 to twenty-five
years, eight months and twenty-seven days
in 1885, an increase of four years, ten
months and sixteen days, due chiefly to a
lessened infant mortality.
Scarlet Fever and Diphtherfa.
2e5 cases of diphtheria, 81 of which were
fatal and among the colored Ill cases. SO
of which were fatal, or a total of 412
cases with 1s4 deaths.
No localized outbreaks of diphtheria &C.
Cured during the year. Improved methods
of diagnosis have led to an altered con-
ception of the clinical symptoms of diph-
iberia. Mary cases which would have
formerly been classed under that heading
are now rejected on account of the alb
sence of the Klebs-Loefiier bacillus from
the air passages as determined by bac-
THEOLOGICAL tests.
During the past year there were reported
among the whites $50 cases of scarlet fever,
IA of which were fatal, and among the col
oied 40 cases of scarlet fever. of which
were fatal, or a total of i2I cases and 10
deaths.
The marriages reported to this depart
ment were 2,391, as against l,49S last year.
OF these 1,411 were white and $50 colored.
This large increase is partly due to the
sudden ard rigid application of what is
known as the Edmunds law. There were,
however, $3.50 marriage licenses issued by
the clerk of the court during the year,
showing approximately. 1233 failures on
the part of tfcse officiating at marriages to
make the return TO this department., as re-
qured by law.
Scarlet Fever In the Schools.
The disease has, as rule, been of a mild
type. Several outbreaks of the disease &C.
Cured in schools, making it necessary to
close the school and disirfect the school
room, and probably originated from mild,
undiagrosed cases, where the patient had
been allowed, in ignorance of the true nature
of the disease, to continue at his school du-
ties. 1t is greatly to be regretted that
there is no way of diagnosing such cases
| with certainty, but If parents would treat
them as suspicious, and resort to isolation
and disinfect;on, they would cause no
trouble even in the absence of a positive
diagnosis
Isolation Hospital Needed.
Provision should be made for the speedy
erection and equipment of a hospital for
the reception of patients suffering from
minor contagious diseases, viz: diphtheria,
scarlet fever and measles. Twice appro-
priations have been made for this purpose,
but without effect, the building erected
with the first appropriation being now used
(without authority of law for a nurses
home, and the use of the second appropria-
ton having been prevented by subsequent
legislation.
The Smallpox Outbreak.
Dr. Woodward gives a history of the
| smallpox outbreak, and says it cost $4,000
to quell it. He says under this head:
Vaccine physicians should be employed
constantly to vaccinate those unable to