Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

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poses for which 1t is used. Its condition in
eide and outside is disgrace to the gen.
eral government and to the city,"
This communication was signed by Thos
Somerville Geo. Gibson and A. A. Thomas
Health Department.
No part of the COMMISSIONER report.
probably. is OF more interest or Importance
than that OF the health officer. relating, as
1t does. to such matters as affect the com
fort. health and life of every one dwelling
In the District Of Columbia. The report
is full of interest. and it's Recommendations
are concurred in by the Commissioners and
the attention Of Congress Is especially IN
vited to the same.
The degree to which various diseases and
the resulting deaths occurred in 'he Dis
trict during the past year, as shown by
the record of vital statistics, affords the
only available index as to the sanitary con-
ditions prevailing during that period. 1t
death rate. 2O.7l per thousand, was prac-
tically low as at any time during the
past twenty-five years, and 1t Is especially
gratifying that there has been a marked
diminution during that entire period. The
high death rate among the colored race.
$3.50. which makes up practically one-third
of the community, tends 20 raise the rate
for the city as a whole, that for the whites
being but 1903.
Comparative Statement.
The entire number of deaths which &C.
Cured during the year was 5,T37 of which
3.216 were whites and 2.521 colored. Dis
tributing these deaths by locality for the
purpose of determining wher, the greatest
death rate is to be found, with a view of
ascertaining what local causes, if any, ex-
ist there. ii is noted that the death rate for
the city proper (what was formerly COM
prised in the cities of Washington and
Georgetown was 1889, while that for the
portion of the District outside of the city
was 1872 Making a further analysis OF
the county death rate, We find that of the
Eastern branch district to be 1852. a rate
which under modern conditions is abso-
lutely unjustifia Bile.
Searching for the cause of this increa Sc
in the death rate in that section, the most
evident feature which appears likely to
have causative relation is the enormous
tract OF swamp land known as the East
ern branch flats. The immediate reclama-
ton of these flats would SEEM therefore,
to he demanded. 1t is not to be expected
that this work alone would reduce the
death rate TO that of the city proper but
if accompanied by an improved system
of sewerage and improved water supply.
there is no reason why this should not be
the case
The death rate when considered with
reference to the varieties of disease shows
an increase in the number of deaths from
constitutional and developmental diseases
and decrease in those from zymotic and
local causes and violence. From a sani-
tary standpoint the chief interest attaches
to the zymotic diseases and to the tuber-
cular diseases. which are charged in the
constitutional class. Interest in the deaths
from violence is from the standpoint of
police rather than from a sanitary stand
point.
Among the zymotic diseases local interest
centers at present chiefly around the major
contagious diseases, OF which smallpox is
the most common, about scarlet fever and
dirhtheria, relative to which there has
been special legislation, and about typhoid
fever, which is generally considered as one
of the best indexes of the sanitary condi-
ton of d community. In reference to small
pox but little need be said, as the city has
been. as usual, entirely free from this dis
ease Attention is invited. however, to the
need of sp ecial fund for the suppression
OF this disease and others of the same
class under the provisions of the law re-
Gently passed, and for which an appropria-
ton has heen asked in the estimates which
have been submitted.
Gratifying Decrease.
1t is gratifying to note the marked de-
crease in the prevalence of scarlet fever
ard the extremely mild type of the dis
ease. there having been but 16O cases in
the community during the entire year. and
only one of these terminated fatally.
Among fourteen principal cities in this
country, from which Information was col
lected, Washington stands eleventh with
respect to the proportionate number Of
cases of this disease which occurred dur
ing the past year, and if the number of
deaths can be taken as the standard Of
comparison il is at the end of the list.
The showing with reference to diphtheria
has not. however, been SO favorable when
compared with the previous record of that
hn cs,-fct tHn har Of
cases shows a very considerable increase.
The mortality from the disease has been,
however, exceptionally low. and despite
the number OF cases ii is as low as ii has
been since 1889.
The number of cases of typhoid fever
that occurred during the past year was
but 15S as compared with 24O of the year
preceding. and in the class known as diar-
rhoeal diseases there was decrease from
46S deaths to 35S. The diminution in the
typhoid fever death rate is especially sat
1sfactoTy. As the present decrease has
correspondent with the closing of a consid-
cradle number of surface wells with the
improved drainage of a large number of
premises. including the replacement Of box
privies by water closets, and with a closer
supervision of the milk supply, we are
probably justified in expecting a further
decrease of the prevalence of this disease.
But the experience of other places indi-
Gates that 1t cannot be expected to reach
very low figure until the general water
supply of the city be subjected to a pro-
cess of filtration before being distributed
through the mains.
Deaths From TuberculOsis.
The number of deaths from the various
forms of tuberculosis remains HIGH in view
of the known preventabe nature Of these
diseases This is a source Of regret. The
PRONUNCIATION Of a regulation during the
past year forbidding expectorating in pub
lie buildings and vehicles may be consid-
cred in the light of a beginning of more ex-
tended measures for the restriction of the
disease.
Among the deaths from violence an I'M
usually large number have been due to
suicides. but as the cause for such in
crease cannot be ascertained, preventive
measures are, of course, impossible
Among the accidental deaths fifteen re-
suited from injuries received from steam
railways and nine from those received from
street cars, making a total OF somewhat
more than 10 per cent of all deaths from
violence This number is however, prob
ably somewhat in excess of the actual
number of fatal accidents from these
causes which occurred in he District as
not infrequently persons who have been
injured in the adjoining states are brought
10 the District for treatment and die here
while the reverse seldom. il ever, occurs
Returns of Marriages.