Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-12
HEALTH OF The STATE.
THE DEATH HARVEST THE HEAVIEST
IN MANY FEARS.
La Grippe Gets in Its Deadly Work in
all Directions-State Board of
Health Report.


The report of Secretary Tyrrell of the
February, contains more interesting matter
| than usual, owing to the unusual mortality
reported from all parts of the State. Ac-
cording to it, mortality reports received
from "a localities, containing an estimated
population of 100, give the num-
Der of decedents as 1885, a percentage of
LIZ per thousand in the month, or an
annual mortality at the rate of 2064, which
is the largest death record we have had for
many years. The greatly increased NOR
tality is not owing to any epidemic of what
is usually called zymotic disease, but is at
tributable to mysterious pandemic infiu-
ence which renders the human system par
ticularly liable to pulmonary disorders, and
particularly fatal to those whose lungs are
already diseased or which take on acute in
fammation. We find, for instance, that
during the month of January consumption
was fatal in 270 instances. This is double
the usual monthly mortality from this dis
ease, and exemplifies the pressing influence
of the epidemic cstarrh which is now pass
ing over the State.
Pneumonia caused no less than 22S
deaths, which is more than double the
usual monthly mortality. In San Francisco
the deaths from this cause were 141, and in
Los Angeles, where the climate is particu-
larly favorable in these cases, the deaths
numbered IS; in Sacramento, with an
equally good climate, the deaths were 7,
and in Santa Barbara 5 deaths occurred
from this cause.
Bronchitis is credited with 81 deaths,
which is also a large increase over former
reports.
Congestion of the lungs caused 81 deaths,
which is likewise in marked excess of the
usual fatality,
Dyphtheria and Group, collectively, caused
40 deaths, which is q slight increase over
the report for December. Of these deaths,
% occurred in San Francisco, in Los An
geles 3 in Nicolaus, and one each in Chico.
Sacramento. Oakland, San Luis Obispo,
Stanislaus, Stockton, and Truckee.
Diarrhpa and dysentery caused only IL
deaths, which is very much lessened IA
tally from these diseases.
Scarlet fever caused deaths in San
Francisco, death in Alameda and l in
Santa Barbara.
Twenty eight deaths are reported from
| typhoid fever, which is decrease of one
half from the mortality reported during
| December.
Cancer is credited with 81 deaths during
the month, and heart disease was fatal in
| 90 instances. Alcoholism was the cause
of 20 deaths.
Reports received from SO different local
fofo ind ofo al
| tied prevalence of zymotic diseases, such
as diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles,
| typhoid and kindred specific afflic-
tons, those mentioned being few
in number and sporadic in char
acter, whereas diseases of the respiratory
organs, dependent in some measure upon
meteorological conditions, exhibit a fire.
quency and fatality which is phenomenal
in this State. That this is owing to the
great pandemic wave of epidemic catarrh
which is now spreading all over the State,
| rendering the populace more susceptible to
inhammatory affections of the lungs, may
be accepted as the probable explanation of
the unusual frequency Of the respiratory
diseases which have prevailed during the
past month Those suffering from con-
sumption were affected in a remarkable
degree, prostration being the most notice
able symptom, and this often SO severe that
death ensued in few days.
Whooping-c cough does not prevail to any
extent; it is mentioned in reports from
Mariposa, Sausalito, Jolon, Igo, Lemoore,
MERGED and San Francisco.
Diphtheria and Group are not prevailing
extensively in Nicolaus Suffer county,
there was quite number of cases, the
origin of which was not reported. In San
Francisco there were only II cases reported
during the month. Sporadic cases were
also reported in several places.
Cholera infantum is no longer reported
as prevailing anywhere. A few cases were
observed in lone and San Francisco, but
practically it is absent from the State.
Diarrhma and dysentery no longer occu
| by prominent place among the prevailing
| diseases. A few cases were noticed in scat
| tered localities.
Typhoid fever is reported as observed in
| few instances. The late extensive rains
seem to have had salutary effect in dimin-
| ishing the frequency of this fever, the re-
ports of its prevalence during the past
month being very meager.
Cerebral fever was noticed in few spo-
radio cases.
influenza, epidemic catarrh, or la grippe,
prevailed extensively throughout the State
| from San Diego to Siskiyou. DR.. Tully, in
|
| characterized by its tendency to attack the
bronchial tubes and the substance of the
| lungs, but so far no deaths have occurred
| from it. In Gonzales, DR.. Hertel reports
! the disease as abating. In Salinas, DR..
| MAY Gydison reports the disease as cpl
| demic DR.. Hayden reports large num-
| Der of cases in Fresno. DIR. Tebbits re-
ports it epidemic in Hollister. DR.. Taggart
also reports it epidemic in Tulare. In Red
ding, DIR. Mitchell says the disease is in a
mild form, few cases requiring medical as
sistance In Marysville, DR.. Powell reports
| influenza, but does not think it the genuine
la grippe. The majority of our CORE
spondents report the disease in mild form
and without fatality. Its mode of attack
| differs in many particulars. 1t may mani
| fest itself by sneezirg, headache, chilliness.
cough, sore throat, earache, vomiting, or
| diarrhna, or constipation, fever. dizziness,
| pain in the limbs or nervous twitching, but
none of these symptoms are constant.
| Heayiness over the eyes, redness of
| the eyeballs, intense pain in the back,
in the limbs and through the mus
| cles, with feeling of construction round
| the throat or chest, are the commonest
| symptoms observed in la grippe. Its chief
| characteristic is however, the extreme de-
bility and prostration which accompanies
| us ADVENT. his, VIII lubeuSe IueIltdl ue-
preston and profuse sweating, protracts
| the convalescence much longer than it
might be supposed and although the fever,
headache and muscular pains last but few
days under proper medical treatment, the
heart depression, muscular weakness and
nervous debility take some time to over
come AS the cause of the disease is at
present unknown, we can advise no means
of prevention, but would recommend that
medical advice be sought in all cases, as
those suffering from previous disease or de-
bilitated from any cause are very apt to
succumb to severe attack of la grippe,
owing to the intense nervous prostration
that ensues and the tendency to heart fail
ure that always accompanies the disease.
Under proper stimulation this may be over
come, but to administer stimulants judi
ciously requires an educated Judgment and
a perfect comprehension of the object to
be attained.
FORGER JONES.
He Makes No Defense and is Held to
| Answer.