Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-02
LOCAL HEAL TIL REPORT
DR.. Woodward Makes His
Annual Statement.
DEATH RATE HIGHER
RECoMMENDATIoNs FOR GER
TAIN LEGISLATION.
Suggests Regulations for Inspection of
Foods in District - Homes
Unfit for Occupancy.

Information relative to the health of the
| District during the past fiscal year Is con-
| tained in the annual report of DIR. VIM. c.
| Woodward, District health officer. which
was submitted to the Commissioners today.
| Among other things it is noted in the re-
| port that the general death rate during
! 1903 was slightly higher than the corre-
! spending death rate for the preceding year.
| 1t is stated however, that only twice dur
! ing the past decade have more favorable
| figures been shown.
! 1t is interesting to note that there mas
been a rise in the average age at oeath
of both white and colored decedents our
ing the past ten years. AS compared with
1902 there has been considerable increase
the past year in the number OF deaths OF
persons between the ages of thirty ana
seyeuty-five years, and decreases are noted
in deaths of infants and of persons between
the ages of four and twenty years.
DR.. Woodward discusses the causes OF
death as shown by the records and ne
makes a number of recommendations feia-
tive to LEGISLATION and other matters re-
lating to the department.
The report In part is as follows:
"The general death rate during 1913 vas
slightly higher than the corresponding
death rate for the preceding year only
twice however, during the past ten years
have better figures been shown. The IN
for 1902 was due solely to an increase IN
the death rate among whites, from ID w
per thousand to 1879. but only two years
of the past decade have shown better tis-
ures even for this part of the community.
The death rate for the colored race for
1903. 2s1S. has been excelied only once
during the past ten years in 1897, when
the death rate was % Is. The correspond
ing death rate for 1902 was ~. IL.
Decrease in Summer.
at may be stated here that the increased
mortality during 1903 compared with
1902 occurred during the months of Janu-
airy, February March. November and De-
cember the summer months showing an
actual decrease.
'The number of white decedents during
the past year was 5.3:S, an increase OF FOG
as compared with the preceding year.
"At first glance one might be inclined to
believe that the importation into the DIS
trict of white men to work on the filtration
plant. the union station and other public
improvements was responsible for the in
creased number of deaths among white
males taken as a whole; but these men.
however, seem to be nearly all Of foreign
parentage, and the mortality tables show
that there was decrease in the number
Of decedents belonging to that class. and
that the increase in the deaths among white
men occurred altogether among natives of
the United States, and to a considerable
extent among those born In the District of
Columbia.
During the year 1903 there were 5OT
deaths among children under five years of
age. During the preceding year the num-
Der Of deaths Of like character were 1,63S.
Deaths From Pneumonia.
THE year 1903 showed a marked increase
in the number Of deaths from pneumonia.
The total number of deaths recorded as
having been due to this disease is $50, a
number In excess Of any previous record
during the past ten years.
1.-The number of deaths from pulmonary
tuberculosis, 776, was below the average
for the ten-year period, 1892.
There was a larger number of deaths
from suicide during 1903 than at any time
since 1876, and prior to that year there are
no records. The increase affected both
races"
The report shows continuation of the
decrease in the number of deaths from
diarrhoeal diseases among children under
two years of age.
With reference to the deaths from COM
mt nicable diseases. DR.. Woodward says:
Scarlet fever was less prevalent during
the calendar year 1903 than during 1gU2
only 154 cases having been reported last
year as compared with 245 for the previous
year.
THE calendar year 1903 showed fewer
cases of diphtheria than the preceding
year 1S1 as compared with 352 Nineteen
cases terminated fatally
THE number of cases of smallpox report.
ed during the calendar year 1893 was A. OF
which terminated fatally. The number
reported during 1902 was 90, with l death
Twenty-one of the patients reported in 1907
were white; while in 1903 &c belonged to
that race.
Gases of Typhoid Fever.
The number of cases of typhoid fever re-
ported during the calendar year 1903 was
Oj5; white, 776; colored, 279. Figures for
comparison with previous years are not
ayaila BILE the law which requires cases OF
typhoid fever to be reported not having
been enacted until February %, 1902 The
disease was apparently slightly more prev
alent among whites, it's incidence In that
portion of the community being 3.7S per
thousand while its incidence on the colored
race was but 3.OS per thousand. or the re-
ported cases l37 died, representing percent
ages of deaths as follows: Among whites.
of 1853; among colOred, 1875; among the
entire population, 1898.
The records of the department for the
first six months of the year 1904 suggest
that there was, during that period, d.
minished prevalence of typhoid fever; 321
cases were reported during the first six
months of 1903 and only $50 cases during
the corresponding period of 19O4 1t Is TO
be feared, however. that the dminution Is
apparent rather than real, for during the
first six months of 1903 there were but II
deaths due to typhoid fever, while during
the corresponding period of 1904 the deaths
numbered Az. Either, therefore, the dis