Evening star., 1936-10-04
HEALTH RATE HIGH
OVER YEAR IN D. c.
tuberculosis and 8 Other
Communicable Diseases
Worse, However.

tuberculosis and eight other major
communicable diseases were more
prevalent in the District during the
past calendar year, and the death
rates for most of the diseases in
creased, the Commissioners were in
formed yesterday by Health Officer
George c. Rutland.
Despite these facts, however. the
general death rate for the District
dropped from 1878 per thousand in
1884 to 1929 in 1885.
tuberculosis cases reported during
1885 numbered 1856, compared with
1,138 In 1894.
The death rate from tuberculosis,
however, declined from 1913 per 100, 900
population, in 1884. to 1o2 in 1895.
In program financed by the w. P.
A.. the health Office last Fall gave
tuberculin tests to 1858 children under
the age of Is. DR.. Rutland said 556
showed positive reactions.
Diphtheria's Rate Increases.
There was a marked increase in
the incidence and death rate for
diphtheria, with 913 cases reported
last year, as compared with $50 the
year before. There were 20 deaths
last year, as compared with 16 in
1894.
An outbreak of diphtheria at the
Jewish Foster Home, where Is cases
and deaths occurred, served to en-
phasize the importance of the i'm
munization of all children, whether
in private homes or institutions, DR..
Rutland said.
The department is conducting
campaign for immunization through
its vaccination clinic, the child hy-
giene centers and the public schools.
During the last fiscal year, which
ended June 80 last. toxoid was ad-
ministered to s,469 children.
To stress the importance of diph-
liberia immunization among children
of pre-school age, Dr. Rutland pre-
sented statistics to show that only
45.8 per cent Of the children i'm
munized last year were under the
age of S, whereas 62.4 per cent Of
the deaths occurred among children
under S.
1T is apparent" he said, that If
children are to receive the full benefit
of diphtheria inmunization, greater
stress must be placed on protection
during the first year Of life and from
then on through age S, during which
the mortality from diphtheria is the
highest"
1888 Death Records.
During 1885 there were IS cases
and 10 deaths of infantile paralysis,
as compared with 10 cases and three
deaths the year before.
There were 252 cases of meningitis
and SO deaths last year. showing a
mortality of 500 per cent. The year
before there were but IA cases and 6
deaths.
Influenza cases numbered 153 last
year, as against rs the year before
DR.. Rutland said 1t was probable many
additional cases occurred. but were of
such mild nature they were not re-
ported by physicians.
The number of cases Of measles
was greatly below 1894, and to this
DR.. Ruhland attributed the fact that
during the last year the grand total
number of cases Of communicable
diseases declined. Leaving measles
out Of account, however, there was q
decided increase in communicable
diseases in 1885. During the last year
there were reported 1905 cases Of
measles, with no deaths. whereas In
1884 there were 6,456 cases and 4S
deaths.
Pneumonia cases last year numbered
1859, with case rate of 264 per
100000 population. as against 1854
cases with a case rate Of 253 in 1884.
Extremely Prevalent.
The case rate indicates the disease
Is extremely prevalent" and 1T is
well known that the mortality Is high,
ranging from IS to so per cent" Dr..
Ruhland said.
Scarlet fever cases increased from
746 in 1884 to 1,606 in 1885, but the
death rate from the disease declined
from 16 to Is per 100000.
DR.. Rutland reported that IS per
cent Of 1892 first grade and kinder
earten children who were given COM
plete physical examinations last year
were found to have some defects.
Leading causes, In their order, were
found to be defective teeth, enlarged
tonsils, enlarged glands and improper