Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-22
HEALTH OFFICE NEEDS
More inspectors With Better
Salaries Called For.
HIGH INFANT DEATH RATE
DR.. Woodward Discusses Means of
Saving Baby Lives.
NURSES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Their Appointment Recommended,
Together With Corps Of
Inspectors.

Health Officer w. c. Woodward. in his
annual report sent to the Commissioners
yesterday afternoon. asserts the need for
more inspectors with larger salaries
modern fish wharf. new pound. deep wells
to replace old shallow ones and a general
meteorological laboratory.
The features of his report follow:
The systematic investigation of all in
iuries due to violence, instead of merely
fatal injuries, would lead sooner to the
discovery of the particular causes Of acci-
dents and to the discovery and application
of preventive measures.
Tho health office recommends the ap-
pointment Of chief medical inspector of
schools, eighteen medical inspectors of
schools and of six school nurses.
While the reclamation of the Anacostia
marshes may be expected to diminish the
prevalence of malariai fever, such work
must be supplemented by the careful
abatement of all accommodations OF stand
ing water on private land.
The examination Of samples Of water
from public wells and from public school
wells shows the necessity Of obtaining as
placing all shallow wells of this class by
properly constructed deep wells.
Psychological Laboratory.
eral meteorological laboratory should be
established in connection with the health
department.
Present arrangements for the inspection
of cattle to be slaughtered and Of their
carcasses in abattoirs being unsatisfac-
tory pending legislation for the better
regulation of such places should be en-
acted
Inc present fish wharf is primitive and
unsatisfactory, lily adapted to its pur-
pose. from the standpoint of either sani-
tation or convenience and should be re-
placed by a proper wharf.
The services of few inspectors for the
systematic inspection of houses generally,
and of stables and laundries independent
OF complaint, are greatly needed.
Provisions should be made at once for
the enforcement of the act compelling the
removal of weeds from vacant lots in
the city, Or it should be repealed.
The work of the pound in Its present
wretched quarters" entities 1t to a better
home
More inspectors are needed in several
branches of the service and better sal
aries should be provided to attract and
keep men in the health service.
Tuberculosis and pneumonia were the
chief causes of death in the District dur
ing the year.
Typhoid fever, diphtheria and scarlet
fever were less prevalent then during the
preceding year. and there were no deaths
from smallpox.
Rabies was unusually prevalent during
the year. and resulted in an order COM
pelling the muzzling of all dogs In the
t'aa--
Increased Infant Mortality.
That some of the deaths OF infants
could be prevented is statement made
by the health officer Discussing this
matter, the report says:
Race suicide is a matter serious enough
in itself. 1t assumes, however, an even
more serious aspect when viewed in con-
nection with infant mortality. During the
calendar year 1907 there occurred in the
District of Columbia 1. 125 deaths of in
fants less than one year of age This
represents approximately is per cent of
all recorded births, and over 10 per cent
OF the number of all births. whether re-
corded or unrecorded. estimated. A
certain part of this mortality is not pre-
ventable by any known method, but some
Is even now known to be in whole or in
part preventable.
As was pointed out in a previous re-
port OF this department. the prevention OF
preventable deaths can not be accom-
plished by the mere compilation of SUCH
data as are embodied in the foregoing
table, and in other tables printed in this
report. The very first step toward pre-
vention is the analysis of such numerical
data with reference to all of the facts
out OF which such data arise-duration
OF Illness, feeding prior to and during the
attack. character of housing promptness
diuons. and the many other factors that
so to make the difference between life
and death. Only by such method will
IT be possible to determine the causes that
are most potent In producing such
necessary mortality in this District. After
such causes are known, 1t will be neces-
sary, If they are to be removed, to have
the active cooperation of those having
the care OF the infants. And this can be
obtained only by a systematically con-
Quoted campaign of education. Both the
ascertaining of the causes of such NOR
tality and the conducting of such a cam
pafgn OF education require more men
and money than are now at the command
Of the health department, and, therefore.
can not be undertaken
Some work along this line, the report
says has been done through the In
structivs Visiting Nurse Society.
High Colored Death Rate.
Regarding the large death rate among
the colored population the report says:
Doubtless excessive mortality among
our colored people is due in part to bad
food. bad clothing. bad housing. ienor-
arce and poverty. and to that extent it
may be said to be preventabe. But ap-
parentiy II is due In part to present racial
unfitness for the life to which they are
now subjected, and in so far as that is
true no Improvement can be expected I'M
ill nature by her processes of evolution
has produced a more resistant generation
Of colored people"
There were 3iS deaths by violence dur
ing the year says the health officer in
Guiding Il by suicide and one by judicial
execution.
III these be deducted. the remainder
may be said to be due directly to careless
ness, ignorance and crime" says the re-
port. I'm a civilized community this
represents heavy toll to pay during
single year to such causes
Needs of the Department
The health officer speaks of the general
needs of his department as follows:
This report cannot properly be closed
without again calling attention to the
need for strength ening the working
force OF the health department. If the
best results are to be obtained. II the
work Of the health department is to be
Emitted to the mere enforcement of GER
tatn laws and regulations which have