The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-06
Richmond's Mortality
Figures for 1912 Show
Great Gains.
LIVES OF MANY
BABIES SAVED
Every Preventable Disease Save
Malaria Shows Actual Decrease
IN Number of Deaths-High
Colored Death Rate Con-
tinues to Keep City
Back.

Mortality statistics for Richmond
covering the year 1912. issued yester-
day by Child Health Oficer Z. g rAvv
sho" an actual decrease in the num-
Der If deaths in the city during The
year and a very gratifying lowersns
Oh the death rate in proportion 10 non.
ulation. In preventable disa.sax
against which the Health Denartvranr
mas waged war. there was an sltuaI
decrease OF 129 deaths every prevent
able disease table making a better
showing than in the preceding year
save maiar1al fever. in which there was
an increase OF two deaths. The phe-
i,oHlenaiiy low typhoid rate Of twenty
three deaths In 1911, which caused
wide comment, was actually bettered
there having been but TWENTY-FIVE
deaths in Richmond from typhoid fever
during the year 1912
Not until the time limit expired ves
terday. when some stray certificate of
ueath might change the calcuIat tons
was Or. Levy willing to announce the
results of the years work.
High Coiored Death Rate.
Tne figures show AIS deaths dur
ing the year. 1.37e white and 1.34a col
ored- This gives a crude death rate
VI -oio per I.VVo or population, the
rate being 1852 for white and 27so for
Coloreo population Excluding non
residents and legal executions at the
State Penitentiary, R.chmond's death
rate was 1886 per 1000. l4.l4 for white
and 2s-i4 for colored population.
Although the total number Of deaths
was only three less IN 1912 thay, in
1911 (the actual figures being ais
deaths In 1911 and AIS In 1922. the
Chief Health Officer states that this by
no means conveyed an adequate idea
or what the Richmond Health Depart
ment had accomplished in connection
with lowering the death rate
Tn order fully to understand how
greatly the work OF the Health De-
| partment has lowered the death rate
| Of our city" said DR.. Levy. three
things must be taken into consider
alton:
"First-Although the number OF
deaths was just three less in 1912 than
IN 1911. the population of Richmond
was much Il larger. which, OF course.
makes quite difference in the death
rate per 1000.
Second-More nonresidents died in
Richmond in 1912 than In 1911. and. ac-
cording to accepted practice everywhere
these deaths are included always
Third. and most significant of all
these conSfderations-The number OF
deaths from nonpreventable diseases
IN 1912 showed an actual increase but
the decrease in the number OF deaths
from preventable diseases was so great
as not only to counter balance this. bur
even to go further and make the total
deaths from all causes less than in
1911.
Increase In Population.
TN connection with the first Of the
above points" continued DR.. Levy. "the
United States Bureau of the Census
calculates the annual increase in the
population Of Richmond during the
present decade as 1877 per annum-
The 1911 population was 1891: the
1919 population was 13o.663. From
these figures any one who is fond OF
mathematics can readily calculate that
we could have had twenty eight more
deaths in 1912 than in 1911 and still
have shown the same death rate per
1000 inhabitants. Since. however. the
number Of deaths was actually three
less. Il may be seen that we would
have had the same death rate as in
1911 IL there had been thirty-one more
deaths than there actually were
Tn connection with the second point
mentioned above. the 2.71S deaths in
1911 included 267 Seaths among non
residents. while the 2.7i5 deaths in the
year Just closed included 200 deaths
among nonresidents. Dcducting the
nonresident decedents both years. there
were e.45I and 2.425 deaths among oGF
own people In 1911 and 1912. respect
lively. a difference OF tventy-six in
favor of 1912"
Preventabic Diseases
But IL g IN connection with the rfi-d
Of the points which have made
above DR. Levy went on that We
ind our chief source o. qualification.
for here 81 IS that We see how great
was the reduction in the number OF
deaths from practically AL preve ntaoie
diseases, and OF course. y Is o1iJ IN
connection with diseases in this class
that we claim % get results. Ics
number os deaths from the chief pre-
ve,tablc diseases (aDd at the present
tim. 10 - only the contasioSs and In
f>cffous diseases that are c.SSscd as
nrcventabie) In 1911 and l9l. were
as follows
No 81 Deaths De-