Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-05
A CLEARER RECORD.
NO NEW CASES OF pIPHTnERlA IN
THlRTY-SIx HOURS.
hut Ono Death in the Same Timc~whnt
the Figures show-Only Fifteen Houses
Placarded-fsigid Disinfcction.

A correspondent writes the DISPATCH
that the statement in our issue of yester-
day that 81 there were GAG doaths in the city
during the Eve weeks ending last Saturday
night" is " confusing and exciting" in the
connection in which 1t appears. The cap
ton OF tho article, "Diphtheria Not Epi-
dernic," and its general tone indicated as
was intended, that the figures GAG referred
to the number Of deaths from alEcauses for
tho period mentioned.
Up TO Wednesday night there had been
only ffty-three deaths in the city from
diphtheria, since January /, 1891. as
against seventy-two deaths from the same
disease during the entire year 1890. SO far
the greatest number Of deaths from diph-
liberia IN any. one month of this year has
been twenty in July. Last year the great
est number of deaths from this cause in any
one month was twenty-seven in October.
In 1890 the diphtheria may be said to have
commenced In July and reached the maxi
mum mortality figure in October. In 1891
II commenced in March, and the present
indications arelthat 1t has passed the highest
mortality figure in the twenty deaths in
July. This year the diphtheria deatb-rate
has not exceeded 90 per cent. Of the
number OF cases reported.
WORK OF THE HEALTH OFFICERS.
The health officers were busily engaged
yesterday scattering gas-house lime where
1t Is most needed and will prosecute the
work vigorously until the whole city has
been lined. In houses where diphthera
exists sulphur has been burned AMI chic
rides and other disinfecting washes used.
To-day the Board of Health, accompanied
by Colonel Cutshaw, will!mske tour Of
inspection through the entire city. The OBJ
ject of having Colonel Cutshaw along is
that he may take cognizence Of the places
where the sanitary condition of the city
can be improved by the aid of his depart
ment.
OPENING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
For week past it has been reported that
the opening of the pubic schools of the
city, owing to the prevalence of diphtherla,
would be postponed from the 18th of this
month to the lst of October. There is no
official authority upon which to base any
such report. and as tar as the School
Board are at present advised the necessity
for postponemeDt does not exist. There
will, however, be meeting of the
board at O'Clock this evening to
consider the question of introducing a
business course into the High School and
reports of committees, and the subject
will then be brought up. The board will
consider the situation carefully, aud may
be depended upon to act with all the pru-
dcnce it demands. The best medical and
other advice will be sought in arriving at
O conclusion.
NO NEW CASES AND But ONE DEATH.
For the thirty-six hours ending at mid
night last night no new cases of diphthe-
ria and no deaths from the disease had
been reported at the Office of the Board Of
Health, and the disease was in only fifteen
houses i'll the city. There was but one death,
however. in the city. Eleven OF the houses
are above Foushee street, and the imme-
date neighborhoods of all the houses pla-
carded were being thoroughly disinfected.
One effect of the appearance of the dis
ease III the city has been to make people
more careful of their premises. Not only
are applications pouring into tho Board Of
Health Office for gas-house lime, but many
citizens are purifying their yards aud
houses at their own expense. This applies
as well TO sections where there are no
cases as II does to those where the disease
has occurred.
EIGHT DOCTORS COMPARE NOTES.
Eight of the most prominent physicians
of this city, each having an extensive
practice, compared notes concerning
diphtheria Yesterday, and not q single one
of them had case. Another doctor said
he had been reported 0s having eight
cases, when in reality he did not have one.
This illustrates the exaggerated rumors
now circulating throughout the city.
Coroner Taylor said last night i'll CONVEX
satlon with representative of tho DIS
PATCH that he did not consider the disease
by any means as prevalent as the public
believed He said they only heard of the
deaths from diphtheria. but never thought
of many who recovered. Moreover most
of the deaths had occurred in single fami-
lies and were not widely distributed, but
took place particularly in certain houses
which seemed especially infected.