Evening star., 1944-01-11
District Health
Best on Record, ,
'43Data Hints
Improved Facilities
Given Credit for
Lower Mortality


Estimated 1943 figures for death
rates in major categories will show
that the District either bettered its
1912 mark-the best in the records
Of the Health Departmental that
it held its own, it was learned today
from health officials.
1t was also forecast that the gen.
eral death rate of 103 per 1000
population established as a new low
here in 1912 was maintained last
year. The general death rate in
the United States in 1912 was l0l
per 1000 population.
Despite wartime conditions" de-
clared Health Officer George C.
Ruhland, preliminary reports in
dlcate that even lower rates, which
are already the lowest in the Dis
trict history, can be predicted for
1943, and insofar as death rates
are indices, Washington's health
situation is at present most favor
able and the future points to further
progress"
label Shows Trend.
The general death rate. and tho
death rate for particular causes for
1885, 1912 and the estimated figures
for 1943. on the basis of 1000 popu-
lation, follows:
1885. 1912. 1s43.
General death rate:
District of Columbia 14.3 1913 l0s
United States -- II l0.4
Infant mortality:
District of Columbia 592 44.s 40
United States 1900 557 40.4
Maternal mortality:
District of Columbia 81 % i.s
United States ~ So 2.6
tuberculosis
(Per 100000:
District of Columbia 1922 72.s IS
United States -- SIS 43.l
Pneumonia
(Per 100000:
District of Columbia 1914 so so
United States 1912 55.7
If the 1943 estimates prove cor
rect, the Health Department figures
mean that from 1885 through last
year, the general death rate in the
District dropped 24.5 per cent, COM
pared with a drop of SIS per cent in
the United States from 1885 to 1912.
In discussing the Health Depart
ment's part in reducing the death
rate here since 1885, officials cite a
| number Of factors. such as the estab-
llshment of a Bureau of Public
Health Nursing, under a full-time
director, and bureau for tuberculosis.
With expanded clinical service; for
nation of bureau of maternal and
child welfare, with a steady increase
in the number TO maternal and child
hygiene clinics; expansion of the
diphtheria immunization program;
addition of a public health engineer
TO the departments sanitary inspec-
ttlon service; establishment of a
Bureau of Public Health Instruction
regulations to prevent and control
the spread of preventable diseases
under law of 1899, and extension
OF facilities at Glenn Dale and GAL
llneer for tuberculosis and the
Southwest Health Center.
Nursing Service Expands.
The generalized nursing service.
established in November, 1886. as a
Bureau of Public Health Nursing.
has increased from So nurses to an
authorized l65 last year. A Tuber-
culosls Bureau was set up in 1886,
with expansion of clinical service re-
sulting in 42,972 visits during the
fiscal year 1912, compared with IT,
555 in the fiscal year 1886.
Since the establishment of the
Bureau Of Maternal and Child We'll
fare in the fall of 1886 the number
OF maternal hygiene clinics has
jumped from three to nine and the
number of child clinics from IL to
Is. The number of children i'm
munized against diphtheria in
creased three-fold from 1885 to 1912
and during the same period deaths
per 100000 have dropped from 5
to 04.
In November, 1886, a public health
engineer was added to the depart
ment as consultant and aide in SAN
ltatlon, housing, air conditioning
and heating. In June of the fol-
lowing year the department
launched a program for teaching
the public the necessity for per-
sonal hygiene. The latter part of
the 1930S also saw new tubercu-
losis building and new adult section
at Glenn Dale and a pneumonia
control program carried out in CO.
operation with the medical societies,
five full-time resident physicians
appointed to Gallinger, a house
keepers aide project sponsored to
help patients at home and the
appointment of full-time director
on the Bureau of Venereal Diseases.
In June. 1910. the citys first health
center was opened at Delaware ave-
nue. and street .S.W, a communi-
cable disease code was promulgated,
and new medical and tuberculosis
buildings at Gallinger we're opened.
Latest additions at Gallinger include
a l00-bed venereal disease center for
rapid treatment.
Committee 10 Consider