Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-17
FEWER CASES; MORE DEATHS.
The Grip Does Not Seem to be Increas-
ing, but the Mortality from it Does.

DIR. Pool, registrar Of the health Office said
to STAR reporter this afternoon that he
| thought there was decided decrease in the
number of new cases of grip, although he had
| no official information on the subject
Chief Clerk McGinn said that he knew
nothing about the number of cases of the dis
ease, but he did know that the deaths result
| ing from the grip were not much on the de-
| crease.
The average number Of deaths reported to
the health office daily during the past few years
has been about fourteen, but during the preva-
lence of the present epidemic the average has
been more than doubled almost every day.
THE DEATH LIST.
During the twenty-four hours ending at 2
o'clock this afternoon twenty-five deaths were
reported to the health Office. The only one
| among them reported from the grip was that
OF Walker Blaine. There were eleven deaths
| from pneumonia reported, two from consump-
ton. one from diphtherIa and three from con-
gestion of the lungs. Most of these deaths it
is thought resulted from the grip.
( THE CITY POST OFFICE FORCE STILL DIsABLED
The grip steadily refuses to let up OH the
clerks Of the city post Office and there is no
particular improvement to be noted in the
affairs there today. There are % of the clerks
now off on sick leave: Three in the railway
| division, in the registry division and clerks
| and carriers in the city delivery.
| CAUSE OF WALKER BLAINE's DEATH.
| The burial permit for the late Walker Blaine
was issued from the health Office this morning.
The cause Of death stated in the certificate was
as follows: First, (primary) la grippe-bron-
| chial catarrh pneumonia. Duration. five days.
| Second, (immediate) pulmonary adema. Du-
ration OF last sickness, few hours"
APHYsIcIASs OPINION.
There is no way Of definitely ascertaining
the exact extent of the grip because the ply
sicians, except those who visit the poor, are not
required to make a report Of any sort, whether
there is an epidemic prevailing or not.
| A physician, speaking to a STAR reporter this
afte rnoon, said he thought the people of Wash
| ington were entitled to better treatment by
the authorities than they now receive He
! thought that in case of any sort OF epidemic
the physicians should be made to make reports
} to the health department OF the cases
they called in to, of the prevailing
If such was required of them, the doctor said
the health officer would be prepared at all
times to give definite information and take
| such action might be deemed necessary to
check the spread of the disease.
While in the present epidemic there may be
no particular means OF checking the disease,
! yet at some future time an emergency may
arise and then il will be too late to act. Some
action should be taken without delay. Wash
ington has the reputation OF being healthy
! city and there is no reason why the proper
steps should not be taken to keep up that
reputation.
Mr. W. II. Michael, clerk to the Senate COM
mittee on printing is a victim of the grip and
/ as he is confined to his rooms at the Hiiiman
house there will probably be a slight delay in
the appearance Of the second edition Of the
congressional directory.
MIR. George NJ. J. Dorsey, the well-known OPP
orator at the bureau OF engraving and printing,
who has been seriously i'll with pneumonia, is
eonvalescent.
Major Moore continues to improve. There
are but fifty-three on the sick list Of the police
force today.
Assistant Secretary Batcheller has not been al
his desk in the Treasury department for couple
Of days, being sufferer from severe attack OF
the grip. His lungs are quite badly affected
and he Is shaken by a severe cough. He was
able, however, to sign his mail at his house to-
day.
Sanitary Officer Frank has q second attack OF
the grip, but though quite sick Is still on duty.
Lawyer Daniel Z. Cahiii has Just recoverSrI
from an attack of the grip.
Mrs. Hattie Z. Merrill, who has been i'll with
the grip since New Year, has been removed to
the Homeopathic hospital