Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05


yearly cared for by the authorities. 1t
goes without saying that they should be
promptly apprehended and carefully guard
ed against escape.
Provision for guards at the workhouse,
bailiffs at the police court and watchmen
at some other Institutions should be made
to relieve the detailing Of police officers for
such purposes.
Health and Sanitation.
TIE work done for the protection of the
health Of the community by the health de-
partment has been faithful and efficient.
although the department has suffered from
lack OF sanitary and food inspectors
none having been added to It's force since
1903, notwithstanding additional duties
have been imposed upon 1t. Congress. 1; Is
hoped, will grant the additional inspectors
asked Tor In the estimates.
Vital Statistics.
The Vital statistics embodied In the report
OF the health officer are for the calendar
year 1904 and are computations based upon
the results OF the police census OF March.
1897. and of April. 1905 which show an
estimated population OF 317 200 at the mid
Ole OF the calendar year 1904, the white
population being estimated at 222eOO ana
the colored population at ZOO
There occurred in the District during fhA
calendar year 1904 6221 deaths $3.50 Of
me decedents being white and 264i being
coiored. The corresponding death rates per.
sst for esse don on the estimated population
ored, 1892; all, 1851. These rates are
somewhat higher than the death rates for
me year Immediately preceding, but lower
than the average for the past ten years
The number of decedents under FIVE years
or age reported during 1904 was l532 an
increase OF %. While the number of col
ored persons who died during this age
period was but one more than last wear
and the remainder of the net Increase oc-
Cured among the white population, the rel
alive death rate among the former race is
still much higher, being ISL per 900 of
the colored, as against BIB for the white
There was also an Increase of SO In the
age, resulting from an increase OF - among
colored decedents and an increase OF Z
among the white decedents
AS no census was taken In 1903. and as
the very considerable increase in the num-
Der of reported btrths-from 5124 to g. 2ls-
may, II Is believed. be attributed to the
continued efforts of the health depa rtment
to secure prompt reporting of all births,
as required by law, there is no safe basts
upon which to figure the rela ton between
the increase in the number of these deaths
and the Increase or decrease in the corre-
spending portion Of the population This
increase in the number Of deaths of this
class during 1904 markes the first check
of the actual and relative yearly decline
for the past five years, but il is fair to bear
in mind, however. that the population has
rapidly increased during this period
ne NUMBER CeatnS from dfarrhea and
Inflammation Of the bowels among chill
dren under years of age has increased
from 282 to 323 while deaths from the same
cause among persons over years of age
were diminished from "a to 49, The in
crease Of deaths from diarrhea and enteritis
among white children under years of age
was from ia to lab and among colored
children from les to $50. In making a
comparison with 1903, the year OF the low
est mortality from this disease since 1900
1t should be borne in mind that in 1903 the
department, during the heated term as
signed one of the inspectors particularly to
the investigation of deaths from diarrhea
and enterttis and published the results OF hts
Investigations from week to week 1t was
unable to do this in 1904. and has been I'M
able to do II for 1905 but il Is hoped that
hereafter the department may be able to
keep in touch with the situation during the
summer months. and that parents and
nurses maj be induced to exercise the ut
most precautions for prevention Of diseases
OF this character.
Pulmonary tuberculosis as heretofore.
continues to be the chief cause of mortality
in the District. During the calendar year
OF l9o4. S32 deaths were due to this disease
representing percentage of 1887 to deaths
from all causes and is equivalent TO 2623
deaths for each LOCO OF the Districts popu-
iation. OF the decedents who died from
this cause. 1888 were white and Ago were
colored, the corresponding death rates being
for the whites 1.644 and for the colored
4026 per 600. The foregoing figures rela-
cess OF the corresponding figures for 1903.
and represent the largest number of fataIi-
ties registered in the last decade, with the
exception Of 1896. and are also considerably
IN excess OF the average number of deaths
(vtz. 1852 for the past ten years. The first
six months of 1905. however indicate a
material decrease In the number of deaths
from pulmonary consumption as compared
with the corresponding period of 19OL435
as compared with 4i6.
The total number of cases OF typhoid
fever reported during the calendar year
1904 was 1.006: corresponding figures for
1908 were LOSS. The number of deaths re-
ported during 1904 due to typhoid fever was
l3a, which is 1 less than the number re-
ported during the preceding year. The
average for the past ten years has been
1911. The deaths from this cause among
the white persons decreased from SO to 70
and among the colored people increased
from 81 to 90. The record for the first half
Of the current calendar year indicates q
comparative dimunition in the number of
deaths, viz, n deaths for the first six
months of 1905, as compared with AZ deaths
for the corresponding period of 1904. A
comparison of the number of reported cases
during the corresponding periods of 1904
and 1908 is $50 to 157. respectively.
Deaths from scarlet fever during 1904
numbered IL, as compared with during
the preceding year. One hundred and fifty
four cases were reported to the department
for 1903, and 454 for 1904. During the first
six months Of 1905 there were 1se cases
reported, with 8 deaths. as against 237
cases for 1904. with deaths
The number of cases of diphtheria re-
ported in 1904 were 4S9. while during 1903
there were ISL The number of deaths
from this disease was g. representing
percentage of deaths to cases of 1893. A
comparative analysis of the first six months
of 1904 and 1905 indicates an increased
number CT deaths from diphtheria for 1905.
For this period of 1904. the deaths num-
bered 10. and for 1905 10 fatal cases have
been reported. A similar comparison seems
to indicate increased prevalence of this
disease for 1905 During the first six
months of 1904 132 cases were reported,
and for the corresponding period Of 1905.
164 cases have been reported.
During the calendar year 1904, % cases
of smallpox were reported, with 1 death.
In 1903, Al cases were reported, with z
deaths. During the first six months of
1905 the number of cases of smallpox were
%, while during the corresponding period of
1904 the number Of cases reported were IL.
Return Of Births.
The health department has continued its
efforts to secure. as the law requires the
prompt reporting Of births, and It has re-
suited in having recorded during the year
total Of 62lS births. representing 1904
white children and 224 colored The still