The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-31
THE DEATH-ROLL.

The total lumber of deaths in San Fran
cisco during the month which ends to-day
will not fall far short of $50, if it does not
exceed that figure. Last December the
deaths numbered $50, which, with one ex-
ception-5S2 in 1SS7-exceeded by about 100
the average for that month since 1876, when
there were recorded COZ. rhe highest re-
corded mortality up to date is 79S. in JAN
uary, 1890. In that year occurred that re-
markable winter during which the air was
cold and constantly saturated with mois-
ture, causing an epidemic of grip, and
giving rise to pneumonia and bronchitis,
and developing every weakness of the
respiratory organs. This year the grip is
with us again, and so is the cold, moist at
mosphere. which is as out of place in Cal
ifornia winter as an Arctic wave in a New
England summer. 1t is 10 the cold and
moisture of The winds which have prevailed
during the month, and which, happily, do
not occur more than once or twice in
decade, that the present high mortality is
principally due.
Health Officer Keeney ascribes the In
creased mortality to grip, which is not
itself fatal disease, the average number of
fatal cases rarely exceeding two in the hun
dred, but which has the effect of enfeebling
the system 50 that it is unable to throw off
attacks of pneumonia, phthisis. scrofula
and bronchitis When grip was prev
aient in New York about two years ago
the mortality from all diseases reached un-
preeedented figures, though few of the
deaths were ascribed directly to the prevail
ing epidemic 1t was noted that the in
creased mortality was chiefly from pull
monary and constitutional diseases, and
physicians reported that the fatal attacks
had generally begun with grip. Nearly
one-half the deaths in this city during this
month OF December were caused by three
diseases - pneumonia, consumption and
bronchitlS-the first named being nearly as
destructive as the two last. Thus il may be
broadly stated that one-quarter of the
extraordinary mortality now prevailing in
San Francisco is due to pneumonia, n dis
ease which is preventable by the exercise of
proper care, as is likewise bronchitis.
DR.. Keeney lays at the door of the cable
dummies the responsibility for much of the
prevailing sickness. 1t is not to be denied
that man who jumps upon dummy after
spending some hours in an overheated office
and exposes himself, when the pores OF his
skin are open, to the searching damp breeze
that blows in from the ocean, is almost sure
TO induce Inflammation of the respiratory
organs 1t is not safe to ride on dummies,
even in the summer during the prevalence
OF the strong westerly winds and in seasons
when the air is as cold and damp as it was
in the winter of 18S9-90 and as it is now
Such exposure is the height of folly. Fresh
air is not bad thing for any one, but, like
many good things, it must be used with dis
erection. There are few greater dangers that
one may expose himself to than damp,
cold wind, especially when the person so
exposed refrains from muscular eXertion.
As to grip, it is undoubtedly epidemic
here as It is in the East ana throughout Ell
rope There is no known cure for it. 1t
will cure itself if the patient goes to bed
maintains the warmth of his body and fights
fehIile symptoms with febrlfuges. DR.
Keeney, like most physicians, objects to the
coal tar preparations, antipyrne, phenace-
tine and the rest He would probably give
quinine in preference. Better results can
perhaps be obtained with quindine, and
under medical advice the action of the tar
medicines is wonderful. The chief danger
is the quickening effect of grip u Oh fatal
diseases which are lurking in the system,
CONSUMPTION, pneumonia and the various
forms of scrofula. Where the sufferer from
grip has the seeds of any of these in his
lty and requires the most careful treatment.