Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-11-01

PELLAGRA ALARMING.
Virginia Takes Lead in Newly dag
HOsed Diseases Over Other States
Births Exceed Deaths.

Richmond, Va, Nov. l.-Marke: de-
creaSeS in the ravageS of fever and
tuberculosis and an alarming spread
Of pellagra are the salient health con-
siitions in Virginia disclosed by the
first annual report of the bureau of
vital statistics, which was forwarded
to Governor Mann yesterday with the
annual report of State Health Com
missioner, Dr. Ennion G.. Williams. In
thirteen years the number of deaths
from typhoid fever has fallen from
9l4 in 1900 to to 5lS in 1913, al
though there has been material in
crease in population during that time.
In pelagra, which was onl V recent
ly diagnosed the State Board Of
Health candidly almitS that it faces
one of the most serious problems of
public health in this state. There
were l45 deaths from this disease in
Virginia in 1913, one-fourth as many
as from typhoid fever, making a rate
of IS victims per 100000 Of popula-
ton This is six times more than the
average rate in the rest of the State
Unless the cause of this pellagra
and its prevention are shortly discov-
cred" says DR.. Williams. " the State
Board of Health will find il one of the
most serious disease il mas to fight.
The mortality of pelIagra is practi-
cally 100 per cent.
The success of the fight against tu
berculoSS is shown by Il decrease in
the number Of cases in the state. al
though the white plague remains the
greItest scourge of all.
tuberculosis. despite the reduction
made in its ravageS, continues to head
the mortality list. It claimed a total
of 1924 victims in 1913. These deaths
were divided as follows: total deaths
from pulmonary tuberculosis, 3.l1G.
of this number .l2G being white and
LIPS colorel; death from other forms
of tuberculosis. 3S7 The balefuI fea-
ture Of these figures is the fact that
tuberculosis claimed more negroes
than whites. although the whites out
numbered the colored population Of
the State more than two to one. Inc
rate for whites is 9S.4 per 100000
population. being %9.6 les Sthan the
general average in the States reported
10 the Federal government. The rate
for the negroes IS 256. three times the
rates for the whites. The State rate
! is l4S. which is ten times greater than
. the rate for the rest Of the country
The terrible mortality among the ne
groes is responsible for this abnormal
State rate.
The directors Of the bureau of vital
| statistics estimate that fully 90 pei
cent of the deaths which occurred IN
the State in the twelve months from
July ], 1912. to June 80, l9l', have
been reported. but figures that only
about 80 per cent Of al! births were
reported.
The report shows that there were
2S.49l deaths in Virginia during the
period. diviSed as follows: whites, IT,.
5O8: colored. II .9S2. This gives {
'eath rate of ll.4 for the white pop
ulation 19.1 for the coIored popula
ton. and Il State rate Of 1872. I'M
is an exceedingly gratifying death
rate. being far lower than the aver
age for the rest Of the States.
! Further subdivision of the mortal
itv figures show the following:
Deaths from tuberculosis. BAG.
Deaths from typhoid fever, 3lS.
Deaths from diphtheria, 256.
. Deaths from pellagra, 145.
{. Deaths from pneumonia. 2,llS,
J Deaths from infant diseases, 5,46s
Homicides, 245. - 4
Suicides, 1874.
Accidental deaths, ] ,256.