The number of deaths of children under 1 year of age and under 5 years of age, for the past ten years, may be seen in the following table: Variations in the number of deaths among children under 1 year of age, and among children under 5 years of age, from 1898 to 1907, inclusive, with the number of births reported in each year during that period.

The following table shows the average daily mortality by months, arranged with reference to race and ages of decedents, during the calendar year 1907:

It will be observed from the foregoing table that the most fatal month for infants from 1 to 5 years of age was during the month of July. For those 5 years of age and upward, February shows the highest daily average, as it does for deaths at all ages.

An examination of the following table shows the relative mortality in 1906 and 1907, arranged with reference to age, for the decedents generally and for those of the white and colored race separately.

In an examination of the distribution of the mortality of this District, with respect to the place of residence, more particularly as to alley residence as distinguished from street residence, and with a view to ascertaining the wholesomeness or otherwise of each location, the comparison will be made between the death rates of the same races. In making this comparison between death rates of different sections or so-called statistical districts, more or less arbitrarily established for the purpose, it has been the rule so far as possible to deduct those deaths which occur in hospitals and other public institutions, whose late residence was outside of the district in which the hospital is situated, from the total deaths of that district, and relegate them where it is possible to the respective district in which was their last residence. As an example, take the district in which St. Elizabeth's is located. The comparative high death rate of this section is due to the large "foreign" element recruited from all sections of the country. It is manifestly therefore unfair to assume insanitary conditions in this section because of the high death rate.

A map accompanying this report shows the death rates per 1,000 inhabitants of each vital statistics district. The populations upon which these rates are based, and the number of deaths of each section, and the death rates, are stated in full in Table 7a and arranged as to

race.

The following statement shows the death rates for the calendar year 1907, for streets and alleys, arranged by certain age periods and by race:

From the preceding statement it will be observed that the alley death rate for all ages taken together is higher for both white and colored races than the street death rate. The alley death rate is also higher for both races combined at each age period. The alley death rates of decedents of the white race, under 1 year of age and from 1 to 4 years of age is markedly higher, but from 5 years and upward the street death rate for the whites is somewhat higher than the alley rate for this race. The colored alley death rate for infants under 1 year of age is higher than the street rate, but from 1 to 4 years of age inclusive and from 5 to 20 years of age inclusive the colored street death rates are higher than the alley rates; and from 21 years and over the colored alley death rate again becomes the higher. For the number of deaths and death rates of the separate vital statistics districts for both races, attention is called to Table 7b of the Appendix. For a statement of the distribution of populations and deaths with respect to the various vital statistics districts, arranged by streets and alleys, and according to age periods and race, attention is called to Table 7c of the Appendix.

Table 7d of the Appendix shows a full list of alleys in which deaths occurred during 1907, arranged according to race and age and according to vital statistics districts.

Comparison of deaths that occurred in the streets and those that occurred in alleys with reference to certain specified diseases, and classified according to race, may be seen in the following statement:

A reference to Table 7e will show the names of the alleys where deaths have occurred and the number of deaths in each from certain contagious and other diseases, arranged according to race and vital statistics districts.

MORTALITY WITH REFERENCE TO THE NATIVITY OF DECEDENTS.

There were 231 less deaths in 1907 among those persons who were natives of the District of Columbia than in 1906. Among residents of the District born in other parts of the United States there was an increase of 93 white and 74 colored deaths over the number recorded the previous year. Among residents of this District born in foreign countries there was an increased mortality over 1906 for both races, but the foreign-born colored population is very small and has little effect when establishing the death rate of this class of our population. Following is a statement showing the relative mortality in 1906 and 1907 with reference to nativity:

Relative mortality, 1906 and 1907, with respect to nativity.

The following table shows the number of people who died in the District of Columbia during 1907, classified according to certain defined groups of diseases, and arranged with reference to age and sex. More detailed information concerning deaths and death rates from

the various diseases comprised in these groups may be had by reference to the tables in the Appendix.

Relative mortality in 1906 and 1907, with respect to certain groups of diseases.

The number of deaths from general diseases diminished from 1,704 in 1906 to 1,682 in 1907. Deaths from diseases of the nervous system show 78 less deaths than in 1906. Deaths from diseases of the genito-urinary system were reduced from 574 in 1906 to 536 in 1907. Deaths incident to the puerperal state were one less than during 1906. Deaths from diseases of the skin and cellular tissue, from diseases of organs of locomotion, from malformations, and from diseases peculiar to infancy all show a reduced number. On the other hand, there was an increased number of deaths from diseases of the circulatory system, diseases of the digestive system, diseases incident to old age, violence, and from certain other diseases embraced in the ill-defined group of diseases.