Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
TROLLEY CAR RIDES
NOT REGARDED AS DETRIMEN-
TAI TO CHILDREN.
Improper Food a Chief Factor in In
fantile Mortality-Views of Health
Officer.

intendent of Brooklyn, N. Y, that long
rides on trolley cars" are among the causes
Of death among children under four years
of age, is regarded by physicians here as
incorrect. and they say it need cause no
anxiety among the mothers Of Washington
who are wont to take the little ones out on
the cars In the evenings during the sum-
mer. In fact. so far as Washington is
concerned. these trolley rides are a recog-
nzed factor in sustaining the health of the
people. children included, during the hot
summer months.
When interviewed by Star reporter to-
day in regard to causes for the deaths of
children. and when asked as to the state
ment regarding trolley rides, DR.. w. c.
Woodward. health officer for the District,
| said:
Improper food is the chief factor in in
fantile mortality. There are no facts in
the possession of the health department
tending to show that trolley rides are re-
sponsible for deaths among children. The
death rate of children in this and some
other cities has been decreasing during re-
cent Years. while the trolley systems have
been extended. which does not indicate that
trolley rides have any considerable effect
on the death rate. 1t may be admitted that
exposures to sudden changes of tempera-
ture. or the sudden chilling Of parts of the
body by drafts, can cause the intestinal
troubles such as are most important fac
tors in the summer death rate, but SO long
such troubles are so much more COM
monty due to indiscretions in diet it seems
scarcely fair to blame the trolley cars
LAS a matter of fact excessive clothing
Is even more dangerous in hot weather
than a deficiency. The continual pouring
out of sweat in excessive quantities has a
facilitating effect, and the presence of the
moisture on the surface of the body favors
the chilling of the surface on exposure to
draft.
Children Too Warmly Clad.
I'm my judgment more children die dur
ing the summer months from being too
warmly clad than otherwise, and more die
from improper food than from all errors of
clothing and trolley rides put together.
When proper food supply has been pro-
vided for children during the early years
of life and parents have been taught how
to care for and administer such food, the
problem of reducing the death rate among
infants will, L believe, be practically
solved
has been on the decrease in Washington
since trolley cars came into general use as
a means of recreation seems to dispel any
fears that might be entertained as to the
danger of long rides 1t would appear from
consulting the vital statistics of the Dis
trict that the improved milk supply has
been a decided factor in decreasing the
death rate of children. for in 1891 the death
since 1885, when the new law relating to
the milk supply went into effect, the rate
has steadily decreased, in 1901 it being
only 40.
June and July Death Rate.
A greater number of deaths among chill
dren annually occur in the months Of June
and July, the maximum number for the
months of the year being recorded in July.
The average number of deaths of children
| in the District per month for the past
twenty-five years is given, as follows: June,
1856; July, 20T; August, 143; September, 109;
October, IS; November, 49, December, 20;
January, 81; February, SO; March, SO;
April 81: May. 1856 The reasons given for
this increase is that milk. which forms a
large part of children's diet, decomposes
more quickly in the stomach during the hot
months and favors a growth of bacteria,
causing disease and death.
DR.. Woodward said he thought Washing
| ton people need have no apprehension of
| taking trolley rides in the heated period,
and that there seemed to be occasion for
alarm. such as appears to have been
aroused in Brooklyn.