New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-11
THE PASSING of THE GRIP.

SLOWLY WEARING ITSELF OUT IN THIS CITY.
The nth epidemic Of influenza that New-Yorkers
have had to endure since the disease caused wide
spread suffering In Europe under the name OF ia
grippe in the fall OF 1889. is now believed to be
decreasing in this city. II has caused less sickness
and fewer deaths than were caused by either OF
the four former epidemics Physicians OF the Health
Department say that in all probability the next cpl
demic OF influenza Will be stu lighter. Judging by
the history Of the disease. they think that there
will be another temperance Of influenza In the
spring OF 1895.
Observation of the five epidemics OF influenza In
New-York has made clear a certain variation In
the time when they at their worst. One cpl
Gemic reaches it's highest point in January and the
next epidemic is at It's worst in April OF the fol-
lowing year. The third epidemic reaches its height
In the following January and so on. II Is also APP
parent that the death rate decreases with each cpl
demic.
When the influenza began 10 cause sickness In
New-York in the last week OF December, 1852 the
physicians OF the Health Department were loath to
believe that the disease which had started in Rus
STA and had spread Europe within n few weeks
had really crossed the ocean DR.. Joseph d. Bry-
ant then one of the Health Commissioners. for a
persisted i'm contradIctlng the reports that the
grip" as the disease called at first. could be
In the city AS the disease continued to spread.
however there soon no room for doubt as 10
its character. No deaths from influenza occurred
until the first week In 1870. but they increased In
number rapidly for for hight The epidemic was
short and sharp, and reachsi rs highest point In
the week ending January IL. ring which there
were ninety three deaths from ienza in the city.
Suffering from the disease al lsened many
deaths from other complaints. and deaths from
all during the week numbered LEA IL has
been noticed in the subsequent epldemics that the
general death rate is increased largely by the erect
OF influenza other diseases The first epidemic
OF influenza in the city practically ran its course IN
seven weeks. Deaths from this cause continued Tor
two or thee weeks later. and about three hundred
persons dal from the disease In the first epidemic.
The second epidemic became noticeable in the last
week of March. 1891. and at its worst in the
third week ii April. 1t marked by more wide
spread suffering ard a higher death rate and 1t ex'
tended over n period OF dozen weeks. About wv
persons died Of influenza In the city during the sec
ond epidemic. During the week ending April IT, ls9l
there were lSf deaths from ali causes and ]"
deaths from influenza In New-York.
In the following December began the third cpl
demic of the disease, which was at its height IN
the week ending January 1892. during which there
were eightynne deaths from the disease ITSELF ana
972 deaths from all causes The third epidemic ex.
tended over period OF six months and did not DIS
appear until after the middle OF June. 1892. yet me
influenza during that time caused only about W
deaths.
Last years epidemic began early in March. ana
was at It's worst In the week ending April To- Hss
during which week there 1901 deaths from "a
causes and thirty-one deaths from influenza IN us
city The total number OF deaths from innuenss W
New-York last year did not exceed 2c a.. ,,,x
Late last fall the disease appeared IN inc w
again. and the record OF deaths for Twelve wes ~
shows that the OF the epidemic was III ,his
middle OF January last. when the deaths iro'" '
cause numbered nineteen In one week ,u the
The present epidemic may not disappear 1n ersssS
warm weather arrives. but II Is expected 70
surely. II slowly The record OF the nys Endemic
indicates that there will be another milo , epu, ro
OF influenza which will begin about year xte,nrtr~
and show signs OF abatement after the I o..oST"
April After time the influenza IS expe eli, noS
wear Itself out In this city ,,, w,' NV
be sorry to hear that 1t has gone not 10 RETURN