The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-22
GRIPPE lS EPIDEMIC
ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE NO
LESS THAN 100000 CASES
In NEW YORK
OHIO IS ALSO AFFLICTED

Hundreds of Cases Are RepOrted d
Throughout the Buckeye State
Malady Seems to he Confined to
the Eastern and Southwestern
States-Weather Is just of the
Sort to Aggravate the COmDIaInt.
NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-The epidemic
or grip has not abated and conditions
are such as to favor It's spread. 1t is
estimated there are 100000 cases in
Greater New York. The board Of
health by statements has attempted to
quiet alarm which an earlier report
raised, but it is evidence they regard
the situation as one which calls for ex-
treme vigilance and care.
After specially called meeting Of
the board, participated in by all the
chiefs of bureaus Commissioner John
B. Cosby issued a formal statement,
in which he said:
Influenza or grip is positively con-
tagious and Infectious" Then in con-
siderable detail he showed how disease
was communicated both by the at
moSphere and by personal contact and
the need Of precautionary measures in
the treatment of sufferers.
Today President Murphy, the Law
member of the board, surprised every
one by issuing a statement in which
he said it was a doubtful question
whether grip was contagious or infec-
tlouS. This made the bureau chiefs
who were preparing to cope with the
disease as a contagious and infectious
malady, stop and engage in much
guessing. President Murphy suggested
that the asphalt paVements might be
partly responsible for the grip The
great piles of mud and snow left un-
moved by the street cleaning depart
ment are also blamed for the epidemic.
Following are some Of the most prom
inent persons afflicted with the disease:
James r. Keene, Bishop Mcdonnell,
Rear Admiral Schley, Gen. Benjamin
F. Tracy, John E. Searles, Russell
Sage. Former Lieut. Gov. J. c. Under
wood, Aid. Joseph Oatman, A. Barton
Hepburn, George w. Lederer, Oscar
GiTard
COLUMBUS, o., Dec. 21.-An epidem-
ic of grip has struck Columbus, and it
is est mated that there are several thou
sand cases. Local physicians all report
the malady prevalent in their prac-
tice, though not in as severe a form
as the epidemic Of 1891 Public insti-
tutions are severely afflicted.
CINCINNATI, O., Dec. 21. - The
grip, which seems so prevalent in
some Ohio cities north of here has
made it's appearance IN Cincinnati, in
a mild form, and in a comparatively
limited extent. Adults are rarely at
tackled. The disease shows a prefer
ence for small children. 1t is not at
tended by the usual sore throat, and
the fever is so slight as to be barely
noticeable. 1t yields readily to simple
treatment.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Dec 21.-It is
estimated at the health department
that there are 10000 cases of grip in
this city. The ravages of the disease
have been so widespread that in many
cases business has been seriously i'm
peded. The public schools especially
have suffered, many of the teachers
having been obliged to abandon their
duties on account of sickness. The
state of the weather, which has been
wet and foggy for ten days past, is
given as the cause of the spread of the
disease by physicians. Grip this year
has not been so fatal, however, as it
was during the famous epidemic Of
seven years ago.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, Dec. 21.-There are
several distinct cases of the grip in the
! hospitals, and about 100 cases in East
| st. Louis. The number of reported sus-
poets is daily increasing. So general
| have the cases become that the physi-
clans of the city agree that an epidemic
| of grip is at hand. No deaths have
been reported so far, and the disease
! exists in comparatively mild form
! The physicians believe that the return
! Of the dry cold weather would elm
| mate the annoying malady.