Evening star., 1908-01-18
MAKES REVIEW OF THE YEAR
DIR. WooDwARD'S STATISTICS
OF HEALTH AND MORTALITY.
Small Increase in Number Of Deaths
Over Preceding Year-Con-
tagieus Diseases.

A statement was made public today by
DIR. William c. Woodward, health officer
of the District. giving a statistical review
of the health and mortality record of the
District during the calendar year of 1907.
In this statement 1t is shown that there
were 6.342 deaths within the District last
year, or just twenty-seven more than oc-
Cured during the preceding year.
This small increase in the mortality was
more than offset by the increase in the
population. which resulted in q decreased
death rate OF from 1885 to 1925. DR..
Woodward says the fall in the general
death rate was the net result of an in
crease in the death rate of the white popu-
lation from 1546 to 1885, and a decrease
in the colored from 2S.S1 to 2S.22. He
said slight fluctuations like these occur
from year to year. and have no special
significance unless they tend in the same
direction during q series Of years. which
is not the case in the present instance.
Mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis
fell from 7S1 to 7JO. while deaths from
Similar compensating fluctuations in the
mortality from pneumonia and from pull
monary tuberculosis have been noticed in
other places. The typhoid fever situation
shows a very satisfactory Improvement
both with respect to the number of cases
reported and with respect to the number
of deaths The number of cases reported
was 945. which is the best record of any
year since the law first required that re-
ports be made. The number of deaths
from typhoid fever during 1907 was ia;
the number during 1906 was 162.
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.
There was during 1907 a diminished
prevalence of both diphtheria and scarlet
fever. The number OF cases Of diphtheria
reported during 1905 was 40. while dur
ing 1907. notwithstanding the increase in
the population, only All cases were re-
corded. The number Of deaths in the
earlier year was SO and in the latter 80,
the percentage of fatalities being sos and
7.3O respectively. The number OF cases
of scarlet fever reported in 1905 was 2S1
and in 1907 was 16S. In the earlier series
latter only 2. The percentage of deaths
to cases reported was 800 In 1905 and 1.19
In 1907. The District was comparatively
free from smallpox during the past year.
only Z cases having been reported and
no deaths having occurred. During 1905
the record showed 81 cases and 3 deaths.
With respect to the diseases made. re-
portable by legislation during the past
year-measles, whooping cough. chicken
pox and epidemic cerebro-spinal menin-
gitis-nO figures can be given to show
comparative prevalence. except such as
may be derived from reported deaths. The
law making these diseases reportable was
enacted February 8. 1907. and it took
some time to have blanks printed and dis
tributed and to make the law operative.
These facts must be borne in mind when
considering the following figures:
The number of cases of measles report
ed was 49S and Of these cases four re-
suited in death, the percentage of fatal
ity being 0.S1. The death record for the
entire year indicates that the disease was
much less prevalent than in 1905. the
number Of deaths that occurred In 1906
being 20, while only 6 occurred during
1907.
Whooping Cough.
Cases of whooping cough were reported
during the past year, when the disease
was reportable, to the number Of $50. OF
these cases Is have terminated in death.
The percentage OF deaths to cases. 6.1S,
was therefore much greater with respect
to whooping cough than with respect to
measles. Like measles. however. this dis
ease was less prevalent than during the
previous year, so far as can be judged by,
the number Of deaths, since 56 deaths oc-
CURED In 1906 and only 33 in 1907. The
number OF cases Of chickenpox reported
was 1885, There were no deaths. Epidemic
cerebro-spinal meningitis shows the most
gruesome feature of the mortality record
In so far as relates to the impotence of
medical science, since of 10 reported cases
8 proved fatal.
large increase in the number of deaths, an
Increase considerably in excess of the
usual December rise. The number record
ed In November was only 451, but the
December record rose 10 $40. February
showed the next largest number of deaths
6O3 The November record just referred
to, 451 deaths, was the best months rec
ord of the year.