The Washington herald., 1912-03-10
SOUTHWEST LEADS
MORTALITY RATE
Health Report Shows Big Death
Toll in that Section Due Mostly
to Poor Housing Conditions.

A startling report on an intensive study
of housing conditions in a portion OF the
southwest section OF the city, which has
the highest mortality and morbidity rec
ord of any statistical district in the
Capital was submitted to District Health
Officer Woodward late yesterday after.
noon by DR.. A. l. Murray, Of the health
office, who was in general charge OF the
work. The death rates in the district
from every disease except scarlet fever
are much higher than the general NOR
tality rate for the city.
For the purpose of applying the study
of vital statistics to sanitary conditions,
the city was divided into fifty-three sec
tiers, known as vital statistics districts.
For several years mortality and morbid
!ty statistics for these separate districts
have been compiled and compared. The
comparisons have shown unduly high
rates in certain districts. and as a result
intensive studies have been made to de-
termine the contributing causes. These
studies have been conducted by a system
attic house-to-house inspection in the
territory embraced by the district. AS
far as is known, Washington is the first
municipality TO apply the study OF vital
statistics TO sanitary conditions.
Death Rate Is 1890.
The southwest district. upon which the
report was made. is designated as statis-
teal district No. u. 1t is bounded on
the north by street southwest. on the
south by the river, on the east by South
Capitol street, and on the west by Four
and-a-half street. For the purpose of the
intensive study, the Washington Bar
racks. which are in the district. were ex-
cluded, being government reservation.
The average death rate per loo resi-
dents of the section during the years 1906
to 1909 was $50. while the average death
rate for the entire city was only 1855
The tuberculosis death rate was Al
That for the entire city was only Az
The death rate among babies under one
year of age was ASS, while the average
mortality rate among children through
out the city was only $50. The pneu-
monia death rate in this district was 252
while the general city rate was only l.62.
The death rate for bronchitis in the dis
trict was ga The bronchitis death rate
for the city in general was only 0.Ss.
1t was discovered by the health author
tiles who conducted the test that the
highest mortality rates prevailed among
preventsble diseases, such as tuberculo-
sis, pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary
congestion. and diphtheria-
Five Families In House.
The twelfth district comprises 31s.s
acres, and contains ffty-five squares.
forty of which are occupied by buildings
used for residential purposes. The popu-
Iation OF the district, exclusive Of the
Washington Barracks, was found to be
6,069 The adult population was 3.94l,
whereas 2.l25 children were found In the
section. Nine hundred and twenty-eight
houses were found to be occupied by one
family each. Two families each were
found in 20 homes. Three houses con-
tanned three families each; four resi-
dences were occupied by four families
each. and one house was found to con-
tain five families.
In As instances no child was found in
the family, and in SS5 instances only one
child was found in the family.
Accommodations of refuse were found in
yards, In thirty-six sheds,
AID in one house Twenty-seven yards
were effectively drained and fifteen
sewers were obstructed. Sixty-one cases
Df the unlawful keeping of fowls were
discovered. Seven hundred and seventy
six homes were found to lack lawful gar
bags receptacles.
The ratio Of adults to children in the
district was Is to L This ratio IN con-