The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-01
DEATHS EXCEED BIRTHS
RECORDED IN DISTRICT
Vital Statistics, However,
Are Inaccurate.
CHILD MORTALITY is LOWER
Number Of Deaths From Pulmonary
tuberculosis Smallest in Years,
Says Dr. Woodward

tuberculosis Smallest in Years,
Says Dr.. Woodward.
There were $50 more deaths than births
within the East year IN the District
I Of Columbia, according to a report of
DR.. William c. Woodward, Health or
Ger. submitted to the Commissioners TO-
day. Dr. Woodward's report covers the
calendar year 1902, and the first six
months OF the calendar year of 1903.
The cause assigned fer this apparently
alarming increase of deaths over births
Is the incomplete birth returns. The
Health Officer believes the births to be
much greater in number. but the vital
statistics are inaccurate.
White Death Rate Low.
The number of deaths were: Whites
3,192; negroes, 1886; total, 5,7SS Among
the whites 3GSe births were reported
negroes. Isis; total 1882. Thu death
rate among The whites was 1882 Only
once before in the past ten years has
the white death rate gone below lin
1897, when it was 15.SS.
The number of deaths from steam
railroad accidents was in excess Of the
average. p having been reported In the
past year IAAe average uelll6 4o-A III
the decedents 16 were white and 81
negroes. There was an increase of
deaths from street railroad accidents
also, as compared with the average
OF - SIX Of the decedents were white
and .iesroe8.
Suicides Numbered Forty.
Suicides were responsible for forty
deaths within The year, a number not
r. in rfr1,-
number was, however much in excess
of the ordinary annual returns from
this cause. - Is uniformly the case,
the suicides were more frequent among
the whites than among the negroes, !
thirty-seven decedents being white and
three colored.
The number Of deaths from pulmonary
tuberculosis rrcorded within the past
year, CSC, is the smallest in any Of the
past ten years.
Deaths from this cause were so much
less frequent within the past year than
heretofore that it seems proper, lest the
laity be deceived, 10 say that there is
no reason to believe the recent efforts
for the limitation Of the spread OF this
disease have had anything TO do with
bringing about this result These ef- |
forts have been Of too recent origin 10
account for such Improvement.
Cases of Diphtheria.
The number of cases Of diphtheria
reported during the calendar year 1902
was 352. Of which PSI were white and Sc
negroes. OF all reported cases. 45, OF
1918 per cent. died. This represents the |
lowest mortality in the District Of
which the Health Department has rec
ord.
The population Of the District of Co
lumbia at the middle OF the calendar
year 1903 as estimated by the Health
Department. was as follows; White,
go, AZ; negroes, g, 119; all, 2Ss.596.
Infant Mortality Low.
notwithstanding the present high
mortality among children under one
year OF age. such mortality, even among
the negroes, from year TO year shows |
signs of Improvement. When the in
creased population is ;Al<e'I into consid- /
Grafton. at no previous time OF which |
the department has knowledge has the !
mortality among infants Under one year |
Of age been so low as in tbs past year
Arranged in a descending scale in the !
order Of mortality. the death rates re-
tain the same relative position as last |
year. viz: Negro males, estimated !
death rate. $3295; negro females, $500 /
white males, 1877, and white females |
1887.
Origin of Typhoid.
In reference TO typhoid DR.. Woodward |
says:
Investigations were made in l2S9 |
cases TO determine If possible the orr /
gin Of the disease. As a result Of such /
investigation the department is satisfied /
that I48 Of these cases were contracted |
outside OF the District Of Columbia and |
developed here. IN eighty-nine cases |
the disease was contracted while wait
ing on patients suffering from H. In /
seven Of the 1.2Ss cases the disease !
seems TO have been contracted through |
milk"
The deaths from typhoid fever in the !
past year numbered 226; the annual |
average In the past ten years has |
been 1853. The excess occurred alto /
gether among the white population.
The number of deaths from pneU-
nonia. 478 was somewhat in excess of /
the average for the ten years. 1898. the
increase occurring in both races.
Bath Houses Needed.
cit is source Of regret" sass Dr. /
Woodward. that no provision mas yet
been made for the erection Of municipal
bath houses, and IL is to be hoped that
something may be accomplished toward
that end in the near future.
The continual presence IN the city Of
large number Of visitors and the de-
veIopment Of a large suburban popula-
ton, which must come into the city TO
shop. makes the need for public comfort
stations greater and greater each year.
Action looking toward the erection and
maintenance of such stations is greatly
10 be hoped for.
The Water Supply.
ION complaint that the water supply
from tanks In apartment houses was of
inferior quality an investigation was
made 10 determined the facts Of the
case. Thirteen buildings were visited I
for this purpose and samples were taken |
FROM the water supply as it entered the |
tanks and other samples from the water
supply as delivered TO the occupants. !
Analyses showed practically no differ |
cnce.
EIGHT HOUR LAW VALID.