Evening star., 1953-01-01

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30,435 Births Set
AII-Time High
Heart disease caused 3,448
deaths in the District last year,
to maintain its position of No, /
killer. Cancer and other malig-
nant tumors caused 1.478 deaths.
to remain in second place.
Preliminary estimates of the
number of deaths in the District
for 1852, issued by the Health De-
partment today, attributed 1852
deaths to 10 major causes, adding
up to 1913 per cent of all deaths.
Heart disease caused 37.5 per
cent of all deaths here last year.
and cancer caused 16.1 per cent
OF all deaths. The incidence Of
both diseases showed an increase
over the preceding year.
Accidents. including motor We
hicles, caused 467 deaths last year,
with a rate of 56.6 deaths per
100000. There were II fewer
deaths than in 1851 and placed
accidents fifth in the causes of
death.
Other Major Causes.
The other major causes of death
here last year were: Vascular le-
sions affecting the central nervous
system. third. with 767 deaths or
92.9 per 100000 diseases of early
infancy, fourth, with $50 deaths or
67.7 per 100000; tuberculosis.
sixth, with 261 deaths or 3l.6 per
100000; influenza and pneumonia.
seventh, with 341 deaths or 29.2
per 100000; congenital malforma-
tions, eighth place. with 1873 deaths
Or 1875 per 1000; sclerosis of the
liver, ninth. with $50 deaths or
1872 per 100000, and diabetes,
tenth. with 1913 deaths or 1916 per
100000.
Data now available indicate that
the general death rate for WASH
ington in 1852, uncorrected for
residence. was 11.2 deaths per
1000 population. In 1851, the rate
was II deaths per 1000. There
were 9,241 deaths here in 1852,
against 1890 births here last
year. of which 19.435 were WASH
ingtonians and the remainder from
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
Births Set Record.
The number of births recorded
for 1852 topped last years pre-
vious high, when 30.435 births were
recorded here. The birth rate per
1000 population for 1852 was 38 6,
with rate of 40 for whites and
36 for colored.
Estimates of the number of pre-
ventable diseases reported for the
past year indicate slight increase.
In 1851, there were 1852 reported
cases. while in 1852 there were Just
over 4.300.. Measles, pneumonia.
influenza and polio showed the
largest increase in reported cases.
There were no serious outbreaks
OF food poisoning or diarrhea
among newborn babies during the
year.
An advisory committee to look
into the adequacy of medical care
furnished to the indigen: of the
District was formed last year, and
the committee will endeavor to
reach conclusions and submit them
to the Commissioners early this
year for appropriate action.
More Tests for Cancer.
Since April, when the Commits
sioners issued an order making
cancer reportable disease, more
than 200 physicians have sent in
reports, averaging from / to SO
per physician. One hospital has
reported ITS cases. The interest
OF the public in cancer examina-
tlons remains high, and appoint
mentS for examination are now
being made four months in ad-
vance.
The increase in the number OF
food-vending machines in the Dis
trict has posed a new problem TO
the Bureau of Food Inspection.
and regulations are now being
drafted which will insure the ma
chimes being kept in a sanitary
condition.
Greater demands than ever be-
fore have been made upon the
Bureau of Medical Assistance dur
ing the past year. About $4,000
applications for hospital care were
cleared during the year, and per-
mits were issued to about four
f1fthS of the cases. In addition
$4,000 emergency treatments were
given at Gallinger Hospital. In
addition, the eight contract hos
pitals here have given continuous
care at District expense.
Record Revenue.
Revenue collected from the pa
tients was the largest in the his
tory of the bureau, totaling about
1896, 900. About 5000 calls were
made during the year to homes
OF patients by the five District
assigned to the bureau.
No appreciable change was
noted this past year in the num-
Der of new cases of venereal dis
ease reported in 1851. Despite
all efforts at education, the de-
crease of gonorrhea has lagged far
behind the decrease in syphilis.
The gonhorrea case rate in the
District was approximately 1,450
per 100000 population as COM
pared with 176 per 100000 popu-
lation throughout the Nation.
Committee Begins Mailing