The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04
THE TIMES WASHINGTON TUESDAY DECEMBER 4, 1!0n

TO improve the health conditions Of the
District. administering his office with In
telligence and energy. The Commission
ers cordially approve the recommehaa-
ttons he makes in his annual report.
THE death rate was 21.31 per thou
sand, anu shows slight decrease
since last year; 1t is. however, slightly IN
excess of the average for the past nve
years. OF the decedents, $685. were white
and 2,62S colored. No definite statement
can be made, however, as to the reiatlve
death rates in the two races In view OF
the fact that the Federal Census has not
vet reached a point where 1t will permit
such calculations to be made. The most
regrettable feature of the reported NOR.
tally is the increase in the number OF
deaths from typhoid fever. The total
number of such deaths. 221, Is not large,
yet It points to the existence OF consio-
cradle number OF cases OF this disease
which. being preventable, should not have
existed. 1t Is hoped and expected tnat .ne
proposed filtration Of the public water
supply will materially diminish the preva-
lence Of typhoid fever In this District,
oven II it does not prevent 1t altogether.
Scarlet fever has been less prevalent
than during last year. but the numpeI Oh
cases Of diphtheria has increased Inc
Health Department was enabled. through
the agency of the milk law. to suppress
an outbreak of the former disease. inVoN-
ing thirty-three cases, due to milk mice.
tion. The wards for the reception OF
minor contagious diseases, which have
been constructed in connection with
Providence and Garfield Memorial Hospi-
tails. have been constantly occupied Dy
patients suffering from such diseases Tor
whom. prior to the existence OF s-cn
wards no hospital accommodations "nae-
soeyer were available Many of these pa
tients were treated at public expense, but
some came from well-to-do families ana
sought hospital treatment solely on &C
count of the advantages offered by IL.
Smallpox has been present during tine
greater par. of the year The mild char
acter of the disease, and the repeated i'm
portation of 1t from other places. nave
rendered its suppression difficult, ana
few cases remain under treatment at tne
close of the period covered by this re-
port
The report then speaks Of the enorts
made to carry out the sanitary laws.
specifying the prosecutions instituted TO
prevent the manufacture of adulterateo
foods the inspection OF dairy farms anu
live stock. the prevention Of smoke, ana
the removal of weeds. They recommend
better facilities for the pound SERVICE
owing to the increase Of business.
"It is a remarkable fact that In this
District there are no public bathing factl-
tiles available during cool and colo
weather, and that the only such facilities
available during the summer season at
the bathing beach are at best makeshiit
so far as regards purposes OF simple
cleanliness. As large number OF citi-
Gems are so unfortunately situated as to
have no bathing facilities in their resi-
dences they are in actual need of public
baths. The example of other cities points
to the Importance of establishing public
bath houses for the accommodation OF
these classes II is respectfully recon-
mended that action be taken toward that
end