Evening star., 1940-01-10
korta|ityCut,
Ruh|and's 1889
Report Shows
Disease Figures
Reduced in D. c.;
New Lows Set

Further progress in reducing NOR
tality and disease figures in tho
District was achieved during the
last calendar year, according to
provisional statistics released late
yesterday by Health Officer George
c. Rutland.
Lower mortality rates were re-
ported for the last year, as COM
pared with 1888 figures, for infant
mortality cases. for pneumonia.
measles, diptheria and tuberculosis,
and in some instances new low re-
cords for the District were an
nounced
Judging from the provision sta
tistics, Health Officer Rutland de-
clared: washington has achieved
new highs in health and is def
nitely ridding itself of the adverse
reputation which it has long held
in its health record
Health Purchaseable.
DR.. Rutland added that the new
records, achieved through the
grants made to health service in the
District by Congress and the Com
missioners, definitely prove that
public health can be purchased and
that a community can, within cer-
tain natural limitations, determine
its own death rates"
Infant mortality for 1899 showed
rate of 478 per 1000 live births,
which DR.. Rutland said was the
lowest here so far. Last September
the Health Department had re-
ported that the infant mortality
rate for 1888 was 48.1, or lower than
the 1888 record for the country as
a whole. He said the present rate
still was below the national expert
ence of 81 per 1000 and compared
favorably with that of other large
cities of Washington's population
group.
Births Higher Than in 1898.
For maternal mortality, the Dis
trict rate for the past year was re-
ported by Dr. Rutland at 48 per
1000 live births. No comparative
figures were given in this instance,
but DR.. Rutland stated there were
1881 births reported in the District
last year, an increase of nearly 1000
over the preceding year. The in.
crease, he said, is contrary to the
national trend. and may reflect a
larger population for the District
than has been generally assumed.
If this proves true, he added, the
mortality figures, based on popula-
| ton of 627 900, would be better than
those reported.
A new all-time low death rate Of
75.3 per 100000 population is re-
ported for pneumonia for the past
year. DR.. Rutland declared this
record definitely reflects the anti.
pneumonia campaign undertaken by
the Health Department in conjunc-
tion with the medical profession in
1887. While pneumonia stood in
second place in 1886 as a cause Of
death, it was reduced to third place
in 1887, fifth place in 1888 and to
seventh place last year, he added.
Diphtheria Deaths Lower.
There were only 20 deaths charge
able to acute communicable diseases
last year, DR.. Rutland said. For
scarlet fever, two deaths, with a
death rate of 0.3 per 100000 popu-
lation, a record only twice before
reached here; measles. two deaths,
the lowest in the history of this
disease here, and diphtheria, five
deaths, death rate of 0.8, which
DR.. Rutland said was the lowest
on record here.
The health officer added there
were no deaths from smallpox or
typhus fever. Health records show
there have been none for several
years.
tuberculosis remained in fourth
place as cause of death here, but
health officials reported the death
rate from this disease was reduced
from 938 in 1898 to 9O.6 per 100, 900
in 1899.