Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-23
FILLS THE HOSPITALS
More Influenza Patients Than Can
Possibly Be Accommodated.
FORTY VICTIMS In THE WEST PENN
And at the Homeopathic Many We're
Turned Away Yesterday.
GRIP ASSUMING A MOST VIRULENT TYPE

The in nfuenza has assumed virulent
type in Pittsburg, and yesterday all the
hospitals had more calls for room than they
could possibly accommodate. Patient after
patient was refused admittance to one or the
other of these institutions, and never was
the inadequacy of the local hospital room
more aptly demonstrated. To question as
to whether patient could be accommo-
dated az the Homeopathic Hospital the
gentleman in charge last evening said:
ut would be impossible to take pa
tient of any kind. The hospital is over
crowded, and there is not room, nor even
bunk to let man rest on. can not re-
member OF the institution ever having such
run of pneumonia and influenza patients
We have had large lumber of applica
tions for room, but were compelled to re-
fuse them all. The hospital is simply
crowded beyond its capacity, and the ma
jority OF the patients are suffering from some
affection of the throat and lungs.
The same state of affairs was found at the
other hospitals, the West Penn and Mercy.
Forty Patients at the West Penn.
n L
said last night that they had only taken in
about half dozen of influenza patients
yesterday, but there are now over 40 patients
at that institution suffering from the grip in
a very bad form. At the Mercy Hospital
the exact number of patients could not be
ascertained, but the number is quite large,
and was swelled quite considerably by those
admitted yesterday.
The continued ill-conditloned weather has
surprised the signal service officials, who
by this time should be beyond surprises.
They confidently expected the pneumonia
atmosphere to give way to dry, cool air
that would prove benefit to the poor sui
fering huma ity that is afflicted with la
grippe. But it didn't, and instead Of there
being less influenza yesterday, there was
considerably more of it, and those who had
it found it becoming more severe.
In every section of the city are to be found
any number of cases, and the physicians
are really becoming alarmed at the rapid
increase in the number of sufferers. At
first very little was thought of 1t, but after
it began increasing in the number of its VIC
tins and the severity of the type all became
more or less concerned.
ANumber of Deaths From Grip.
There have been quite number of
deaths from influenza, and it is well known
that was the cause of the death of Alder
man Cassidy. A great many people who are
suffering from the grip don't know it, be-
cause the doctors do not tell them, but rath-
er call it something else. This is because
they say it is easier to cure disease if the
patient doesn't think it amounts to much.
Several physicians were asked last night
about the prevalence of the disease, and all
decided it had been increasing very rapidly
within the past few days.
Among those who are victims of that
aggravating trouble is Postmaster Mexican,
who is confined to his room at the Hotel
Duquesne. Yesterday his condition grew
more serious than before, and his best
friends were denied admission to his rooms.
While he may not be dangerously i'll, it is
at least serious enough to put his physicians
on their guard to give him the most watch
full attention. Manager Fred Goodwin, of
the Pittsburg Natatorium, is also very sick
with the same complaint, and it will be at
least several days before he will be able to
be out again. Many other well known
people will not be found at their usual
places of business to-day, which will be
charged up to the grip.