Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
Veterinary Surgeon.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT:
Births.

| There were reported during the cal
endar year 1913 6,903 births and 500
stillbirths. The birth rate for the
year, 20.9. computed on the bases of
live births and stillbirths taken to-
gether, has shown during recent years
a general though slight tendency to
! decline. The birth rate for the col
, the white birth rate, 1873. Such a
large number of the births reported
among the colored population were still
births, however, 1913 per cent, that the
birth rate of the colored population
when hye-born children alone are con-
| sidered, was less than the death rate
for that race, while for the white pop
| ulat1on the rate Of live births per
| 1000 of the entire population exceed
! ed the corresponding death rate. There
, has been no abatement in the preva-
lence of illegitimacy and as many
women gave birth to illegltimate babies
! as in previous years.
Contagious Diseases.
In the calendar year 1913, as COM
pared with the preceding year, there
as an increase in the number of re-
ported cases of diphtheria, scarlet
fever. measles. chickenpox and small
pox. while a decrease was noted in
whooping cough. typhoid fever. COM
demic cerebro-spinal meningitis and
acute anterior poliomye]itis. Measles.
however, was the only one of the dis
eases named that can be said to have
assumed an epidemic form. 5,713 cases
having been reported. The record for
the first half of 1914 shows a decrease
in the prevalence OF all of the re-
portable communicable diseases. except
whooping cough. The recommendation
| made by the Commissioners last year
FIJI oral Of he
tagious-dtsease service Is renewed, as
is also the Commissioners report with
respect to the enactment of legislation
authorizing the segregation of danger
losis.
The decline in the general death rate,
to which attention has been called in
previous reports. still continues, and
| while it reached during the calendar
year 1913 the unprecedented figure Of
1899, the record for 1914 bids fair to
go even lower. Comparing the cal
endar year 1912 with the calendar year
1913, the number of deaths fell. not
withstanding the increased population,
from $3.50 to 6,00S; and fall from
1851 to 3,138 appears upon comparing
the records of the first six months of
the calendar year 1913 with the corre-
SpOuu1uS peIlOu VI 1S14, WHICH ldIIcT
period marks the close Of this report.
There has been the usual excessively
high death rate among the colored
population, which contributes SO
largely to the high death rate to the
population as a whole, the colored
| death rate having been 24.S4 as COM
pared with white death rate of 1898.
The colored death rate showed, how
ever, a remarkable fall in comparison
with the same rate for the preceding
year. from $3.50 to 24s4. The most
important causes of death. with their
respective death rates per 100000, were
as follows: Organic heart diseases,
2os: pulmonary tuberculosis. 1872;
apopiexy. 1os: malignant growths. 80.
With respect to each Of the death rates
stated. except that of malignant
growths. there was gratifying de-
the preceding year. The inexplica BILE
increase in the death rate of malig-
nant growths continued. however, dur
ing the year, the rate rising from 81
to the figure stated. 80.
! Public Crematorfum.
There were disposed Of during the
calendar year 1918 at the public crema
torium S66 bodies. of which 1913 were
the bodies of adults. 1877 of infants ant
331 of stillborn children. In nearl.
all cases cremations were at publ,
expense, but there was collected a:
fees, in cases in which the estate OF
the family of the decedent were able t.
pay the charges. $2S7.50.
Medical and Dental Inspection Of
! Schools.
The medical inspectors during tn,
school year 1894. made 1878 visit
to schools and seventy-seven to tn,
homes Of pupils. Examinations of tn,
pupils were made in 1888 instances
I Examinations for the purpose of de
i termining whether children actually IL
school should or should not be ex
cluded were made in 1884 instances
and as a result 1888 exclusion
were reoommsndtd The Remaining
examination. 1864 were made fo
the purpose of Determining whethel
absent pupils might or might not safe
ly return to school. and in all case
return was authorized. Physical ex
aminatfons were made of 121 candi
dates for admission to the norma
school. of whom six were recommend
ed for rejection on account of physica
defects. The usual examinations hav,
been made of pupils for the determine
ton as to whether they were or wer,
not suitable for the ungraded schools
i BY the dental inspectors 1851 pupil
j were examined, OF whom 1.161 wer,