The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-22
Number ofDestAs
Analysis of Data,

The first step toward preventing pre-
ventable deaths, says the report, IS the
analysis OF such numerical data with ref
erence TO all Of the facts. out Of which
such data arises-duration Of illness, feed
ing prior TO the attack. character Of hous-
ing. prOmptness in summoning medical
aid. weather conditions, and many other
factors that go 70 make the difference
between life and death. In this respect
the report reads:
Only BY such a method will It be pos
sibIe 10 determine the causes that are
most potent in producing such uuneces-
saTy mortality in this District After
such causes ara known. il viii be ueCes-
sary, II they are 20 be removed. 20 have
the active cooperation OF those having the
care Of the infants. This can be obtained
only by q systematically conducted carr
paigR Of education.
The influence Of the colored popula-
ton Of the District on its general death
rate is about as bad as usual The co..
Ored population in 1907 made I'D 90 per
cent Of the population. but contributed
42IS per cent OF all deaths The cOlOred
death rate was Is =; the white was 1856.
Due to Bad Food.
Doubtless excessive mortality among
our colored people is due in part 10 bad
food. bad clothing, bad housing, igno-
rance. and poverty the report reads,
and 20 that extent IT may be said to be
preventable. But, apparently, It is due
in part TO present racial unftness for the
life TO which they are now subjected
IN one form or another. pneumonia
continues 70 be one Of the most impor-
tant factors in our mortality records,
ranking second 10 but one disease-tuber-
culosis- II killed SO persons in 1906. The
death rate for the white race was 90 Der
10000, for the COlOred Sa02. and for the
entire population 1875. The germ that
causes pneumonia is so widely spread
that II IS almost impossible 70 avoid H.
and the development Of the disease seems
TO depend upon the physical condition Of
the individual
The number Of deaths due TO maiariaII
fever is not large-only nine for the en-
tire population during the entire wear
and would not deserve comment were IT
not for the relation of this disease 10 the
mosquito. The reclamation OF the Ana
costa marshes may be expected TO dimin-
ISL the prevalence Of this disease
Deaths from Violence.
The total number Of deaths from vio-
lence during 1857 was SB Of these
seventy-twO were due to suicide. If these
be deducted. and one death due 10 iu-
dicial execution. the remainder may be
said 10 be due directly TO carelessness.
ignorance and crime IN a civilized com
munity this represents a heavy toll to-
pay during a single year 10 such causes
The systematic investigation Of all in
juries due to violence, instead Of merely
the fatal injuries, would lead sooner 10
the discovery Of the particular causes
Of accidents, and 10 the discovery and
application Of preventive measures by
legislation Il necessary
There were reported during 1901 e2S
cases Of typhoid fever. rs among the
whites and 209 among the colored people. /
The figures represent case rates per 100
coo as follows: Whites, 81; colored. III: /
entire population, 80. These figures are
the lowest that have been recorded since
the reporting Of cases of typhoid fever
was made compulsory.
-Four hundred and eleven cases Of diph- |
iberia were reported during 1907. eouiva- !
lent TO case rate Of rs per 10000. oil
these cases IS or 6-S per cent. died The
ease rate among white people was Is. 1
and the percentage Of fatalities 90. while !
the corresponding figures for the colored /
population were 3 and 206
Very Little Smallpox.
Only seven cases Of smallpox were re-
ported during 1907, none Of which resulted
fatally.
The act requiring the reporting Of cases
Of measles, whooping cough, chicken box
and epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis 4
was not passed until February g. 1907, and
did not become operative until sixty days
after its passage The reporting OF such /
cases during 1907 was, therefore, ueces-
sariiy incomplete and imperfect.
The value Of the medical inspection Of 1
schools has been amply demonstrated i
during the past yeaR and the need for