Evening star., 1944-12-31
1914 Hea|thiest Year
In History Of District,
Rutland Report Says

sNUsssWssN N~SVsu SuyS
With the District death rate de-
clining "a per cent compared with
a year ago, 1914 had "the best
health record in the city's history"
Health Oficer George G. Rutland
reported last night.
The death rate reached an all
time low of 9.8 per 100000 popula-
ton, compared to 10.7 last year. AL
though new lows were reached in
mortality rates for diphtheria, ty-
phoid fever and whooping cough,
infantile paralysis continued to be
one Of the bafling diseases and
rabies incidences were higher than
at any time in a decade"
THE latest general death rate
available for the Nation was 10.9
in l943," DR.. Rutland said. Few
OF the largest cities have had death
rates below 10 per 100000 popula-
ton, so this is considered an unu-
sual achievement in a city such as
Washington with its large Negro
population. where death rates are
notoriously unfavorable."
Infant Rate at New Low.
The infant mortality rate dropped
IA per cent, or from 40.7 infant
deaths per 1000 in 1943 to 37.7 this
year, another all-time low for the
District. The latest available infant
mortality rate for the United States
was 404 in 1943.
The maternal mortality rate re-
manned the same as in 1943-1.9
deaths per 1000 The maternal
mortality figure for the country last
year was &c The tuberculosis death
rate this year was IL per cent less
than last year. dropping from 66.4
deaths per 100000 population in
l943 to 657.
There was 2l2 per cent drop
in the pneumonia death rate, or a
drop from 59.4 deaths per 100 900
population in 1943 to 46.8. The
national rate last year was 54.4.
DR.. Rutland said that for the first
time the District made a record of
no diphtheria deaths. whereas a
decade ago the disease caused 20
to 30 deaths annually.
One Whooping Cough Death.
AS for whooping cough. the re-
port stated. there was only one
death in 1914 Formerly the low
est number wasssix and the high
est So. In 1943 there were 81 deaths.
Here it should be stated that
whooping cough vaccination was in
troduced a little more than a year
ago as a routine program in the
child health clinics" the report said.
DR.. Rutland reported that tuber-
culosis control services made a
great stride" in the mass x-raying
OF apparently healthy persons, and
that this is considered productive
in reducing the occurrence of ad-
vanced tuberculosis" During the
year. 5000 teachers were X-rayed,
along with 5000 senior high school
students. 1000 food handlers and
900 employees of member agencies
of the Council of Social Agencies.
LII NCilSlNdl dASCdSCS, W per CeIlU
of the most highly infectious
syphilis cases have been handled at
the rapid treatment center at Gal
linger Municipal Hospital. DR.. Ruh-
land said that "the excellent CO.
operation of the Police Department
and the Army and Navy made it
possible to bring under treatment
over 80 per cent of syphilis infected
selectees.
Syphilis Measures Urged.
Among IA national areas desig-
mated by the Public Health Service
for noting contacts of syphilis
among servicemen, the District
ranks third in improving conditions
and first in locating contacts of in
fected civilians. Health officials said
that there was need for strengthen
ing legal control measures" over
syphilis.
Other high lights Of the report
were:
The program for emergency ma
ternal and infant care for wives
and infants of servicemen handled
5,5l6 cases, with the cooperation
Of 300 private physicians. The pro-
gram cost the city $23 600 a month.
The Bureau of School Medical
Inspection check of 92,96l children
showed 1877 per cent had defective