The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-04
For Enforced Segregation.

straint long enough to prevent him from
being a menace to the community.
For Enforced Segregation.
"a bill is now pending before Congress
Is. I6S1) providing for the enforced segre-
cation of dangerous consumptives, and il
is recommended that action be taken to
| further its enactment Provision has
been made on a small scale for con-
sumptives in the early stages Of the
disease-sanitarium provision. 1t might
be called; but such provision should be
extended and made more attractive in
order to accommodate larger numbers
of patients and to hold them longer than
is now possible. Efforts are being made
through private agencies to maintain
dispensaries for the accommodation of
tubercular patients, and to provide
nursing and instruction for such patients
in their homes, but such efforts are NOT
nearly adequate to meet the demands Of
the situation. 1t is recommended that
the government adopt definite policy
with respect to the suppression of tuber-
cuIosis along the lines laid down above,
and that il make adequate provision
to carry that policy to its logical end.
THE diminution Of the death rate
among infants in the first year of life,
whether among white or colored people,
depends upon the adequate instruction
of mothers both before and after the
arrival Of the baby, and upon the pro-
vision for mothers and babies of pure
air, proper homes, and good food. As
most important steps toward these ends
ars the establishment of a corps Of Wis
iting nurses, to supplement the corps
already established through private char
ity, the provision of proper food for in
fants, and for mothers, IL need be, in
appropriate cases. and the establishment
that steps be taken toward these ends.
Cases of PelIagra.
"A new factor appeared in the mortal
ity lists of the District OF Columbia in
lSl2-pellagra. The first case of this
disease Of local origin ever known to
have occurred was recorded during this
year. Other cases have been recorded
since. The Commissioners have, there
fore, promulgated a regulation requiring
all cases of pellagra to be reported to
the health officer, with a view to their
proper investigation. Such Investigations
as have been made, however, have termi-
mated. as have similar Investigations the
world over, in no satisfactory conclusion
as to the origin of the disease or as to
the reason for its appearance at the
present time.
The live births recorded during the
calendar year 1872 numbered 1907, equiv
alent to a birth rate of 1855 which is
slightly lower than the rate for 1911.
Still births in 1872 numbered sol, while
in 1911 they numbered 5O4. the CORE
spending still-birth rate being lie and
la. respectively. Taking births and
still births together the natality was 2l.3
per thousand. which, it will be noted, is
considerably in excess of the death rate.
The natality for the white population
was 49,: that for the coIored population,
81; and as the corresponding death
rates were 1+lS and 26S9, there was
during the year. as during other recent
years, a tendency for the local white
population to increase by its natural in
Crement, and for the colored race to di-
minish Such increase as occurred in the
colored population during the year men
toned was the result of immigration and
not of births.
"Reportable cases of communicable dis
eases recorded during the calendar year
1872 numbered $50, as compared with
1885 in 1911. There was, however, a
sharp rise in the prevalence of such dis
eases in the first half of 1913, the number
of cases reported having been S,2e6, while
during the corresponding period of 1872 it
was but 41O4. The fluctuations in both
instances were chiefly Influenced by vari-
atoms in the prevalence Of measles and
whooping cough.
Decrease in Typhoid.
AS between the calendar years 1911
and 1872 reported cases of typhoid fever |
fell from $50 to 5S5; of diphtheria, from |
SIS to 1893; of scarlet fever, from FL to |
SO, and of measles, from 3,44S to 1,63S. |
Reported cases of whooping cough rose |
from 6Ol to Las. The number of cases |
Of tuberculosis reported was substantially |
the same. 1,24 in the earlier year and |
212 in the latter. Only a comparatively |
small number of cases OF tuberculosis
are reported, however, during the earlier
stages of the disease, and the number
reported does not in either year represent
even approximately the number that ac-
.uaIly existed"
The report shows that receipts for the
year covered in the report-July l, 1872,
10 June 80, 1s13-were s15.O9 3s9.s7, and
hat expenditures totalled S14.6745 9S
The total funded and unfunded debt of
he District amounts to S9,OO1. 6S352
Referring to tax conditions, the Com
nissioners say: The need of a yearly
assessment is still pressing" The fol-
owing is given as a summary of cOllec-
ions for the fiscal year:
On account Of
lealy
'ersonal lLO,s4OS2
pecial reimbursabIs taIes................... Gs75
enaltles and Interest. S5628
aud collections LOO 04s 90
I