Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03


rought under the smoke law.
to the storage of kerosene. 81 soline and
other inf1ammable oils.
| The discipline of the department has.
as usual, been kept up to a high standard;
| there were comparative few cases in
| which stringent action hadHto b. taken
| during the year.
| According to the report of the chief
| engineer there were received during the
year 40 bell alarms and 416 local alarms.
The total estimated loss by fire was
$22s.774 fraction over IA per cent OF
| the total insurance of 5000 800. Thir-
| teen fires alone, for which extra alarms
| were sounded, were responsible for
| $196, $50 damage.
| There was but one new company in
stalled during the year, that being en-
| in place of chem. cal company No. 3, at
Ten,eytown, D. c., on January q, 1907.
AS heretofore. the fire department has
been called upon to inspect and recon-
many Of the national public buildings In
the District Of Columbia. This work has
been promptly done, and the national au-
thorlties have in all cases adopted the
| recommendations submitted to them.
Every year 1t is becoming more ap-
parent that the officers and members OF
the department should be allowed more
time off duty At present each officer
and member is allowed one day of duty
in every five days, and even this must
be given up in event Of sickness or die
| ability weakening the strength Of any
company. The chief engineer recommends
that fifty additional men be provided for
the department, and states that II they
be granted the officers and members can
be allowed one day Off in every four. This
is clearly no more than a just request,
when it is remembered that these men
are on duty night and day, even being
subject to call when absent for the pur-
pose OF getting their meals. The Com
Inissioners earnestly recommend 1t.
Health Department.
Special efforts looking to the improve
ment Of the health and sanitary con-
ditions in the District of Columbia were
made by the Commissioners and the
health department during the past year,
and a measure of success can be re-
ported. The Commissioners recommend
In their estimates improvement in the
organization of the health department and
additional facilities for its work, which
are earnestly desired not only by them, but
by the eminent scientists and physicians
whom they have consulted In the endeavor
to improve the health of the National
capital. The Commissioners will submit
later propositions for legislation, includ-
ing revised bill for the further regula-
ton of the milk supply Of the District of
Columbia which. II enacted. will, 1t is be-
lieved. tend to reduce the death rate still
further than has been done.
The health officer in his report says
that there occurred In the District of Co
lumbia during the calendar year 1906
6,316 deaths. representing general death
rate Of 1885 per thousand. The death
rate for the preceding year was substan-
TALLY the same, 1920. The colored death
rate remained the same during each Of
the two years, the slight increase in the
general death rate being due to an in
creased mortality among the whites. The
death rate for the colored population re-
mains at its usual relatively high figure,
being SO per cent higher than that for
whites. and, In view of the fact that al
most 80 per cent of our population be-
longs to the colored race. Is potent fac
tor in keeping the general death rate
high.
There was a slight decrease during the
calendar year 1906 in the death rate from
rate for 1905 from 1850 per 10000 to 1892.
The death rate from pneumonia fell from
1874 to 1874. Typhoid fever was some
what more prevalent during 1905 than
during 1908. The number Of cases per
10000 Of the population increased from
$40 to $40. while the death ra e rose fro n
4.39 to 496. There was a slight decrease
in the prevalence Of diphtheria. the case
rate falling from AS per 10000 to 1928,
and in the prevalence Of scarlet fever, the
case rate falling from So to IL, and the
death rate from these two diseases also
decreased. The number of cases of small
pox during 1865 was substantially the
same as during 10O5-S3 in the former
year and 81 in the latter.
The number of deaths caused by steam
railroads was brought up to the relative
ly large figure which the records show
| 70-by the occurrence Of the Terra Gotta
wreck on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
| road, through which AZ persons lost their
lives. Suicides were less prevalent. the
number of deaths from this cause falling
from 60 to a.
The mortality statistics compiled by the
health department are based on calen-
! dar years in order to make them fairly
comparable with similar statistics COM
piled in other cities. The records of the
| department show. however, that during
| the first six months of the current year
there was no material variation in the
death rate, the number of deaths re-
| corded during 1867 being 1882 and the
number during the corresponding period
of 1906 being BIB. There was slight
fall in the number of deaths reported
from typhoid fever-from 80 to 32-and a
considerable fall in the number of deaths
| from diphtheria-from q to .; and from
measies-from % to g. The greatest
marked difference. however, occurred in
the number Of deaths from diarrhoea and
I cAIcIltiS CIituTcH uI1ueF TWO years
of age. the number Of deaths falling from
| % to 81.
Remedial Legislation.
The enactment by Congress on February
| 0, 1907. of an act for the prevention of
scarlet fever. diphtheria, measles. whoop-
ing cough, chickenpox, epidemic cerebro-
spinal meningitis and typhoid fever, has
strengthened the hands Of the Commits
sioners with respect to these diseases, and
| 1t is hoped that future reports may show
diminished prevalence.
An act to provide for the better regis
tration of births. approved March 1,
1907. should permit the collection of more
| complete figures with respect to fecun-
dity, and more complete and accurate data
for the birth registers. The act to regu-
| late the practice Of veterinary medicine,
| approved February I, 1907; the act to de-
| fine the term registered nurse" and to
provide for the registration of nurses, and
| the act to amend an act to regulate the
practice of pharmacy and the sale Of
poisons in the District of Columbia are
| all along the lines substantially advanced
toward the welfare of the community. An
| act to amend section eiS of the Code Of
Law, approved February ~. 1907. which
protects the right Of the dairyman to the
| exclusive use Of the containers which he
| uses for the distribution of milk, should be
OF substantial value to those in the pro-