Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-08
A SEASON OF COLDS.
Recent Changeable Weather Respon-
sible for Much Sickness, but
PNEUMONIA is NOT EPIDEMIC.
Many Pittsburgers Fitting to Florida and
other Sunny Places.
THE VITAL STATISTICS FOR A YEAR.

city last year due directly to pneumonia
than there were in 1889. This the physicians
ascribe to ''the sudden changes OF weather.
There were in 1890 very few worse samples
of rapid changes made by the weather than
those of the past week. March winds are
searching out their victims, and the impress
sion prevails that there is something ap-
preaching an epidemic of pneumonia and
affections OF the throat and chest putting in
an appearance. Investigation proves that
it is not nearly so bad as it might be, though
severe colds are almost universal.
The vital statistics for last year were yes
terday made public in the annual report of
DR.. j. Guy McCandless Registrar of Vital
Statistics of the Bureau of Health to ChiefJ.
o. Brown of the Department of Public Safety.
DR.. McCandess says in his report that the
| total number of deaths for the year was
1919, equal to death rate of 2O.7 per 1000
| Inhabitants with a census population of
240,0 ,0O0 Deducting 416, resulting from vio-
lence, the death rate would be 1901 There
were 1885 deaths of infants under year,
and 955 between the ages of 1 and years,
making 45 per cent of the mortality. There
were 27S0 cases of infectious diseases re-
ported during the year. with S57 deaths,
equal to 17.0S per cent OF the total mortality.
This is an increase over the preceding year,
but not above the average for the past IL
years. DR.. McCandless continues:
Measles and whoopIng cough are not re-
quired by law to be reported to this Office.
Distribution of Infectious Diseases.
The cases of infectious diseases were located
as follows: Old City, 546 and l57 deaths; East
End, l,53S cases and 359 deaths; Southside, 7Ol
cases and 25S deaths; hospitals, II. There were
SO cases of typhoid fever treated in hospitals,
which came from outside the city. Of those
diseases required by law to be reported the
statement is as follows: Smallpox, ], no deaths;
dlphtheria, $50 reported, 265 deaths: scarlet
fever, 299 reported, 80 deaths; typhoid fever.
1901 reported, Sl5 deaths, and cerebro spinal
fever, % reported, % deaths. Measles caused
l57 deaths, amounting almost to an epidemic
on the Southslde during June and July. This
is much above the average for the last II years.
and was one cause Of the increase to our
average death rate. There occurred in the Old
City 30 deaths; East End rs deaths; Southside.
SO from this cause. 1t prevailed most exten-
sively in the Twenty-slxth. Twenty-seventh
and Twenty-eigth wards. Whoopng cough
was the cause of IL deaths. Diphtherla caused
266 deaths.
There were reported $50 cases of diphtheria,
located as follows: Old City, 24O; East End. Az.
and Southside, 1853. The disease prevailed most
extensively IN the East End, caused by the
lack of proper sewerage and drainage.
There were 299 cases of scarlet fever re-
ported, of which 80 died. being IL per cent.
There were l,5Gl cases of typhoid fever with
mortality OF 3l5. The death rate was largest in
the East End, being 20 per cent of the total
During the year there was lower death rate
from acute infectious diseases, except 1855
than had been for Ia years. Pneumonia caused
556 deaths as against AT during the previous
year. The high rate was caused by the sudden
change in the weather. Bronchitis caused l53
deaths, diarrheal diseases caused 81 deaths, ,
dysentery. IL choleraie diarrhea, 252 and ali
the diseases OF the digestive system gives US S25
cases as against Cos during the preceding year.
The number of living infants porn during the |
year was 6,SlO equal to 2G.29 per thousand in |
nabitants, and i decrease of u over the pre-
ceding year. The males exceeded the females |
by go. The highest birth rate was on the |
southside The largest number of births was
in the East End. which was 2, 764 The number
of dead born infants was 3S5. There were 2 AL |
marriages reported, an increase of l74 over the |
previous year.
A Season of Severe Colds.
Any ordinarily observant person travel |
ing on city or suburban conveyanees, max |
ing his pleasure at a theater or his prayer in |
church, would be inclined to asseverate that |
Pittsburg's citizens were the victims of |
colds, of all degrees and types, if any evil
dence can be adduced from outward appear
anees and aural corroboration. Every second
man and third woman-for the fair sex seem
not to be afflicted with transitory ills in the
same degree that their husbands and |
brothers are - encountered of late
appear to suffer from too rapid
changes in weather, for control of
which Boreas and Zephyr continue In con-
slant dispute-and with equal success-bui
appearances in this case go for naught, for
the medical men OF the city are on record as
saying that things are not as bad as they
seem. The atmospheric conditions have
been bad enough, anyhow, and there
has been quite a flight of Pittsburgers
to the genial warmth of Southern
haunts and hospitality. Physicians in diff
ferent parts of the city were yesterday
called upon for information regarding the
amount OF sickness prevailing. DR.. w. II.
Winslow, of Penn avenue, well-known
specialist in diseases of the throat and chest,
did not find any unusual degree of sickness
of serious character. There certainly was
no epidemic of pneumonia.
Not a Season for the Grip.
'This season is without that mysterious
condition of the atmosphere" said the doc
tor, '"that produced the disease known as
the grip which last year was so prevalent
both here and abroad. But there is at
present a condition of atmosphere which is
accountable for something closely resemb.
ling that disease. 1t principally affects the
trachea and mucous membrane. making it
difficult to eliminate the mucous and caus-
ing uneasiness in the bronchial passages.
There is more or less laryngitis and bron.
chitis prevailing, and in some cases the
attack has descended on the lungs, in spite
OF the best treatment, resulting in pneumonia.
There is, however, nothing in the shape of
an epidemic, either OF pneumonia or any
thing else. My wife has been down with
pueunonia for considerable time, and I
found eggnogg. administered at II o'clock
at night, to have afforded her very consider
able relief 1 have prescribed eggnogg IN
other cases for bronchial attacks and throat
affections, and find it an efficacious
remedy"
DIR. Winslow said he was leaving last
night with his wife for Florida. Many
people were going there. but he did not
think in greater numbers than last year.
DR.. John S. Dickson, Of Penn avenue,
does not think there is a greater amount OF
sickness at this season than usual, and no
epidemic.
Charged Up to the Gas Company. =.
s'The Philadelphia Gas Company he
said Yesterday afternoon, sis accountable
for a great deal of the colds and chest affec-
tiops that prevail. People don't know lust
when to leave the company. 1t is
very profuse in promises, but very
The officials have been promising
the people right along that they shall have
an ample supply of gas, and in daily expec-
tation of fulfilment of the promise the
unfortunate consumers are delaying making