Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-18
DOING UP DISEASE.
Fine Weather Serves TO Diminish the
Virulence of the Grip.
YESTERDAYS HEAT PHENOMENAL.
A Warning Note Against Too Soon Dis.
carding Heavy Clothing.
GREAT FALLING OFF In MORTALITY

With the approach of warmer weather,
the grip seems to be on the wane, for there
is noticeable decrease in the death rate.
and physicians generally agree that the dis
ease is dying out The hospitals are still
full of patients, chiefly owing to the grip
and its consequences, but the doctors in
charge say that the weather of yesterday
will rapidly exert beneficial influence.
Yesterday was phenemenally warm, the
Signal Service instruments registering 80
in the shade at about 4:30 o'clock. The
hottest day in April last year was
$50, and In 1889 . $50 was recorded as
the maximum, but these occasions were
later in the month. The temperature
early yesterday morning was 43o; at 8
o'clock, 48o; II o'clock. 700; noon, 74o;
o'clock, 79o; 5 o'clock, 800, and at clock,
78o. There are no indications that this
temperature will continue, and physician
utters warning note against too soon dis
carding warm clothing.
More Patients Than Ever Before.
The West Penn Hospital has full quota
of inmates, due, as Superintendent Cowen
remarked, to the grip and the season. The
hospital has more patients at this time than
it ever had before, but the fine weather will
serve to materially reduce the number.
A marked improvement is noticeable in
the general health of the city. The figures
at the Bureau of Health show for the six
days of the present week only 143 deaths
were reported, against pa for the previous
week. The total for the month of April up
to date has been 514. Of the deaths this
week 40 have been caused by pneumonia, 9
from grip and from cerebro-spinal menin-
gifts. Up to o'clock yesterday evening Is
deaths had been reported at the Bureau Of
Health, 8 of which were from cerebro-spinal
meningitis and 9 from pneumonia.
Last week there were pa deaths, making
the annual death rate per 1000, 51.36. Of
these 101 deaths were from diseases of the
respiratory organs. Grip caused IL, pneu-
monia, 81, and bronchitis, 20.
Distribution of the Deaths Reported.
Of the deaths reported the last week, 70
occurred in the Old City, SO in the East
End, 56 on the Southside and 10 at the insti-
tutions. Grip caused 18 of the deaths, pneu-
mona, 81; bronchitis, 20; asthma, 8; laryn-
gifts, 2; congestion of lungs, 4; whooping
cough, 4; diphtheria, 8; typhoid fever, 4;
cerebro spinal fever, %; erysipelas. 1; con-
sumption, ,18; tabes mensenteric.2; scrofula,1 1;
rheumatism, 2; cancers, 2; meningitis, 9;
commissions, 6, other diseases of nervous
system, 8; diseases of circulatory system, 9;
diseases OF digestive system, 5; Duerperal
convulsions, 3; premature birth, 9; old age,
4; tumor. Il debility, 2: and violent causes,
10. In relation to age GA were under year,
II between 1 and 2 years. Sc between 2 and
20 years, 81 between 90 and 40 years, 81 be-
tween 40 and so years, 45 between go years
and 80 years and 3 between 80 and 100
years.
"This Is treacherous weather" remarked
a physician yesterday. II don't mesu that
it is unhealthy, for the sunshine will hurt
no one, neither will the rain. for that mat
ter, if people would only dress for it, but
hese early spring days are apt to make US
careless. 1t is safe to lay aside the oyercoat
during the last few hours of the morning,
and up to O'Clock in the afternoon, but
about that time the atmosphere begins to
cool, and then it is that serious colds may
be contracted.
A Warning That Nature Gives.
ST have noticed number of people
sneezing toward evening. 1t is natures
warning that more clothing is needed. The
nights are chilly, and until the earth is
warmed people should not inn
agine that summer is here in full force.