The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-29
LA GRIPPE.
Frightful Ravages of the Disease
Among the Aged.
Fatal to Children and Persons of Advanced
Years-Alarming Rate of Death.
The Sickness Waning.

According to information furnished by
the Health Office la grippe, which has been
so prevalent of late, is now on the wane.
There are still, to be sure, many cases Of 1t
in the city, but as the trouble is one from
which patients recover very slowly most OF
these are cases Of cOnvalescents, while the
balance new cases in which the disease is
not Of SO Virulent form.
From the death records the fact is estab-
lished that old age Is most subject to at
tack. There is no disease known to medi-
cal science as yet as la grippe, but to arrive
at an estimate Of the deaths attributable to
what is popularity known as such reference
has to be made to those records in which
the medical attendant has certified the
cause of death to be pneumonia, bronchitis,
congestion of the lungs or influenza.
The reason for this is that la grippe at
tacks the most vulnerable parts of the hui
man frame; but WHILE for the purposes of
this article, reference is only made to the
aforementioned ailments, it is admitted
that persons suffering from affections OF
the heart, kidneys or other organs are la
bic to be attacked in those organs when la
grippe is prevalent, and IN their weakened
state to succumb TO the attack, which they
could otherwise have successfully thrown
off.
THE AGED MORE SUSCEPTIBLE.
In youth it is conceded that the organs
are usually in healthy condition, whereas,
as one grows older, they become weakened
by neglect, excuses or the gradual wasting
process incident to old age. Hence 1t IS that
the death rate for those diseases, aggravated
by the prevailing dlstempeT, Is greater In
the case Of people over 30 years OF age than
under.
The recent alarming increase in the death
rate in this city began In the forepart oil
December. Prior to that the average
weekly deaths numbered 1913 TO 1913 From
those figures they jumped 10 100, 1856, 49,
1853, 1913 and 1885, the latter number being
for the week ending January 9:h, since
when they have declined to 100 aud TO- Tor
the two succeeding weeks.
OF the total Of 800 deaths In December 176
were caused by pneumonia, 80 by Dron-
Chits and IS by congestion OF the lungs, q
total of $50 cases which may be charged to
la grippe. Taking up the losses by the first
named disease, the records show - deaths
resulting from it of children under l year.
- between l and 2 years, between and
years, between 5 and 10 years, between
10 and - years / between 10 and 20 years,
II between 20 and 30 years, 10 between 80
and 40 years, 20 between 40 and 80 years, 81
between 80 and 90 years, 50 between 80 and
20 years, IA between 10 and so years, be-
tween 50 and 80 years, l between 30 and 100
years.
SHOWN BY THE RECORDS.
OF the IS deaths from bronchitis II were
OF infants under year, 4 under years, |
between 10 and 20 years, l between 30 and
40 years, 10 between 40 ami 40 years, 10 be-
tween 80 and 90 years, between % and 70
years, 5 between 70 and so years. between
so and 90 years, l between 90 and 100 years.
OF the Is deaths from congestion OF the
lungs were infants, were between 10
and 90 years, between 40 and 80, 3 between
30 aud 90, 3 between 60 and 20, between 70
and so and l between 80 and 90
The same state of facts is found 10 exist
In the records for the month, during the
second week of which pneumonia was
credited with being the cause OF 81 deaths,
the highest point in a week that II ever
reached in this city.
Doctors claim that the grippe is the most
depressing Of all maladles they are called
upon to prescribe for, and the most difficult
to control. There are hardly any two who
are agreed upon the proper treatment to
pursue.