Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

c. A. Kreamer. captain; 1901. Engine
company No. II. A. l.. Grimm, captain:
100, Truck Company No 5, w A.
No. TO- c. r. Schrom, captain: 1904, En-
CINE Company No. g. w F. I.anahan.
captain; 1906, Engine Company No. l..
I. O'Connor, captain; 1906, Engine Com
pany No. 10, c. Z. Schrom captain: 1907,
Engine Company No. 10. c. Z. Schrom,
captain: 1908, Engine Company No. II,
G. b. Proctor. captain; 1909. Engine Com
pany No. u. p. j. Hollohan. captain.
Health and Sanitation
During the calendar year 1900 the death
rate in the District was 20.61 per LOCO;
in 1908 it was 1s0s. During the earlier
period the death rate among colored peo-
pie was %; during 1908 it was 1856
During the earlier period the death rate
| among white people was 1854; during the
latter period it was 1895 During the cal
endar year 1900 the death rate from diar-
rheal diseases among children under .
years of age was 132 per 100000; during
the year 1903 it was % per 100, 900
This marks the progress made i'm the
health conditions of the District of Co
| lumbia. The health departme has done
its duty in bringing about this improved
state of the public health. IT has been
aided by the laws enacted by Congress
and the regulations adopted by the COM
missioners, and has been strengthened by
additions to It's force and facilities. While
much remains to be done, much has al
ready been accomplished. The legisla ton
now especially desired is that for better
supervision and control of the milk sup
ply and better provision for the sanitary
needs, including the archaeological work
Vital Statistics.
The lowest death rate that has yet been
recorded for the District OF Columbia was
that recorded for the calendar year 1905
The total number of deaths was 6, 1885, and
the general death rate was 1905. Three
thousand five hundred and forty-seven
white people died. equivalent to a death
rate of 1886 per thousand per annum
Deaths among colored people numbered
2,oS9, the corresponding rate being 1855
Pulmonary tuberculosis caused III deaths,
and the disease was, as usual, the most
conspicuous factor in the mortality
tables The death rate per 100000 from
this disease declined, however from
$3.50 in 1907 to 209.5 in 1903. The colored
race showed its usual excessive mortal
ity from tuberculosis, the white death
rate being 124.4. the colored 1905 and the
ratio between them as to 3.3s
The law requiring all cases of pumon-
AIRY and other communicable forms of
tuberculosis TO he reported to the health
officer was enacted on May -. 1905. The
| total number of cases reported between
that time and June 80. 1909, was 1,606
| These cases include of course many that
were under treatment prior to the enact
ment of the law and therefore do not show
anything as to the number of cases actu-
ally developing within the period stated
Under the law just referred to. speci-
mems Of sputa examined up to June 30
1909. numbered 7S4. OF these. pol showed
the presence of tubercle baclii, and JS,
were apparently free from that organism
The number of premises disinfected under
the provisions of the tuberculosis law,
which made disinfecton obligatory after
rooms are vacated by a consumptive and
before they are occupied by any one else
was, up to the close of this report, 936
Typhoid fever-The records of the
health department show a diminished
nreva lence of typhoid fever during the
rate was 34J per 100000; i'm 1907 it was
2s2: and in 1908, 936 cases were reported,
case rate of only 90. The average an
nual death rate from typhoid fever be-
tween 1901 and 1905, inclusive, was 524,
while the number of deaths in 1908 was
124, equivalent to death rate of 36.5 per
100000. 1t has been impossible, however.
to attribute the decrease directly and
positively to any known cause
While the prevalence of some OF the
more important communicable ard pre-
ventable diseases has declined. and the
general death rate for the District has
to a certain extent fallen, the improve
ment in the general death rate has been
materially retarded by the increased prev
alence of certain conditions which, so
far as science has vet demonstrated are
either not preventabie or else are pre-
ventable only by rigid personal hygiene
and not by any public effort. The death
rate from cancerous growth in 1903 was
SLIP per 100000 per annum. while the
average death rate during the five-year
period, 1901 to 1905, was only 20 Grippe.
during the five-year period, 1895 to 1900,
showed death rate of 1871 per 100000.
and during the next f1ve-year period a
death rate of 2S.6; during the calendar
year 1908 its death rate was AS The av-
erage annual death rate from Bright's
disease and arterio sclerosis during the
five-year period. 1896 to 1900 was 9S4:
during the next five-year period it had
risen to 126S. and during the calendar
year 1908 it was 1863. Suicide, too, has
helped to prevent more rapid decline
in the death rate. The average annual
death rate from suicide during the five
year period, 1896 to 1900, was 1873 per
100000 The average during the five
year period, 1901 to 1905, was 1914. Dur
ing the calendar year 1908 the death
rate was 1915
1t is apparent from the foregoing figures
that efforts made by the government 10
prevent sickness and diseases must, TO
be most largely successful, extend more
deeply into the matter of investigation
and of education than at present. Until
the cause of cancer is known direct ac
ton for its prevention, even through ed
ucation. will be impossible. And with
respect to such mortality as occurs from
Bright's disease and arterlo scleross,
where it is commonly believed that some
thing toward prevention can be accom-
pliShed by the individual by proper meth
DDS of living, it will be quite Impossible
for individuals generally to accomplish
even what can be accomplished unless
they are properly educated with respect
to the matter. and such education must
form part of the public school curricu-
lum.
Alley mortality.-The study into the
relative mortality among jewellers in AL
leys and on streets. which was begun
several years ago. has continued Certain
figures heretofore compiled have been
contrary to preconceived ideas showing
that death rates in alleys We're as good,
and in some cases even better, than
death rates for streets. irhe comparative
street and alley death rates for 1908 are
not. however, of that character Among
white people the alley death rate was
1870. the street death rate only 1854.
Among colored people the alley death
! rate was 81 So ard the street death rate
was 1885,
As a factor in these relative mortality
figures, the greater poverty and ignor-
ance of alley jewellers must be borne in
mind as an influence quite apart from al
ley residence per Sc. Nevertheless the
figures may be looked upon as tending
very strongly'to show the Importance of
eliminating alley life from our social
conditions.
Medical Inspection of Schools.
The medical inspection of public schools
was first established In the District by act
of March g. 1903. There were proyided