Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-01
lib Deaths Drop
2fPer Cent in
District in 81
Health Report Shows
Rise in Flu, cuncer
And Heart Fatalities

| n, bnhfp utOp III JupefCulohib
deaths in the District during
1857 has been reported by the
Health Department.
The city listed iO4 TB deaths
during the year. compared with
i32 in 1856. Health Director
Daniel L. Finucane said yes
terday. He said this repre-
sents q 81 per cent drop in the
tuberculosis rate.
This was the first significant
downswing In four years.
the health director noted.
Influenza and pneumonia
deaths jumped from 204 In 1855
10 376 last year. however. q
year-end health summary
showed. Heart and cancer
deaths also showed stable in
creases.
Heart fatalities totaled 3.27o,
compared TO 3.i47 In 1856. Can
Ger deaths totaied 1890. COM
pared with i.4l5 the year be-
fore.
Another major fatality cate
CORY was accidents. which
caused as deaths last year
compared with 374 in 1856. q
gain Of 10 per cent. The year
saw q reversal Of q flve-year
downward trend on non-auto-
bile accident fatalities, the de-
partment noted.
Asian Flu . Factor
The upswing in influenza and
pneumonia. much Of it asso-
ciated with the Asian ilu OUT
break last fall. caused the
largest number Of deaths from
these diseases since 1874. The
city during 1887 had 1875
reported inuenza cases. COM
pared with only IS In 1914.
Heart ailments continued TO-
be the top killer. accounting
for 81 per cent Of all 1857 resi-
dent deaths. There were two
deaths from polio, one from
measles and three from infec-
tious hepatitis.
The diminishing threat of
tuberculosis was cited in q con-
sultant's report made public
this week urging sale Of the
Health Departments Glenn
Dale tuberculosis hospital.
/ Births Little Changed
/ The District OF Columbia's res
ident birth rate stayed about
the same In 1857 as 1856.
according TO the Finucane
summary. Last years resident
births totaled 1850. compared
to 1924 In 1856. The death
lrate increased slightly. and the
infant death rate somewhat
more.
Deaths totaled s.T63. COM
pared TO 8.3l6 in 1856. Infant
deaths numbered 645. compared
with 6lk in 1856.
!. DR.. Finucane's summary took
mote Of reorganizational steps
In the department since he sue
Iceeded DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger
as health director early in the
year.
The health chief noted that
the Bureau Of Food and Public
Health Engineering had been
lrevamped with William H, Cary
replacing Walter w. Burdette
as its chief.
\ Among innovations in Health
Department activities during
the year DR.. Finucane noted:
( Creation Of a public school
pSychiatric team.
Opening of the Upshur street
dental clinic.
Matching Funds
! Completion Of arrangements
4 for obtaining Federal matching
funds for medical care for pub
lie assistance recipients.
Introduction Of a health
guidance program on picked
public Fairgrounds.
\ Re-establishment OF a pre-
natal clinic at Gales Health
Center.
1 Inauguration Of a daily treat
ment program for preschool
cerebral palsy victims.
Adoption Of new shellfish
regulations and closing Of the
insanitary municipal shocking
house.
Revival by the Public Health
Advisory Council of public
hearings on Health Depart
ment budget proposals.