New-York tribune., 1901-01-10
WORST OF GRIP TO COME,
PHYSICIANS UNABLE TO TELL HOW
SERIOUS THE EPIDEMIC MAY Be
STATISTICS OF PREVIOUS
INFIICTTONS

The progress of the present epidemic of grip
IN the city is being watched with much in
.,es+ by sanitary officials. So swift and steady
hos been the increase of the disease since il
,saDpeared in New-York few weeks ago that
+be statisticians of the Health Department are
inclined 10 believe the present epidemic may be
onA of The worst on record. Thus far the ex-
,erts say the prevalence and fatality of the
qrip in the city have not reached the record of
last year 1t is not alone by the actual number
NJ deaths from grip that the severity of the
endemic is measured. Il has come 10 be a well
recognized fact that grip increases the preva-
lance and fatality Of pneumonia and bronchitis
and an epidemic of grip is always ACCOMPANIED
bv an increase in the mortality from all causes
While the grip epidemic of 1900 began about
tbe same time of the year as the present cpl
deuic began its progress was slower. In the
week ending January 3. 1900. there were five
deaths from grip in the Borough Of Man
haitian. but the total number Of deaths from all
csuses in the borough that week was only 651
about the average number. The epidemic con-
tinued to increase in severity slowly, and
reached its turning point in the week ending
March 10 In that week there We're thirty-fve
deaths from grip and $50 deaths from all causes
IN the borough. The deaths from pneumonia
IN the same week numbered 254 in Manhattan.
The epidemic ended in the week ending June 2.
$40 deaths from all causes in the borough Dur
ing the epidemic of 1900 there were 314 deaths
from grip in Manhattan and the increase in
the number Of deaths from all causes in the
borough due TO the influence Of the epidemic
was estimated at 5000 Substantially the same
effects Of the epidemic were noted in the other
boroughs Of the city.
In the week ending December IS last there
were two deaths from grip in Manhattan, but
-.I
nerceptibIy and only a slight increase in the
number Of deaths from pneumonia had been
noticed. Last week there were eighteen deaths
from grip in Manhattan, and the total number
NJ deaths from all causes in the borough were
SOL while the deaths from both pneumonia and
bronchitis had increased so per cent. The re-
ports for five days Of this week indicate that
the grip epidemic is increasing steadily and
rapidly.
EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY.
DR.. Roger S Tracy, the Register Of Vital Sta
tstics in the Health Department. has made
careful study of the grip statistics for years and
he said yesterday that il looked as if grip had
become endemic in this country. The first
record Of a glip epidemic in the United States
is the account Of the influenza epidemic written
BY Noah Webster in 1856. That epidemic fol-
lowed several epidenlics Of the disease in Eu-
rope. but apparently died out in one year in
this country. The records show that there were
epiasmics Of influenza In 1S47 and lS4S in this
CITY hut the disease did not reappear in the
years Immediately following.
The most severe epidenics OF grip yet known
in New-York were those Of 1889. 1890 ana
1891, but every year since 1891 there has been
an epidemic OF the disease in the city. 1t was
the rule for each succeeding epidemic to De
lighter, but that Of last year was more severe
AI,g FFn dix
ease had taken q fresh hold If the present one
shall prove to be more severe than that OF Iast
year, the sanitarians VIII come to the conclu-
sion that grip is endemic in this country, ana
will not dare to predict the severity OF future
epidemics. The sanitarians say that there -
no way known TO science OF checking a SCoui se
Of grip Against the spread Of the disease no
quarantine avails, and the Utmost care aLg
discretion by individuals VIII Tot surely "aIu
of the disease.
terday that there was al present no more reason i
for public fear Of grip than there was IN - .lIe
epidemic OF last year. They ADMIT, ho"eEel,
that the weather conditions have not been so
favorable for the spread Of grip this year as
the conditions were last winter, when there was
much snow melting in the city streets, ana tneg
say that Il is the more remarkable that the as
ease should show such severity when there mas
been so much dry weather and so ntte los ~
the city. The fact that many men men oL 2 pi ba.
nence in the city have been III with grip rs Ht
caused the public TO pay more attenuoh ctrifS ~
progress Of the epidemic, II IS salu' 5
CreIl Councilman Oakley, Alderman NUN anu
Michael F. Blake, the chief clerk Of the Board
Of Aldermen. were among those reported yeSCei-
day to be attacked by the disease .
Al the office Of the Outdoor Poor lCepar rIliiehI
and at the dispensaries in the city the applcd-
tons for free medical aid by sufererS i LolIi
grin have been Increasing rapidly for seVerai
weeks. The hospitals are being crowded. anu anu
every physician in the city who has escaped tile
disease is being called TO attend many CdoGs9 q a.
grin The worst Of the prevailing epidemic p S -
yet 10 come and at present NOBODY can eESii
guess how serious an infiiction the CITY ~It5 ca
perience before the turning point IS reacheu-
IN MILD FORM IN BROOKLYN.
DR.. Sylvester ]. Byrne, Register OF 'l'ai
Statistics of the Brooklyn Health Department
said Yesterday that while the grip was very
prevalent in Brooklyn 1t was Of milo FORM
and people need not be alarmed over It. -
people treated the disease at its inception anu
took care OF themselves there was little danger
os death The trouble was that people "ehO
out too soon after an attack and then con-
tracted pneumonia, which IN their deoihta'eu
condition generally resulted fatally. Ihere nave
been six deaths from grip in Brooklyn sliI'e
Sunday. -