Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-24
NUMBER UNUSUALLY HIGH
Regarded as Effects of Inauguration
Day Weather.
VIEW OF HEALTH OFFICIALS
Over ATS New Cases Of Measles.
Typhoid Fever, Whopping Cough
and Chicken Pox Increase.

Twenty-nine deaths from pneumonia
occurred in the District in the week
ended March 20. Effects of the inau-
gural period weather in the opinion OF
officials Of the health office. are shown
in the unusually large number OF
deaths from pneumonia. And the fig
ures are regarded as presenting an
additional argument for a change OF
the inaugural date from March to
the last Thursday in April.
The weekly mortality report was
made public today. After stating that
there were ISL deaths from all causes
during the week, the report continues:
"A noticeable feature in this report
is the large number of deaths attrib-
uted to pneumonia. namely. 90. The
next largest number of fatalities was
from diseases of the heart. with 1s
deaths: next comes pulmonary tubercu-
losis, with Is deaths"
Discussing this feature of the report to-
day. an official OF the health department
declared that although the reports do not
prove absolutely that all of the unusual
number OF pneumonia deaths resulted
from exposure on Inauguration day. yet
1t is reasonable to suppose that many OF
them were due to such exposure: and the
unusual number is pointed to as show
Washington and of the danger from hold
ing the inaugural ceremonies at that time
OF the year. There has been no severe
weather since Inauguration day, IL 10
pointed out. to warrant such q large
pneumonia death list.
Measles Epidemic Continues.
1.-THE measles epidemic continues" says
the report. land AIS new cases were regis
tered this past week. There were 291
cases discharged, including deaths. and
the net increase since the week previous
is therefore 1S7 cases. The total number
of cases on hand at the close of this re-
port period Is SAB.
Regarding other contagious diseases the
report says:
1.-THE record for. contagious diseases in
dicates a decline during the week in the
number of cases of diphtheria, from AZ to
Al. There were new cases reported and
discharged. Scarlet fever also shows a
decline. from 20 to g. with 13 new cases
reported and 81 discharged.
"Smallp0X remains the same az at last
report. There are no cases of this dis
ease at present In the District of Colum-
bia. SO far as the knowledge of the health
department goes. Whooping cough shows
an increase In the number of cases. from
167 to 1S2. There were IL new cases re-
ported during the week, with but 1 dis
| charge.
Increase Of Typhoid Fever.
Typhoid Fever.-An increase is noted in
the number OF cases of this disease under
treatment at the close Of the past week
when compared with the record Of the
week previous. viz. from 173 to $50. The
number of new cases registered during
the week was 10 and the number OF
discharges 3. only one OF the latter
being by death. During the week previ-
GUS there were cases reported. and
during the same period of 1908 there were
three new cases reported and four cases
discharged. said week closing with
Il cases on record.
"Chickenpox cases were increased from
212 to 215. There were IL new cases
reported and 10 discharged Epidemic
cerebro-spinal meningitis conditions re-
manned as last reported. viz, 3 cases
on hand. There were cases of this
disease reported at the health depart
ment and the same number discharged.
one by recovery and one by death.
"Tuberculosis.-The record OF this dis
ease shows an increased number of cases.
viz, from 654 to 662. There were 33
new cases reported and Is discharged
The number of the births for the week
was 129.