New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
PREVALENCE OF PNEUMONIA.
ALMOST AN EPIDEMIC.

ALMOST AN EPIDEMIC.
ALARM CAUSED BY ITS MALIGNANCY AND FATALITY
VIEWS OF PHYSICIANS.
The great prevalence and singular fatality this
winter OF pneumonia have been frequent subject
of comment of late, owing to the fact that many
men OF prominence in business and social circles
have been attacked by it. Within the last few
weeks it has assumed the proportions of epi-
demc and is so talked of by some physicians. ID
has appeared in a peculiarly malignant FORM and
has caused some speculation touching the vexed
question and troublesome mystery of its origi-
mating cause,
Last week ninety-nine persons died in NewYork
from pneumonia and there are apprehensions that
the disease is on the increase 1t is one that has
always created great ravages in this city, and tho
records of the Health Department show that for
period Of forty years there has been increase
the percentage of deaths frcm pneumonia to the
total mortality. Consumption alone of the diseases
to which mature persons particularly liable sur
passes 1t In destructveness and the reports OF Dr.
Nagle the Register of Vital Statistics indicate that
there has been slight decrease in the percentageof
deaths from this cause within the same time.
TALK WITH DIR. LOOMS.
A TRIBUNE reporter on Saturday called on DR..
Loomis inquire abou. his observations on this SUBJ
ject. Being asked whether he had noticed an unu-
sual prevalence and malignty of the disease, DIR.
Loomis replied in the affirmative. we expect"
he added in to the question OF the reporter.
"to have larger number of cases of pneumonia In
the spring than In the winter, but this year II has
come earlier than usual is more prev
alent and seems to be more fata.
The causes are atmospheric; there IS abroad
some unknown influence which predisposes 10 iu-
flammatory diseases that have an infectious ele-
ant NJ tha iaeasa Ia wi
we call acute croupOus pneumonia and the cause Is
not simply an inflammation. There is difference
of opinion concerning the disease. Some
regard 1t as infectious, Others as merely an
inflammation of the lungs think the more intelli-
gent and experienced inclined to look upon 1t as
an infectious disease characterized by local iptam-
mation-tbat is the croupous kind of which am
speaking and which so many people are
now dying of. Last year the epidemic
did not occur until April. This year
we are having as many cases now as we had In
April; yet the worst stage Is generally reached In
April. The mortality has been large. 1t usually
depends on the age of the subjects in young people
it is comparatively rarely fatal while the majority
of subjects who are attacked after they are nifty
years old die"
"Are the causes entirely climaticP
"No. They sometimes have pneumonia IN an cpl
mild Probably the majority that are attacked by
the disease have something behind II, like alc9-
hoIism chronic Brghts disease OF the KID
neys malarIal poisoning etc. Such persons
are predisposed 10 pneumonia, but IL requires an et
cing cause such az cold or exposure TO develop the
disease. MANY persons would be able 10 resist tho
disease if they were not debtlitatei Oy the other
things. Hence everybody who gets 1t dates IL 70
Has tie disease been accompanied by any
marked peculiarIiles r. -
"It has been unusally acute, and there has bee n
beside an epidemic of ryngitls MUD III eharacler
and vithont serious results though some persons
have been seriously ILL There has also been .
good deal of acute rheumatism, wnich Is
another form of nfammatory disease with an IN
fictitious element, for which we find cause IN tho
prevailing atmospheric c0nditlons blt tn,s b. epi.
locality it is rather wide -sprca. and have hearu
of IL from physicians in Massachusetts,, Connections,
the central portion OF New-iorK c'a'e Anu III hi@
delphla." -
DR. Alonzo Clark who is president OF the College
OF Physicians and Surgeons, said that ne haa nos
been impressed with the idea that there was an un-
us,a nrevaIence of pneumonia at the present time;
he suggested however, reference 10 the statistics
of the Health Department TO determine that point
"The mortality is only great. SO far as nave oo-
served said be, among aged persons; and
among them it is always great lou
CON copnt ON vour fingers all over severity years OK
Twenty-Five years ago | wrote paper IN WHICH,
discussed pneumonia particularly with reference
TO the change Of structure caused by it, aud do
NOT think that much change has taken place In our
knowledge of the cause Of the disease since then me
fact j. the cause Is yet unexplained ana surtouHeo
w;th great deal of mystery; il has not yet Oeeh
| t-aceI 10 ANYTHING definite. A Phladelpuls pnyn-
| clan a few years ago undertook TO compare lno
h from pneumonia with the records OF the tner-
| ,nometer aud barometer, and came To tlo
hat ha harOmPtrIcal
have as much TO do with mortality from THIS cause
as the theru ometrcal. 1t is probable tnat tnousn
climatic influences have great deal 70 90 win tno
nreyaence of the disease, great deal also depenis
| on the condition of the person Inc causo
| 10 nsually traced to cold OF exposure
"a when person falls nto the water and Is cnilisds
or another who is accustomed To stay az nome Ia
the city goes into the country and suffers an eh-
nnsure These cases. however. are too lew 10 "a,
PhIs ms 10 form a conclusion as 10 the real
cauSe of the disease. There IS no tme
IN which pneumonia does hot occur, ont !. cause
The greatest mortality at this season OF tue yesI'
reaching lis climax in March and beginning 10 ai'
DR. clark added that the form Of the disease now
| nrayalcnt is frequently called croupous
| pneumOnia" this designation 6e ng sueees'e&I & W
he discovery of line threads OF hbrne III tne puss
tint mi the air cells. " hese threads saiu tne uos
| TOR "are not many certainly not suinelehtiy NJ
mcr ous TO form q membrane" and consequently Nv
| tbouQht the designation unJustihed