The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-02
FOR PRICE OF STAMP
DOCTORS EYADE LAWS
Have Ceased to Report
Births and Deaths.
NO LONGER GIVEN FRANKS
On This Account They Take Chances
on Heavy Fines-Health Of
icer Reports

The vital statistics of the District OF
Columbia have been made absolutely IN
reliable by the unexpected result of the
recent ruling of the Postofice Depart
ment denying the District of Columbia
the right TO use fTanked envelopes. This
startling announcement is made by
Health officer Woodward, in his week
ly report submitted TO the Commission
ers toda..
The reasons for the statement are
simple. Physicians and midwives have
heretofore been supplied with envelopes
carrying the District frank. with in
structions to use the envelopes in re.
porting births to the Health Department.
Now these envelopes must have a 2-cent
stamp attached, which are not furnished
by the Government. Consequently, the
expense, small as it is. has resulted in
only thirty-four births being reported for
the past week. which is the lowest pun,-
Der within the memory of any of the
Health Office employees. The averag,
for the past twenty years has beeen be-
tween 90 and 100.
Or. Woodward sent much time this
morning trying to devise a method
which would relieve the situation. The
law provides fine of not less than sos
nor more than 5000 for the failure of any
person officiating a a birth TO report
the same TO the Health once within six
days thereafter Notwithstanding this
provision it is almost impossible to OBJ
tain conviction, unless the facts are
.ascertained accidentally.
One Hundred Deaths.
There were 100 deaths in the Dis-
trict, says the report. during the week
ending Saturday last. OF these 80 vera
white and 4S colored. The chief causes
Of death were: DiarrheaI diseases, 70;
consumption. 10; acute diseases of the
lungs, 6, and diseases of the kidneys. I.
There were 80 deaths of infants under
i've years of age. of which 81 were under
one year old. and of the whole number
p were colored and Is white. There
were fatal cases of typhoid fever AMI
l or whooping cough. By violence there
were deaths, all accidental. l being by
scalding, by drowning, by falling from
window. and from traumatic tetanus.
5 ,,
which 26 were white and colored;
males and females. II each. The num-
Der of births reported in the past week is
smaller than the number reported in any
corresponding period within the recol-
lection of those having charge OF birth
returns. The number of births reported
is ordinarily about 100 each week.
Reason for NeoIect
THE falling off is attributed to the
recent decision denying the government
of the District of Columbia the right 10
use penalty envelopes. This may in
some cases be due to an unwillingness
TO pay postage, but is probably more
often due TO the inconvenience incident
10 the purchasing of the stamp before
mailing the birth return. It should be
understood. of course, that failure to
make birth return is punishable under
all circumstances by fine and imprison-
ment. and that physicians and midwives
are not freed from liability because they
find it necessary to pay postage in order
to make such returns.
Typhoid Cases.
AT the close Of the last report there
were 1874 cases Of typhoid fever under
treatment. During the week this num-
Der was increased by ffty-seven new
cases Cthe number of new cases report
ed during the preceding week was thir-
ty-two) and decreased by twenty nine
recoveries and deaths, leaving 212 cases
under medical care, as against $40 in
this period a year ago.
The s cases of diphtheria brought
over from the former week were in
creased by the addition OF new cases
TO 10, which number were in quarantine
at the close of Saturday last
THE 4 cases of scarlet fever in quar-
antine at the close of the last report
were reduced by l recovery TO at the
close of this week"