Evening star., 1949-10-30
A-S THE SUNDAY STAR Washington, D. c.
Report Shows Gains
In City Health Record
Under Dr.. Rutland

The last full year of DR.. George
c. Ruhland's 15-year administra-
ton of the District Health De-
partment ended a decade Of con-
stantly improving health records,
the commissioners were informed
yesterday.
DR.. Rutland retired last Sep
tember 30. The city heads still
are considering candidates for his
successor. Acting in the post
is DIR. Daniel Seckinger, assistant
health officer and himself a can
didate for the top job.
Other nominees submitted by a
committee representing local
groups interested in the field Of
health, at the invitation of Com
missioner Guy Mason, are DR..
Vlado A. Getting, Massachusetts,
Commissioner of Public Health,
and DR.. E. c. Sage, assistant di-
rector Of public health for San
Francisco.
Death Rate Cut.
In its annual report for 1o48,
the department cited impressive
reductions in the death rates,
including new low records for
maternal and infant and tuber-
culosis mortality.
1t pointed to these accomplish
ments, among others:
/. The Washington Chest X-ray
survey, first such mass study to
be conducted in a city of nearly
100000 people.
2. A pilot demonstration" of
the benefits Of an intensive edu-
cational and international cam
paign as a case-flnding technique
in venereal disease.
8. Provision to include six ad-
ditional private hospitals in the
program of care for the medically
INDECENT.
4. Inauguration of cancer de-
lection clinic at Gallinger Hos
pital under sponsorship of the
Bureau Of Cancer Control.
S. Appropriations for additional
buildings at Gallinger Hospital
for the pediatric and crippled
children's service and for a new
laboratory building.
Statistics Cited.
Statistics indicated the general
death rate for Washington resi-
dents in 1948 was 9.4 per 1000
population. The corresponding
rate for 1947 was recorded at 10
per 1000.
Comparing this to the death
rate 10 years ago-12.7 per 1000
population-the department cited
"a rather striking reduction"
This MEANS" the report stated,
"that nearly $4,000 persons "a
city approximately the size Of
Annapolis, Md are alive today
who would have died If the death
rate Of 1888 still prevailed"
Significant improvements were
noted In the infant and maternal
death rates during 1948. Statistics
In this category. including both
residents and non-residents who
died in Washington, indicate both
infant and maternal mortality
reached new lows.
Infant Deaths Decline.
The infant death rate dropped
to 23.9 deaths per 1000 live births
In 1948 from the previous low
recorded in 1947 of 800 per 1000.
The 1888 rate was 48.1 deaths
per 1000 live births. -
The maternal death rate fell
from l per 1000 live births in
1947 to Z per 1000 in 1948. The
rate in 1888 was SIS deaths per
1000 live births.
The report brought out that tu-
berculosis deaths continued a
downward trend to a rate of 52.3
deaths per 100000 population in
194S.
1t was the first time, the Com
mlSSlonerS were informed, that the
death rate for tuberculosis has
been below go per 100, 900 in Wash
ington. The rate was 61.4 in 1947.
The drop was 16.5 per cent for
white persons and 14.2 per cent
for colored.
The report said that births reg
tstered during 1948 fell short of
the previous years all time high.
There were 27,867 births recorded
in 1948 compared with 1882 in
1947. Comparative rates were CIV
en- as 81 per 1000 population for
1948, and 1872 for 1947, including
non-residents in both years.
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