Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-24
DOZENS OF DEATHS
Due 10 the Grip, According to Pitts
burg Undertakers' Reports.
FEW DOUBT THAT IT'S EPIDEMIC
Better Weather the Only Hope of an Abate-
ment of the Disease.
SOME OF THE REMEDIES In DAILY USE

it. This view of the physicians is supported
by the fact that people living in great alti
tudes are not complaining of "cod in dt
ed" 1t is generally called the grip, and il
epidemic, but only fatal in patients who
are weakened either by disease or age
Though not confined to the first born, jt i:
nearly as prevalent in this city and suburbs
Postmaster Mexican, of this city, was in
a bad way yesterday at the Hotel Duquesne,
but last evening his condition was reported
considerably improved. Controller Brown
and Chief of Public Works Armstrong, Of
Allegheny, were both confined to theil
homes.
Five of the Sanitary inspectors of this
city were unable to inspect. outside Of theil
own cases, but from the general tenor of re-
ports there is ground to hope that some oi
us may be happy yet, much depending on
the ability of the patient to resist disease OF
the respiratory apparatus, old and feeble
persons attacked being subject to much
danger. Many people are resorting to hot
lemonade with dash of whisky therein,
and when accompanied by preparatory
liver stimulator, followed by quinIne, the
treatment seems to be quite eficacious.
Reports From the Undertakers.
Reports received from undertakers conflicted
somewhat. At Samson's but few cases were
reported. gentleman named Smith admitted
that the mortality was considerable, but he did
not ascribe it to influenza, and seemed to re-
gard the situation as normal.
j. ]. Giltenan did not appear to regard the
situation as much out of the ordinary.
At ]. ]. Flannery's rooms man who was
trimming the last habitation of some departed
soul said he would leave that matter to the
doctors, but Joe FlannerS coming In
about that time, was found moro
communicative. He said his brother James
and he, himself. wasn't far from the same
state. He had been kept out of bed SO far be-
cause the business demanded his presence.
Joseph Flannery said they had buried from
eight to dozen people who had succumbed to
the disease.
l. Beinhauer & Son reported well on to a
dozen cases caused by the influenza. They
said the aged were the principal victims, and
pointed to three coffins in the room thar con-
tanned the bodies of men ranging from 61 to %
years of ace, one of whom had shown himself
IN the morning and was corpse on the even
ing of the same day.
W. II. Deyore has his hands full OF victims
of the disease and has it himself, but attributes
his trouble to exposure the night that burglars
entered his house in Williamsburg, when he
emptied his revolver, in his bare feet and night
clothes at the moonlight mechanics. If he
was certain that his visitors were as much in
convenenced as he, Mr.. Deyore would be com.
paratively happy.
George A Smith said the influenza had given
his business considerable impetus, but he
ascrbed it largely 10 ordinary colds, which
people mad neglected to treat in the lncipient
stage.
Puts Many of the People to Bed.
]. Curry, of Coraopolis, said the disease had
put many of the people of that borough to bed.
among others Squire Ferree and DR.. Ramsey,
but SO far no fatal cases had been reported.
DIR. ShIrls B. Jackson said the present epi-
demic is not identical with that of last year,
but IL is fatal to the enfeebled,and the aged.
DR.. w. I. English, who was skeptical last
year as to the disease being the true break
bone fever contagious catarrh, etc., is of the
SAME opinion still. He appears to consider it
a disease incident to the season, and one that
will disappear with a change of weather.
DR.. ]. Z. Dunn said the disease was epidemic,
and in week or two most people would re-
ceive visit from it, but he did not think it a
serious matter aside from its inconvenience.
On the whole, DR.. Dunn seemed to regard the
visitation as a comparatively trivial affair.
DR.. James Dickson, of Allegheny. regarded
the grip as the ordinary influenza, but said it
was epidemic, so. In the language of Scrip
tural writer, Let not him boast that putteth
on his armor, but HIM that taketh it off If
you do not wish to be particularly disagreeabie
to your family make arrangements to get into
a warm cave with plenty Of liver physic, qui-
nine, hot water and whisky, and hot bricks for
your feet, and grin and bear 1t.
c. Moyran exposed himself at the time of
the great fire when the Germania Bank was
burned. He got the grip. his doctor got it and
his neighbors, and he finally cured himself
when he could get no help.
Whole Families Laid Up With 1t.
Dr. Leyda, also of Allegheny, says the influ-
enza epidemic, or grip, or whatever it may be
called by different people, to suit the taste, is
citizens of Allegheny by wholesale.
He has scarcely a single case in any house to
treat-they run in half-dozens or more, accord
ing to the size of the family; everybody has il,
from grandpa to the little tot just arrived in
town.
There are large number of cases of grip on
the Southside. So far there have been very few
deaths, although in one or two cases there has
been a complication of diseases arising from it
that has carried off the patient with awful sud-
denness. Many remedies are prescribed for it
with greater or less success The favorite
among the mill men is large drink of whisky,
sometimes supplemented by beer, and called
"a heater and a cooler" In a number of cases
this treatment is said to have cured the patient
otf-hand.
The disease is thoroughly epidemic on the
Southside, and although none of the mills or
business places have been compelled to shut
down they have been seriously crippled by the
number of cases among the employees. The
schools, too, have suffered in their attendance
very severely.
There are two cases in the Southside H os-
pital. Last week there were five, but three
have been discharged leaving the other two,
who have also nearly recovered.
DR.. Kerr. of Twenty-second street, had seven
new cases of grip on Sunday. He thinks the
disease is caused by the humid state of the at
mosphere. When the weather becomes SET
tied he believes the disease will disappear. He
Ns<N,,n Il la Nf NNlI ,fT
st. Clair township. which ended fatally. He
was called to see her one day last week. She
was taken sick in the morning and died in the
evening" She died of a complication of dis
eases, however, and can hardly be said to be
grip victim.
More to BE Dreaded Than Typhoid.
Dr. Mundorff says the grip is more to be
dreaded than typhoid fever. 1t is thoroughly
a germ disease. Frome timo immemorial there
have been sufferings from grip. Formerly it
was known as influenza, which word comes
from the Italian equivalcn: of influence" 1t
is possible for person to have the grip many
times, although being afflicted with it once
d oes not make the patient more susceptible.
The grip travels in cycles. like the Asiatic
cholera. 1t is periodical and all temperate or
cold countries are liable to be visited by it.
DIR. J. NJ. Duff has inst recovered from
severe attack of grip. He prescribed for sew
eral cases yesterday. He believes in the germ
theory OF grip.
Among the prominent Southsiders down with
the grip are Alderman David McGarey and
DR.. Z. A. Wood.
Large doses of anti-pyrine are daily sold by,
druggists, despite the terrible effect that dru 2
is said to exercise on the heart. A travelling
agent of New I ork drug house said he had
just taken orders for J, 500 ounces of phenace-
tine, drug of which he found only 400 ounces
sufficient here last year. 1t acts similarly to
anti-pyrine, and is not considered as harmful
As phenacetine is given IN very small doses, the
gentleman referred to thinks there must be
many thousand cases of grip in Pittsburg and
vicinity.
Sneers at the Troubles of Others.
New Workers. as a general thing, don't take
much stock in an epidemic of influenza or grip,
4l,o