Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-16
DEATHS AND DISEASES
STATISTICS SUPPLIED IN HEALTH
OFFICE REPORT.

Although much attention has been direct
ed for several weeks past to the steady in
crease in the number of typhoid fever cases.
comparatively little attention has been
given to the more than equally prevalent
diarrheal diseases. and the number OF
deaths from the latter ailments have come
in for more than passing comment. In the
fiscal week ended with Saturday last there
were six deaths from typhoid fever, and
while this is a nigh percentage for that dis
ease for this season Of the year, it's fatal
ity list Is completely overshadOwed by the
number Of deaths from diarrhoea. The
mortality from this latter cause. as shown
in the weekly report of the health Office, is
OF nearly five deaths for each day OF the
week. OF the victims all save four were
under two years Of age. The high death
rate from this one cause has obtained for
several weeks past.
That portion Of the report devoted to ty-
phoid fever shows that seventy-nine new
cases developed during the week, an excess
OF twenty-nine over the corresponding Pc
Rod last year. Despite the outbreak of
these two diseases the weekly health report
shows that the number of deaths In the
District Is more than counterbalanced by
the number of births. The full report fol-
lows:
There were 100 deaths in the District OF
Columbia during the week ended on Satur-
day. August H. 1905 This is 4 less than
the number reported last week and more
than during the corresponding period OF
1904 OF these deaths, 50 were among the
white people and 81 among the colored. and
represent death rate per 1000 of the for
mer of 1871 and of the latter Of 49,. The
death rate per 1000 of the entire population
was 200. The respective rates for the cor
responding period OF last, year were 1871,
$50 and 900,
The number of deaths from diarrheal dis
eases was "a, 30 of which We're under two
years of age, IL being white children and
~ colored. There were Is fatal cases Of
consumption: deaths each from diseases
of the heart and diseases Of the kidneys.
Pneumonia was. responsible for deaths
and whooping cough and malignant
growths were each the cause Of deaths.
Contagious Diseases.
In contagious diseases the following
changes were observed:
Diphtheria increased from to cases.
there having been new cases reported and
> discharged. There was also an increase
in scarlet fever. viz, from 10 ON hand at
the beginning of the week to Ii on Satur-
day evening last. There were new cases
reported to the health officer and none dis
charged
The record of typhoid fever indicates
quite rapid increase of this disease
throughout the city. There were 70 new
number Is y cases in excess Of the number
reported during the CORES ponding period Of
last year. TWenty-six cases were dis
charged. six of which were by death. and
there are now two hundred and six cases
remaining under observation. The number
of cases on hand last year was 14S.
The conditions as to mallpex remain I'M
changed. No new cases were developed
and none were discharged from the hos
pital leaving the number in quarantine at
10 cases Hs~
The births reported during the week were
Id OF these 80 were white children and
40 colored
The weather conditions prevalent during
the week. as reported by the weather bu-
reau. were as follows:
Mean temperature. IS degrees; mean rela-
tive humidity, 50 per cent; mean actual ba-
rometer, 1880 The winds were southerly
in direction. with an average velocity of six
miles an hour, maximum velocity being
reached on the 18th instant. The ma ximum
temperature of 50 degrees was registered
on Sunday, the 9th instant, and the mini
mum, 40 degrees, on the same day.