Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-31
FATAL TO THE AGED.
Grip Lays Rough Hold On Those Who
Have Passed the Prime of Life.
WAITING FOR WARNER WEATHER,
Moving Seriously lnterfsred With by the
RavagsS of the Epidemic,
PROMINENT PEOPLE ON TIE SICK LIST

/
The grip siege of the past two weeks,
when the air has been full of disease and
the emblems of death draped the doors at
every turn, has developed many new phases
of the fashionable malady hitherto un-
noticed. Weary physicians, who have been
toiling night and day in their efforts to re-
lieve congested lungs and aching limbs.
with scarcely time to look about them, are
now devoting some of their energy to a
study of the complaint as revealed in its
worst stages within a few days back. To
those who have watched the onslaughts
of the epidemic one fact has made itself
more noticeable than anv other-that peo-
pie who have passed life's prime and have
weathered 30 springs and more of infection
are the ones with whom the grip plays most
serious havoc, and who in few cases have been
| able to withstand a serious attack.
Most Fatal to Those Growing Old.
While thousands of people in all stages of
life have been sufferers to a greater or less de-
| gree. those who have stepped over the half
century mark and are losing the vigor and re-
| sistance of young life have been the ones most
| often who had to give under to the attack.
| The records at the Office of the Bureau Of
| Health show that of the 241 persons who died
in Pittsburg during the past two weeks "a were
| between 80 and 90 years of age. These COM
p prise the larger portion of the grips victims
under 10 years of age. resulting from complaints
peculiar to childhood.
| This exceptionally large death rate among
| old people is explained by the fact that bron-
| chitis. pneumonia, congestion of the lungs and
| other affections of the respiratory organs into
which grip often develops have always proved
fatal to enfeebled constitutions.
DIR. n. Meyer, city police surgeon, said yes
terday: ~ have found in attending cases of the
| grip that people of advanced age and deblitated
| by alcohol or other causes most frequently give
| way to it have never seen anything like the
siege We have had during the past two weeks,
and it can be attributed only to the state OF the
weather.
No One Safe From an Attack.
"When the air is damp and full of disease
nobody is safe from an attack of the grip.
When a man is in perfect health he cannot be
affected by any disease, but in such weather
nobody can be in perfect health.
"Grip in itself is not fatal. Its complication
with other maladies. however, is proving very
dangerous. A great many serious cases have
resulted from people worrying too much over
their fears of the disease. In other cases they
have not thought enough about it. and have
exposed themselves unnecessarily. A change
in the general condition Of the atmosphere
which can only be Dr0ugnt aO0ut Oy g00Q,
long warm SPELL will put a stop to the grip"
The warm sunshine of the past two days has
brought out many of Pittsburgh people, penned
up IN thelr homes s Ior q long time previous. s,ns
day, but they did not resemble the glad people
who usually appear to take advantage of the
first days of spring; New spring suits and
hats, and the latest designs in neckwear could
not conceal the disagreeable effects of aching
heads, stiffened joints, weak eyes and feeling
of lassitude.
Inconvenience to Those Who Are Moving.
great many people about town are just
now very seriously regretting that the proposed
change of moving day from April to month
later, over which there was so much discussion
year ago, was not made. The grip promises
to seriously interfere with the transfer of
household goods this year. Many families had
their goods mostly slowed away in boxes or
carefully wrapped ready for moving TO q new
place Of abode, when one, or perhaps all, Of
them, were stricken down with the grip, max
ing moving an impossibility In such
there is nothing to do but countermand the order
for the big wagons and make the best OF il on
uncarpeted floors, unpack the dishes and i'm
provise such household conveniences as can be
collected amid the general disorder Of such
time. Numerous serious cases of the grip
have been brought on by the exposure and
hard work Of moving and living in prac-
ticslly unfurnished house is not gem
health or speedy recovery from illness.
Many families who have been
caught in this uncomfortable time by the grip
will not get settled in their new homes for q
long time.
Getting in Good Shape Again.
Assistant Postmaster Edwards said yester-
day that the postofice work, which was so
seriously lnterfered with by the grip. is now in
good shape again. Last week those who could
work were doing double duty, and in some de-
partments business was considerably delayed.
In most cases. however, substitutes have been
secured, and several of those who were sick
have recovered. Yesterday there were only
seven employees off in the various departments.
As an evidence of the prevalence of the grip.
Rev. H. Q. Applegarth, of the Fourth Avenue
Baptist Church, announced before his sermon
Sunday morning that he had been called to
visit 81 members OF his congregation who were
lying very i'll, while there were Is more whom
he was unable to 60 to see. These only included
persons whose condition was considered seri-
Gus, and did not take in the cases of others who
bad been suffering from the malady in a less
degree.
In spite of the fact that many funerals were
held Sunday the number rwas almost as large
yesterday. At various times during the day
Penn avenue was almost blocked with hearses
and carriages carrying the dead and their
mourpers to the cemeteries. Undertakers In
both cities are having more work than they can
handle, and in several instances common coy-
cred wagons have been used instead of hearses.
ADecided Check on Business.
The disease has put very decided check on
uuslucssi buouku ucpdItueubs aIt EuuuluS
as usual. Master and man are alike the prey
of lassltude and almost every family has a
member sick, SO there is not the demand hat
ordinarily exists. Two deaths are reported
from the farming population of Robinson town.
ship and Mr.. iand Mrs. Tipgur, of Moon town.
snip. Just over the line, are both prostrated.
They are well advanced in years.
A physician remarked yesterday that the
main thing for people to do after taking the
medicines tending to reliee the grip was to
take the best possible care of themselves. keep
out of draughts and in temperature main
tanned as near 500 possible. If one will take
the trouble to investigate the number of cases
where death has resulted after the patients
thought themselves on the high way to recov-
cry and had resumed business, he will see that
the doctors advice is golden.
No Grip in the South.
Ex-County Commissioner George Y. Mckee
is home after a fve-weeks' sojourn in the
South. Though n nS estimation the appear
ance of the South was God-forsaken, the in
habitants were not shIvering with the grip.
SAD DEATH SCENES.