The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-01
HEALTH D.PARlA.aI
she VS. YtIh'S RECORD
Decrease in Mortality Rate Gratifying
TO DIR. Roy X. Flanagan
nTtd His kurce.
BREAKS LOWEST RECORDS.
win Inciale I'm Budgcs Funds for
Quarterly Bulletin When Presented
20 Finance Committee Tomorrow
Night.

The health department Of the city
y In isE report tor the year OF 1917
showed a decrease in Tire mortality
rate that was highly gratifying 70 Or.
Roy X. Fl@pnigan and his force The
number OF deaths Ia the city was lSt
4 i@ss than last yesg and tNe oesth rate
ggSs the lowest in The history ct the
department Fer psCN thopFa3d ut
population there occurred or. 1882
fatalities, while &c lowest previous
record was that Gf 1915, with a rate
giof 1889. a lowering of approximately
one death for each three thousand
populat on. The rate Tor 1918 was
liars.
These facts are partially accounted
tor by the fact THAI there has been no
epidemic OF auy consequence during
she year. There we're only two infee-
.stious diseases in which the mortality
rate was higher than that Of last
year~~infants' SIMMER disease and
dirhtheriA- But even In these in
stances there were fewer deaths in
comparison To tie number OF ca SEES
than WIS the case last year, To be
specific. there we're isf cases Of SUM
gner disease last year and i03 deaths
were reported. G fatality IN So per
cent Of the cases. During the present
year there were 3IS cases and lis
deaths. which brought the percentage
III fatalities down TO 3S per cent.
As was the case in The suHIr1 or dis
ease. there were aaore c&ses OF dsph-
iberia, hut the number OF deaths this
year were only two In excess OF The
number last year In tina typhoid
fever field the percentage was cut
down one per thousand population,
During The year 1915 2T4 cases were
reported. resulting IN 81 deaths, or q
IAN per cent fatality IN the year
1ai9 there wore only IS cases and II
ceaths, or a per cent Of IFS, &Eoop-
ing cough. 1918 cases reported & f24.
deaths, 20: 1871, cases reported, .5oS;
deaths, G-s@ difference I'll from 5 per
sent 10 g.. per cant. SCARLET fever
was lowered 2 per cent. and intsntile
paralysis 19g per cent In 1915,
There were three deaths In s. total OF
twenty cases. THIS year there were
seven cases reported and got one
fatality Four cases uf smallpox was
found FIR the city this year against one
last ear but TO deaths occurred from
tniK cause.
The department has made possible
more sanitary ard food inspection.
than has been the case in former
years Through the efforts OF the de
rErtmant the conditions In the city
markets have been improved In sew
erai ways including the tnstalment
~ hot wafer fer cleaning purpose
This entire hcaith SIT iation row seems
fo he in better shape state those in
position 10 know. than II has been
fer some time
~ d Flanuigan win appear before
the city finance COMMITTEES WeineS-
Gay night 30 present the budget of
The department. lie stated that he
considered ths department staff com
r@tent 10 sn@ei the demands of. the
wors necessary. bat ne VIII ask for
an Increase IN salary for the men in
this work Owing 10 the ever-increRs-
ang cost OF living. he stated that he
would exert every effort 10 secure for
thefn substantial Increase IN salary,
In addition, he win recon mend n
quarterly bulletin III enable the citi-
Gems 10 see what Tho department IL
attempting % 60 for them and ,o edu-
cate the people 10 combat the health
problems with Intelligent methods.
This is expected "a cost IN the neigh
6oFhoed Of 81 sac.