Evening star., 1938-07-17
DC. BABY DEATHS
UNDERNAT|0NAL
AVERAGE OF 1887
Sharp Decline for Half of
1888 Shown in Report
of DR.. Rutland.
DATA MUCH CHANGED
FROM OTHER YEARS
Health Officials Attribute Part
Of Improvement to Aid
Granted by Congress. :.

AoheSA " SSAAS1 WV
A sharp decline in the Districts in
FAINT mortality rate-formerly one of
the highest in the United States-to
a point we'll below last years national
average, was reported yesterday by
Health Officer George c. Ruhland in
q compilation of records for the last
six months.
Health Department officials voiced
belief that the lives of 102 babies under
the age Of l year had been saved
during the last six months as result
of the decline in the mortality rate
and they predicted the full years
record would indicate saving Of 204
babies, if the improved record holds
for the whole year.
For the first six months of 1888
the infant mortality rate here was
48 for each 1000 live births, as against
a record of IS deaths per 1000 live
births in the first six months of last
year.
Former Records Darker.
Infant mortality rates-generally
regarded as the most sensitive guide
to public health services-showed
much different picture in the past.
For 1887. the District rate was 6l.4,
as compared with national average
of 54.4. In 1886 the District rate of
t,, fn
average of ST.. In 1882, when the
District rate was 729-the highest
during The last 10 years-the national
average was but 576.
District health officials attributed
part of the improved record to the
expansion of the Health Department
personnel and program granted by
Congress in the last two years.
This reference was to the enlarged
program of the Bureau of Maternal
and Child Welfare, of which DR.. Ella
Oppenheimer is director, and the en-
largement Of the Public Health Nurs-
ing Service and other divisions of the
Health Department.
DR.. Rutland said, however: THE
Health Department cannot and does
not claim credit for the entire decline,
but there can be no doubt that the
program which has brought expectant
mothers and young infants to the
maternity and well baby stations has
played part in the gratifying i'm
provement in this cnce disgraceful
record. Until the end of the year no
one can tell how much the element
of chance has played In the decline
IN infant mortality.
Hopes for More Gains.
The record of the last six months
Is most encouraging but we hope to
do better. We are grateful especially
to Congress for the additional funds
granted for expansion of our services" :"
He predicted additional improve
rnent would come with construction Of
health center, or polytechnic in
Southwest Washington, on the site of
the old Cardozo School, and later,
'when other centers are provided for
the central Northwest area.
In a public statement on the rec
ords Of the last six months, the
Health Department said:
The life saving estimate is based
on the fact that there were more than
10000 live births during the past cal
endar year and there were IT fewer
deaths for every 100 live births dur
ing the first six months of 1888 as
against the first six months of 1887.
Improvement was shown among
the oolored population as well as the
white. For example, the mortality
rate among the white babies during
the first six months of 1888 was 81
as compared with A in 1897 Among
colored infants. the mortality rate for
the first six months of 1888 was u
as compared with 107 during the first
six months Of 1887
Public Grateful for Aid.
''The services which aim to pre-
vent needless deaths and protect the
health of mothers, babies and Young
children have met q warm public re-
sponse. In seven maternity centers
which are devoted to prenatal care
| there were registered 1896 new, ex-
pectant mothers for maternal care
during the first six months of 1898.
AT the IA child hygiene stations,
L~here parents may bring their babies
and pre-school-age children for health
examinations and advice as to care
and training according to the needs
Of the individual child. the increase
in registration of pre-school-age chill
dren is especially noteworthy.
For example. there were 1000
babies registered for health supervision
in the first six months of 1888, as
compared with 1887 during the SIM
liar period of 1887.
There were 1920 children of pre-
school age registered in the first six
months of 1888, as compared with
only 1859 during the first six months
OF 1887.
Results Of immunization against
diphtheria also are encouraging
During the first six months of 1898
there were 1897 children under G
years of age who were immunized
against diphtheria in the child hygiene
stations, whereas only 1,48l were
immunized in the stations In the same
period Of 1887"