Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-02
To New Low in '48,
Rutland Reports

washington Id SCtI4llS AlCditIllCl ,
according to statistics released by
Health Officer George C. Rutland.
During 1948. the general death
rate in the District was 9.5 deaths
per 1000 population. In 1947, it was
10 per 1000 population, and 10 years
ago, in 1888, it was 1877 per 1000
population.
This means that about $4,000
persons are alive today who would
have died If the death rate of 1888
had prevailed" DR.. Rutland said.
Improvements also were noted in
infant and maternal death rates
during 1913, the report showed.
The infant mortality of 23.5 deaths
per LOCO live births, is the lowest
ever recorded in Washington. The
previous low infant death rate, was
500 in 1947. Infant mortality
among Negroes declined 305 per
cent and among the whites, 200 per
cent. The 1888 infant mortality
rate was recorded at 48.1 deaths per
l,UUU i've DerCnS.
The maternal death rate also de-
clined to a new low for the District.
There were Z deaths per 1000 live
births recorded in 1948 as compared
with the 1947 record of / per 1000
live births. In 1898. the rate was
SIS deaths per 1000 live births.
Number of Births Decline.
The number of births registered
during the year fell SHORT of last
years all-time high. There was an
increase among the colored of
about 900 births. but this was more
than offset by the decrease in the
number of white babies born. There
were 1859 white babies born in
the District in the first 81 weeks of
the year and 9.065 colored. Last
year there were BOOTS white babies
born here and 8.279 color41 babies.
tuberculosis dea t Is continued
downward to rate of 535 deaths
per 100000 population In 1948. This
is the first time the death rate for
tuberculosis has been below 60 per
100000 in the Nations Capital.
PoliomyelitiS was more prevalent
than it had been during the two
years previous with 1875 cases re-
ported within the District since the
beginning of 1948. The rate of
Is per 100000 population was much
lower than rates reported in many
sections OF the country however
the disease this past year was char
acterized by a very low fatality rate.
Only one death occurred in the
cases recorded in Washington prop
er.
An outbreak Of measles, which
began early in January, subsidized
late in the spring. During this time,
3,036 cases were reported, two of
which resulted in death.
District Led VD Drive.
Washington was the first metro
politan area of more than 100000
to coduct a mass chest
X-ray survey. 1t was the first major
city to promote an extensive demon
stration in which radio was used as
a case-finding technique for vener-
cal disease. The first dramatic pre-
sentation of program featuring
facts about gonorrhea over a tele-
vision station was made in Wash
ington's study Of venereal diseases.
These extensive educational cam
paigns have focused the attention
Of the nation on Washington, and
leading publications have t1erafued
acknowledgements of the public
health program here.
During the chest X-ray survey.
503,4l4 persons. in the District and
its enyirons co-operated to have
Xsrayss takens A total offs ,821.had
tuberculosis in varying stages.
washington has just concluded
its most prosperous year in regard
to the health of its citizens" DR..
Rutland said. while we may point
with satisfaction to the accomplish
ments of the District Helth Depart
ment, we must also be the first to
acknowledge the whole-hearted CO.
operation Of services rendered by
the medical profession as we'll as
the numerous United Community
Service agencies and other private
health and welfare organizations in
Washington. Without such assist
ance, the good results of the year
could not have been attained