Evening star., 1900-10-22


ton Of the system in many other places,
and a desire on the part of this department
to assist as much as possible In bringing
about uniformity in vital statisticA 1t Is
recognized, however that this classification
is by no means perfect in its present form.
1.-THE first general subdivision Of the Ber-
tillon classification Of causes Of death Is
epidemic diseases, and includes typhoid
whooping cough, diphtheria and Influenza
(grippe) The total number Of deaths due to
diseases OF this type was 667. There was
an increased mortality from typhoid fever,
measles whooping cough and diphtheria,
and decreased mortality from influenza.
The Diseases Included.
There were POI deaths from typhoid fever,
including so-called typho-malarial fever,
equivalent to a death rate of 10 per thou
sand. This. the health officer believes. is
an extremely unsatisfactory showing when
compared with .65. the death rate last year,
or 40, the death rate for 1S97-0s In the
absence. however Of reports Of all cases
of this disease, so that their number and
location may be considered. the cause Of
this increased mortality cannot be deter
mined OF the decedents, 11s were white
and 103 colored; 131 male and 80 female.
Thirty-three per cent of the mortality from
typhoid fever occurred among persons from
twenty to twenty-nine years Of age. in
elusive. The mortality by months was as
follows: July, 10; August, 80; September,
80; October. %; November. 20; December,
26; January. II; February. 6; March, s:
April 10; May, 9, and June, IL.
The increased mortality from diphtherta,
1t is stated, seems to have been due partly
to the Increased prevalence Of the disease
and partly to the occurrence Of a severer
creased prevalence. and the greater severi-
ty Of the, prevailing type. il any, are un-
In the absence of knowledge as to the
SNrc ,,p
ing cough which occurred during the year
1t is impossible to say whether the in
creased number Of deaths was due to the
occurrence of larger number Of cases or
more malignant form. This holds true, too.
with the necessary qualifications. with ref
erence to- the decreased mortality from
ST General Diseases.
That portion of the mortality included
under the term general Diseases" but not
classed as epidemic" presents the follow
Ing Points of interest: There was a notice
able, but not marked, decrease in the num-
ber OF deaths from malarial Infection, from
SO to As. >, Tubercular diseases showed an
Increased mortality from 797 to $50, an in
crease in the death rate from 2S6 to 3OS
per 1000. tuberculosis of the lungs was
responsible for 742 deaths, that is, for S6
per cent OF all deaths from tuberculosis.
OF the decedents 1856 were white and 473
COlOTeu. ouA ioAoi GU dItu lOFty-On6 were
males and AIS females. The largest number
of deaths occurred among persons from
twenty to twenty-nine years of age, inclu-
sive, the total number in this class being
945 Deaths from malignant tumors in
creased from 1T to 2O4. This, 1t Is stated,
considered in connection with the CORE
spending figures for recent years, appears
to bear out the widely prevailing opinion
that such growths are becoming more
common, but such conclusion can be sup
ported, If at all. 1t is explained, only after
a careful study of the many factors in
than is at present at the disposal of the
health department. OF those who died
from malignant tumors during the past