The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-01
LOWEST DEATH RATE

| LOWEST DEATH RATE
! Continued From First Page.)
| ts shown rather by the record in con-
nection with special preventable DIS
! eases tnan by the general death rate
! Looking at the records OF the Rich
mond Health Department for 1915
/ from this point of view is even more
gratifying.
Ninteen Typhoid Cases.
Typhoid fever is regarded ar the
! best index of efficiency on the part OF
! a health department. There We're
! only nineteen deaths from this cause
| in Richmond during 1918. equivalent
to death rate Of 1873 per 100000 in
habitants--the lowest on record. IN
| former years, before the reoreaniZa-
ton of the Health Department, the
| average annual death rate fas us. II
was lowered in 1909 to -. land ever
since then it has been forced down
wear nv wear, each year breaking every
previous record. In 191i-the best
wear up to that time-the rate was
'l41 OF the nineteen deaths from
typhoid in 1915 six were among cases
| contracted outside of Richmond. But
for these, the death rate from typhold
| fever would have been "a per ieo'-
j coo
! There was only one death from
naIarial fever in fai5. equivalent to
n death rate of o.s per 100. 600 In
| hahitants There was only one death
! fron, this cause in 1914 and rome IN
ya13-a total of two deaths from
malaria in Richmond in three years
This gives an average annual death
rate of o. for this three-year period
Il As both of these decedents were COZ
tored. IL Is seen that no white person
has died from malaria in Richmond
in the past three years. Up to p rev
vears go such record for Richmond
wo,,ld have been regarded as impos-
fsible. since between twenty and thirty
deaths a wear were regularly reported
as due to maiariai Fever.
Sir Deaths From ptphtheria.
There were six deaths from diph-
iberia giving a death rate or s9 per
90 600 inhabitants. This Is not quite
so low a rate as in 1919, TOT Whlct.
year the figure was 80. but rate on
40 is wonderfully low for city IKE
richmond. and an average rate OF
345 for two consecutive years Is
+ almost pi1enomenally low
Measles. for the first time since
1904. caused no death. In 1914 there
was only one death. This Is re-
markably good record, but 1t Is al
} mitted that this disease has its on
ana ION" years. Little that can DC
done by any health department WI. VII
avert epidemics OF measles when they
are due. but their extent can to a
. certain degree be controlled. Rich
mond will probably have another cpl
denic of this disease in 1915.
Consumption claimed 261 victims
} giving death rate of 1851 per loo,-
600 Inhabitants The rate In 1914 was
1881. IN only one year has the 1919
figure been beaten--in 1913 when the
rate was 1907.
Pneumonia Shows Increase.
y There were 1877 deaths from lobaI
/, pneumonia and los from broncno'
Q nneumonia total OF 295 from the
: two forms. The rate for iobar penu'
monia was 1909 per 100000. the
highest since 1908. The combined
rate for the two forms was iso.'
!. per 100, 900. the highest since 1917.
There has, according to all accounts
been a great increase in the amount
. of pneumonia all over the country II
{ the past few weeks. Richmond has
felt this decidedly. The most un
Q promising outlook for 1915 Is in this
:. connection. 1t Is almost certain tina
Q this disease, and Its aily--grip~-wtl
. take unusual toll of life in the en-
suing year
. in 1915, equal to rate OF sos PEI
100. 900 Inhabitants. This is the fourth
consecutive year in which the dealt
. rate from this cause has been lowered
d beyond any record previously at
: tanned and the tird year with a rat'
uner 100. Before 1910 the loves
rate on record for Richmond wa
122.o per 100000 ana in 1911 the rat'
was ISL.
This IL on the whole, the recort
: of all others for which the Richmond
). Health Department claims grea
: credit, as 1t has been made by worl
o conducted along entirely original lines
t Child Life Conservation.
= Perhaps the most remarkable fea
n ture of Chief Health Officer Levy
v report Is in connection with infan
y mortality from all causes. There wer'
d only 442 deaths of infants under on
year of age---by far the lowest humble
3 since the city attained anything lik'
d IT,, present population. OF thes'
= deaths. forty EIGHT occurred in the re
!, Gently annexed territory. leaving onl,
: 39s deaths under one-year for the cit,
as constituted prior to s15. In thi
same area in 1910 there were So
deaths; in 1911, 534; in 1912, 52S
IN lSiS, oVo, ana al A94r, oos.> " LIZ
N il Is remembered that in all thes
previous years the record was consid
:. cred excellent for the length OF tim
r that the work of the Health Depart
|. ment had been going on. II can b
n seen what the ADMINISTRATIONS 1871
r really signifies.
|. The number OF births reported "a
= to last night was a.4l0. against 81
q as the complete returns for 1919
There will be quite an addition t