Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-10
BIRTH AND DEATH
RATES INCREASE
Health Report for Year Ended
June 80 Based on $50, 900
Population.

b0tn the DlF1n rate ana deaCn fdCe
showed slight increases In 1929 as
compared with 1928, according to the
annual report of Health Oficer William
c. Fowler. presented to the Commits
sioners yesterday. The birth and death
rates figures are given for calendar
years, although the report is for the
fiscal year ended June 80. At the time
they were complied the population of
washington was estimated at $4,000,
although later figures compiled by the
Census Bureau show the population to
be only 485, 900.
The mortality rate rose, from 1871
per 1000 to 1916 and the birth rate
from 1929 to 1886. The infant NOR
tally rate also rose slightly from 64.6
to 696 deaths per 1000 children under
! year Of age. The year 1923, however,
in which the 64.6 rate was recorded,
was the year with the lowest record
since mortality statistics have been
available.
Heart Disease Heads List.
Heart disease continues to keep It's
place at the head Of the list Of causes
Of death by o. wide margin. 1t was re-
sponsible in 1929 for 1896 deaths. Other
causes followed In this order: Nephritis,
growths, CSC; pulmonary tuberculosis,
507, and appoplexy, 406.
The District was singularly free from
contagious diseases during 1929. The
figures show substantial declines In an
terror poliomylitis, measles and scarlet
fever. There was not single case Of
smallpox reported. Slight increases
were noted In whooping cough, typhoid
fever, communicable tuberculosis, pei
legra, cerebroSpinal meningitis and
chfckenpox.
DR.. Fowler devotes q large section Of
his report to an eloquent plea for bet
ter medical attention for school chill
dren. IT desire again TO stress" ne
wrote, "the need for o more adequate
medical and dental service for the pub
lie schools Of the District.
"The present corps Of doctors, dentists
and nurses Is entirely fnaAeQuate to
give the pupils in the public schools
the supervision they should receive.
With q more adequate force Of fnspec-
tors and nurses, much more can be
done than Is now possible. It Is of the
utmost importance that the children in
the schools Of this District should be
In good physical condition in order
that they may pursue their studies in
q comfortable and efficient manner.
Many Under Handicaps.
Examination Of pupils in the kinder
garten and first grades Of our schools
| has shown very clearly that many Of
them are working under physical handi-
caps that materially interfere with their
| course Of study. Everything possible
should be done TO aid these children in
| obtaining a proper education, and one
| OF the best ways Of doing so is to see
that they are physically and mentally
well. With q more adequate corps as
signed to this work, 1t would at least
!, be possible to examine every child that
enters school, and whatever, II any. de-
fects 1t may have can early be discoy-
I cred and appropriate treatment applied.
"The number of medical and, dental
| inspectors and nurses has remained the
same for q good many years, although
| the school population has rapidly In
creased. The four dental clinics which
have been operating for several years
have done great amount of work. but
more Of these clinics should be provided
TO serve other sections Of the city that
are now practically without such
| service.
Funds win be available beginning
July /, 1880, for two additional medical
| inspectors, two nurses, two dental
| hygienists and four dental operators.
There viii also be additional funds for
| two additional dental clinics. The
medical and dental service Of the public
schools, even With the above additions,
continues to be inadequate to meet the
needs"
The balance of the report gives an
account of the stewardship Of the large
number OF inspection forces under con-
troll of the health officer. It is stated
that 1857 violations of the smoke
ordinance were reported, that the
smokers paid e3,1i0 in fines, 10 foot
\ healing establishments were inspected;
1851 oficial visits were made to estsb-
] lishments engaged in the manufacture
of mattresses, notices for the remova
, of weeds from vacant lands were served
!, In $50 instances: IL slaughter houses II
the. District were regularly inspected
! dairy farms located outside Of the Dis.
. trict and shipping milk and cream x
/ the District were inspected on an aver.
age OF z.57 times per year (there ar
1913 such farms. with 20 400 head d
cattle registered); IS persons wer'
bitten BY dOss.