The Washington times., 1907-04-07
Duty of Citizens
To Help Improve
Health Conditions
By DR.. GEORGE NJ. KoBER,
One of the Nations Greatest Physicians
and Leader in the City's
PhilanthrOpic Worl.

The writer IS by no means pessirnist
on the health conditions Of the city Of
Washington. since retrospect conclu-
sively shows that the efforts Of Sena-
tor Galllnger and other members OF
Congress. the Commissioners, and the
Health Department in the sanitation OF
the National Capital have been most
fruitful and benefcent.
When We recall that IN 1873 the death
rate for The white population was sulI
2l.0i per 100, while in 1906 it was only
1916. and that likewise a steady ana
most gratifying decrease from 42S6 TO
2SS1 per 1000 Of the colored population
has taken place. we have reason 70 look
hopefully 10 the future.
In discussing the healthfulness of the
National Capital, it would not be JUS
TO the fair name of our city. did we fail
to emphasize the fact that the coIored
element is a potent factor in maintain
ing a high general death rate So for
example the mortality rate during the
census year of 1890 in the larger cities
of the registration area in the United
States representing f0.000, 900 of inhabi-
tants surrounded by modern influences
of civilization was lS.6 per loo; our own
rate forN the white population was 17.d,
and for the eolored S0.4S making a gem
eral high average of 2f.74. Our popula-
ton is composed of 2S1, AZ whites and
s5.e1s colored, which means that Wash
ington includes the largest colored city
in the world.
Colored Race Death Rate.
An analysis of the relative incidence
Of the most dangerous diseases on the
white and coIored race shows that the
excessive mortality is especially marked
in pneumonia, ratio TO $50: tubercu-
Iosis Of The lungs, l to 3: abdominal
tuberculosis. / 10 40: pulmonary hem
orrhage, 1 10 6.I8; diarrhoea and enter
it's under two years OF age. to 2.s6;
typhoid fever, l to 1-79. and weighs
heavily against the colored race in all
other diseases, even in malarial afec-
tions. / to 4-32, from which they were
supposed to enjoy comparative immun-
ity. The only exception being alco-
holism, delirium tremens, and elrrhosis
of the liver. in which the ratio is less
than among the whites.
This excessive mortality is doubtless
Influenced by a number OF factors.
some Of which are due to racial differ
ences which cannot here be- considered:
others are sociological and largely pre-
ventaSle.
Living IN Hovels.
First OF all let us remember that the
rapid influx OF a negro population dur
ing the civil war, estimated to nave
been between $1,000 and 1900. impera-
lively demanded immediate accommo-
dations. In consequence of this neces-
sity novels of every description arose,
much of the material having been OBJ
tanned frora the abandoned army camps
and hospitals.
In the report Of the Board of Health
for 1877, page As, we read; no meaner
cabins for temporary or permanent shell
ter can be found than some our wretch
ed poor are born and exist and die in
here at the Capital of the United States.
And strange sas 1t may seem none so.
mean that they have not an owner
mean enough to charge rent for them
Down in the alleys below grade, with
combination roof OF tar, felt. shingles,
rags. tin, gravel. boards. and holes;
floors damp and broken walls begrimed
by smoke and age. so domiciled are
families with al the dignity of tenants
having rent TO pay" This description
Continued on Page Eleven.l