Evening star., 1900-10-22

ing, ordinarily. bodies which have been de-
posted in the street. In majority OF al
cases the causes of stillbirths were reported
unknown.
Returns of Marriages.
The number Of marriages recorded in the
health department during the past year
was 1,S2s-white. 1,251, and colored, b77.
The number of marriage licenses issued by
the clerk of the court during the oorre-
spending period was 3,1S1, showing there
for that approximately 1888 per cent Of the
total number Of marriages have not been
reported. There appears, however, says DR..
Woodward to be way in which an i'm
provement can be effected In the matter of
marriage returns, except that already sug-
gested by the health department-that Is.
the issue of licenses directed to specified
ministers rather than ito any minister of
the Gospel authorized to solemnize mar
riages." at present.
There was no change during the past year
In either the number, location or character
Of the private hospitals in this District nor
was there any change in the number Of
cemeteries or crematories. Attention is
need Of a crematory to replace, or as an
auxiliary to, potter's field.
The number of cases in which material
was offered for use under the provisions of
the act for the promotion of anatomical
science decreased from "A to IS, and DR..
Woodward says that In order to advance
the position of this city as a center Of med
ical education 1t Is desirable that the law
enttic purposes should be amended SO as to
increase the amount.
Relief Of the Poor.
Referring to medical relief Of the poor.
DR.. Woodward says the work done by ply
sicians to the poor during the past year
shows a marked decrease. Whether this
has been due to prevailing prosperity or to
other causes. 1t is impossible for him to
say, but as there has been no complaint Of
the failure Of suoh physicians to give
proper service to all worthy applicants, he
thinks any decrease in interest or industry
on their part cannot have been responsible
for the change. The number OF visits made
by physicians to the poor was 1881, and
During the year 4, 452 families have sought
medical relief through physicians to the
poor. a decrease Of 1,523 since last year. OF
such families, 1,067 were white, a decrease
of 437. and 1886 were colored. a decrease
of 1.0S6. The entire number Of individuals
treated was 6,642, Of which 1872 were
white and 4.13O were colored. the decrease
generally corresponding to certain extent
On the basis OF the recent United States
census, POPS out Of every thousand inhab-
itants received medical relief at public ex.
pense, through the agency Of the health
department.
The total cost Of the service has been
s9.690.75. Of which $780, 40 was for the
services Of physicians to the poor and the
remainder for drugs and incidental ex-
penses The average cost Of treating each
patient during the year has been $1.4O for
services and 80 cents for drugs, ETC.. a total
of $1.72. The average amount received by
each physician for each visit and Office con-
sultation has been 4S cents. The average
cost of drugs, etc., supplied or used in con-
Wi r. a.
ton has been II cents. In view of the
foregoing figures DR.. Woodward thinks it
is unnecessary to call attention to the in-
adequacy of the compensation of the ply
sicians to the poor. They are required to
be on duty twenty-four hours each day and
for such service receive 81, he states. and
they are entitled to no leave. either by rea-
son of sickness or otherwise. He recon-