Evening star., 1915-12-08

urge that action along this line be
taken.
| Discipline.
| During the year the Commissioners
have been called upon in very few
cases to administer severe discipline
| upon the officers and members OF the
fire department, their conduct being OF
the usual high standard.
Pension Fund.
Probably no more deplorable condi-
tion exists in the District of Columbia
than the lack of sufficient funds for the
relief of disabled retired members of
the police and fire departments. The
linsufficiency of the fund provided for
the relief of those who. after years of
self-sacrifcing devotion to the public
service, should be. able to depend upon
grateful community to spare them
the privations incident to their dis
ability, is continual cause Of distress.
Trophy Flags.
The Macfarland and Johnston trophy
flags. awarded annually to the engine
and truck companies presenting the
best standard of efficiency, were this
wear awarded to No. engine company
and NO. 10 truck company, respectively.
Veterinarian.
According to the report of the veter-
marian. during the year 81 horses and
20 mules were certified for purchase.
~ were recommended to be sold, 10
died from natural causes. were ac-
cfdentally killed, and 12 were destroy
ed by order of the Commissioners.
Two hundred and forty-seven ami
mails were treated at the hospital, and
81 were recommended to be trans
ferred from one department to an
other.
Three hundred and seventy-three
horses have been branded in accord
ance with the Commissioners order of
December 16. 1914:
The District of Columbia now has
in it's possession 734 horses and mules.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
The calendar year 1914 was mark ed
by an increase in the birth rate and
death rate.
Births and Stillbirths.
Birth and stillbirths registered dur
ing the year numbered 1871, equiva-
the population. OF the children of
lent to a natality of 1898, and 2.422
of 24.81. The larger natality of the
colored race was, however, offset by
the fact that the percentage of chill
dren born dead was greater among
the colored than among the white
S.9. as compared with 3.5. The birth
register showed a gratifying DECREASE
in the percentage of births and still
births reported as illegitimate-for the
white from rs in 1913 to 19 in 1914,
and for the colored from 22.7 to 2O.9.
Illness and Deaths.
Deaths recorded during the calendar
year 1914 numbered 5.s66. as compared
with 6006 during the previous year
The death rate fell, therefore, from
1899 to 1859. the latter being the low
est death rate ever recorded for the
District. Deaths among the white
population numbered 3,4s3, with a cor
responding death rate of 1864, and
among the colored population deaths
numbered 1913, the corresponding
death rate being 24.31. The group of
maladies now frequently referred to as
the denegerative diseases took by far
the largest part of the death toll. Or
Sanic heart disease caused 657 deaths
Brights disease, 5sS; apoplexy, 419, and
hardening of the arteries, -143. OF the
diseases ordinarily classed as COM
municable tuberculosis played the most
important part. One thousand and
fifty-seven communicable cases were
registered and 652 deaths reported.
This disease was, however, less preva-
lent than during the preceding year.
increase of 16 since the preceding
year. Deaths from typhoid fever fell
from 81 to As, the number of cases
registered falling from 461 to $40.
Cases of dfphtheria fell from $50 to
452. but deaths rose from 26 to 81.
Whooping cough showed increased
prevalence: reported cases increased
from 319 to 537. but deaths rose only
from II to Is. Reported cases of pei
lagra increased from 4 to 81 and deaths
from 10 to IA. Deaths from diarrheal
diseases among children less than 2
years old fell down 208 to 142. Other
data pertaining to the prevalence of
diseases within the District during the
calender year 1914 appear in the re-
port of the health officer which ac-
companies this report.
Two patients suffering from 1eprosy
came into the District of Colum bia dur
Jurisdictions, both in violation of the
interstate quarantine regulations. All
efforts made by the Commissio ioners TO
procure the return of these patients to
the jurisdictions whence they came, or
the sending of them to federal quaranf :
tine stations. as provided for in such
regulations, have been without result,
and the District is burdened with the
cost Of quarantining and maintaining
these patients. august 13. 1915, one
of the leper patients escaped from
quarantine and went to Pittsburgh. Pa.
Subsequently he was taken by the
United States public health service to a
federal quarantine station. From this
station he escaped and returned to
Pittsburgh, Pa. and from there he went
to Missouri. where he was when last
heard from.I
Vital Statistics for Six Months.
The vital statistics of the District OF
Columbia are stated on the basis OF
calendar years, SO that they may be
fairly comparable with those of other
places. In order, however, that this
report may show the situation in the
| District of Columbia up to the close
| of the fiscal year. the following sup
! Elementary statement is submitted. The
| number of births recorded during the
period just named was 3,525. while
during the corresponding period Of last
year there were recorded 1886. still
births in 1915 numbered 219; stil1births
! during the corresponding period OF
| 1914 numbered 236. Conditions favor
able to the spread of pneumonia in the
District prevailed during the early part
! OF the year, as was shown by the ex-
| cessive number of deaths from that
disease, 429, as compared with 317 dur
| ing the first half of the year preceding
sav, al n