Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04

long years during which 1t has Deen SUD-
jected to them. the colored race mas, mao no
such immunizing experience. 1t Is from an
chronological standpoint in the position OF
race just entering into what Is termed civ
ilized life. and 1t Is matter OF common De-
lief that under such conditions death Ievies
a heavy tribute for the advance OF the
race"
In support of the hypothesis that the high
death rate among our colored popula-
ton is due to the conditions arising out OF
ignorance and poverty. the health omcer
cites the fact that during the past. thirty
years, during which such wonderful ad-
vance has been made by the co1ored race In
the acquisition of knowledge and OF prop
ored population has fallen from 40. 70 to
1881. while during the same period the
death rate among whites has fallen only
from 1854 to 1916; and as a remedy Tor
such conditions as exist the health off1cer,
while recommending generally sanitary re-
forms. the establishment of public baths
and of day nurseries. the extension OF pub
lie play grounds and the reclamation OF the
Anacostia flats, recommends particularly
the encouragement and extension OF eI-
forts already begun looking toward the ed
| ucation of the individual Gin the art OF good
living; In the art Of keeping the home, now
ever poor it may be, clean, and OF making
the best use of such facilities as it affords
for lighting, heating and ventilating; In the
art of keeping the person and the clothing
clean, and of rightly preparing and using
lOOuSs ana III the ART VI TSCOSiAiAih6 a. e>AA
early stage evidence of diseases, of appre-
ciating their significance, and of inst1tut1ng
proper measures for their mitigation and
| cure. calling on the Physician for ADVICE
| and assistance when necessary
| What has been said before has reference
| to vital statistics covering the calendar
year 1905. During the first half OF the cur
rent year the mortality record has SHOWN
| slight increase in the number II deaths
as compared with the corresponding period
| of 1905. but the percentage OF the increase
| Of deaths has not been quite so large as
| the percentage of the increase of popula-
| ton. Marked increase has occurred, how
| ever in the number of deaths from measles,
| whooping cough, diarrhoeal diseases among
| children under two years of age, and ~
| phoid fever. There were decreases IN the
number of deaths from pulmonary tubercu-
losis. pneumonia and bronchitis.
The Commissioners invite attention to the
| bills now pending, looking toward the Sc
! curing of better returns Of deaths and to-
ward the better control of the custody ana
proper keeping of dead bodies: They sug-
| gest also the Importance of leSisiation
| looking toward the control generally OF the
transportation of corpses from one 1urlsolc-
| ton to another. The variations in the laws
| of the several states and territories, with
respect to the preparation of corpses Tor
shipment, give rise to embarrassment and
ANNOYANCE, and in some particulars seem
| to subject the citizens to unnecessary ex-
pense, and this occurs at time when en-
| barrassment. annoyance and expense bear
most heavily. 1t appears to the Commits
sioners that federal legislation establishing
a uniform practice with respect TO the
transportation of corpses would tend
| strongly to improve the existing situation.
Typhoid Fever and Smallpox.
During the past year smallpox prevailed
to an unusual although not serious, ex-
tent. The smallpox hospital and quaran-
tine station were almost continuously in
use and fully demonstrated the wisdom Of
the legislation providing for their erection.
Scarlet fever and diphtheria showed a de-
Creased prevalence since. the preceding
year. Attention is invited to the bill which
has already passed the House of Repre-
sentatives, that is designed to secure the
better control of the diseases named, and
Of measles whooping cough. chickenpox
and epidemic cerebro spinal meningitis.
There is no law on our statute books pro-
viding for the control of the disease last
named; the enactment of the pending bill
is, therefore, recommended.
The filtration of the public water supply
Of this District was generally expected
| very materially to diminish the prevalence
Of typhoid fever in this District. The
water supply has been filtered. however,
since October 5. 1905, but as yet the ex-
pected diminution in the number Of re-
ported cases of typhoid fever has not oc-
CURED. Desiring that the situation should
be most thoroughly Investigated. and in the
Investigation by the health department. the
Commissioners, on June q, 1905, asked the
cooperation of the public health and
marine hospital service In order that the
typhoid fever situation might have thor
Ough and comprehensive treatment in the
interests of the health Of the city. This
the surgeon general consented to do. and
Immediately appointed board of officers
work in the gathering of data, and will, 1t
| is expected. be ready to submit such data
| with the conclusion of the board within a
short time.
The appropriation made by Congress for
the construction of a hospital for the care
and treatment Of INDECENT persons suffer-
| ing from tuberculosis marked a substan-
| tial advance in official effort toward the
| elimination of the spread of that disease.
With the same end in view. the Commits
sioners, on May 3. 1905. promulgated GER
| tain regulations designed to prevent the
| spread Of tuberculosis in buildings under
| the control of the District of Columbia.
| The bill now pending in Congress looking
| toward the elimination of the spread of
| tuberculosis in the community generally Is
now before the Commissioners for report
and will receive their early attention.
! There has been a marked increase during
| the past two years in the number of births
| reported to the health department This
has resulted from certain special efforts
made by the department for the purpose of
| securing such returns, but there is reason
| to believe that there are many births that
even now remain unreported, and the ex-
| listing legislation relating to the reporting
| Of births should be revised so as to make
| 1t more effective and more easily enforced.
| The bill now pending in Congress for that
| purpose should, it is believed, receive early
| and favorable consideration. The total
| number of births reported during the cal
| endar year 1905 was among the white peo-
| pie, 4,140, and among the colored, 2,275.
The extent of illegitimacy among colored
infants, as revealed by these birth reports.
is startling, representing 24.7 per cent. OF
all still births reported among the colored
people 1871 per cent were Legitimate
Food Inspection.
The food inspection service of the depart
| ment has continued along the lines hereto
| fore followed. The Commissioners on April
"a, 1906, promulgated regulations designed
| to procure the better protection from con-
| tamination of food exposed for sale, the
| wrapping of food and the cleansing of uten-
| sils used in lunch rooms and other similar
| places. The enactment on June 80, 1906, of
| the act commonly known as the pure food
| law will materially affect, it is believed, the
| supervision Of the manufacture and sale of
! drugs and foods in the District of Column
| bia, but at the present time it is impossible
| to state just what the result will be.
Prior to the enactment of the federal leg
| islation now in force, governing the slaugh-
| ter of live stock intended for interstate