Evening star., 1947-09-28
District Health
In Reported
Best in Decade
Death Rate, Infant
Mortality Bettered
National Average

washington was relatively
healthful city in which to live in
1916, the Health Department an
nounced in its annual report made
public yesterday. Exception for We
neral disease, the District had its
healthiest year in nearly decade.
The general death rate of 9.3 per
1000 was new low in mortality
statistics for the city. The death
rate for the Nation was 1o.1.
There was a generally low preva-
lence of communicable diseases
during 1916, with the exception of
an epidemic of measles that started
in February and reached its peak in
April. The death rate from tuber-
losis also was reduced to $50 deaths
per 100000 from 6l.s the previous
year.
Infant mortality in 1916 was 35.9
per 1000 births while the rate for
the entire country was 36.1. Infant
deaths under one month of age ac-
counted for 778 per cent of the
total infant mortality.
DeatnS Lowest Slnce 1865.
The Bureau of Vital statistics re-
ported that the total of 8,767 deaths
recorded in the District was the low
est since 1899. Heart disease caused
the most deaths with 1921. Can
Ger was next with 1,247, while tu-
berculosis caused 525 deaths. There
were 80 cases of typhoid fever re-
ported last year with five deaths,
and So cases of polio with three
deaths.
Two hundred and twenty-three
schools, of which so were parochlal
were supervised by 80 medical in
spectors, and outside Of a ringworm
epidemic, the health of the children
was good. The Health Department
makes routine physical examinations
of children when they enter kinder
garten, first and fourth grades and
the first year in junior high school.
The Bureau of Dental Services
made 100,724 inspections of chill
dren's teeth and in 900 per cent OF
the cases defective teeth were found.
The bureau asks for an increase in
instruments, equipment and sup
plies to keep up the work which has
been given national recognition.
4.178 Children Needed Care.
The Bureau of Maternal Welfare,
which in addition to it's other work
looks after crippled children report
ed that as of December, 1916, it had
on its register 4,178 children in
Washington who needed care.
The Bureau of Public Nursing re-
ported that the big turnover of
nurses had made stability of service
with schools, clinics and community
of service to patients impossible. A
deficiency in the budget caused by
Congress granting automatic raises
caused the bureau to drop IS nursing
positions to keep within its budget
limitations.
The report listed also 2,288 new
cases of tuberculosis last year, and
pointed out that there is long list
of patients awaiting bed care, which
the department has been unable to
furnish due to the lack of nurses.
The report stated 67 per cent of
deaths from the disease was among
the colored population, and that the
greatest concentration of the disease
was in persons between Is and "A
years old.
Many Advanced Cases.
Gallinger Hospital in its report
said that 81 per cent of the tubercu-
losis cases in that institution died
within 60 days after admission.
showing that many advanced cases
were brought there. It was sug-
gested that hopeless cases be cared
for in the homes and make room
for those who had chance for
recovery.
The hospital also asked for re-
placements by old beds and mat
tresses and worn-out medical in
struments, and said that the psy-
chiatric department had 1859 ad-
missions during the year, the larg-
est since it was established. It said
that this was due to the present
day method of sending persons ac-
cused of crime to the hospital for
an examination before sentencing
them or ordering them to take hos
pital treatment.
Glen Dale Sanitorium also report
ed that it still had IA beds closed
because the institution was unable
to obtain the necessary nurses to
care for them. 1t was reported and
they were not able to fill the vacan-
cies because there was no place for
the additional help to live.
10,954 V. d. Gases.
The Rapid Treatment Center re-
ported that more persons are TAX
ing the new veneral disease treat
ment and completing it than hereto
fore. Last year 10,954 cases were
reported and the clinic averaged
nearly 1000 new cases month.
The center has 100 beds available
for treatment of persons suffering
from the disease and there is a
ward at Freedmens Hospital.
The Bureau of Public Health En-
gineering reported that the clerical
and inspection staffs were not large
enough to carry out it's work eff
GENTLY and asked aid of other Gov
eminent agencies and the public in
carrying out sanitary measures. 1t
praised the Police Department for
the help it has given the bureau in
keeping down weeds and having
dirty yards cleaned and said that
the rodent campaign conducted in
the Northeast section last fall had
been great success
The Bureau of Food Inspection re-
ported that it had inspected 85,024
food establishments last year, an in
crease of 1000 over the year before,
and said it was giving careful at
tention to frozen foods represented
as being enriched with vitamins
and minerals"
Food Condemned.
More than 352, 300 pounds of food
was condemned at various food es-
tablishments during the year and
cases that were prosecuted in the
Municipal Court resulted in fines
and forfeitures of $13,725. More