New-York tribune., 1901-01-09
THE GRIP EPIDEMIC.
HAS INCREASED WITHIN TWO WEEKS
AND IS STILL LSPREADING-WHAT
DOCTORS SAY

An epidemic of the grip, marked than
any that has been felt here since 1890 and 1891.
the years when the grip first became noticeable
epidemic disease. prevails among all
classes of the city, and, according to one ply
sician. is more common in upper classes than in
the lower. Not only is the grip epidemic, but all
diseases. generally speaking. and sickness, are
more prevalent than they have been for several
years at this time of the year
More deaths from grip occurred in this city
in the week ending January than in the
month of December, 1899. There were thirty
six fatal cases Of grip in the week ending Janu-
ary 5-eighteen in Manhattan and eighteen in
Brooklyn-and twenty-five fatal cases Of grip in
December, 1899. The number of deaths from
pneumonia and bronchitis in December, 1900 as
compared with December. 1899. shows a marked
increase. The increase in the number of fatal
cases OF pneumonia in December. 1900. as COM
pared with December 1890. more than
one hundred. and the increase in the number of
fatal cases of bronchitis in December. 1900. over
that of December 1899 was fifty -four.
Grip is widespread that the city and pri-
vate hospitals taxed almost to their full
capacity with persons suffering with this dis
ease. pneumonia some bronchial trouble The
almshouse will probably be transformed into
temporary hospital There already housed
in the building many convalescents from the
city hospitals.
The peculiar feature of the epidemic is that
there seems to be no conditions TO which 1t could
be ascribed. Physicians say that the prevailing
weather has been favorable for good health
rather than otherwise. and that there is more
sickness than there usually is in the months
OF February and March. when snow is on the
ground and the earth and air are full Of moist
IRE Ore prominent physician says that lack
OF proper ssret cleaning In the uptown side
streets is responsible for the epidemic to a
greater extent than any other one factor. The
epidemic according TO doctors. has not only in
creased In the last two weeks. but is still in
creasirg.
Speaking about the prevalence OF grip here,
Commissioner Cosby. of the Board of Health.
said yesterday: Grip epidemic in Eu-
rope about six weeks ago. I was quite GER
tain that the epidemic would eventually reach
this city and II did. I one OF the first vic
tins, and Commissioner Keller OF the Depart
rnent OF Charities also succumbed 10 it,
I'VE are not advising physicians as to dealing
with the disease every physician has his own
method of treating It. and as It is amenable TO
various methods OF treatment Just let the
private practitioners do what they please. 1t
is hard to say how long the epidemic will last;
perhaps all winter. The only advice we can
give is for persons 10 be careful and avoid
catching cold
The tables OF the Board OF Health contain
some data which may give a Slight idea, it is
thought of the spread OF grip in this city In
the last six weeks. In the week ending Decem-
Der l. 1900 no person died from grip in this
CITY. In the same week there were thirty-three
cases Of bronchitis and 165 Of pneumonia In
the week ending January .. 1901 there were
Sc deaths from grip, "a from bronchitis and 264
from pneumonia. The deaths from pneumonia,
-oalr ding 10
cember 1. 1900 TO the week ending January ..
1901, were
Week OF December S-Bronchtis, ~; pneumonia,
10. and grip. q deaths in Manhattan and IN
WeeE Of December 15-Bronchitis 81 pneumonia.
l64. and grip, (both cases IN 9s anroon,a
15s and grip, s q in Manhattan and in Richmond
Week of December 29-Bronchitis IS; pneumonia I9
207. and grip, 1 q in Manhattan ana IN o'NSi'
DR.. Henry P. Loomis. of No. 5S East Thirty
fourth-st said last night in regard to the cpl
demic:
There is no doubt that the grip is cpl
demic and increasing. 1t Is hard 10 assign
reason for its prevalence. There seems 10 pe
nothing in the atmospheric conditions whlch
have prevailed for the last two or three Weeks
TO cause such an increase In the number OF
cases / was talking with a physician oihS d
few moments ago, who SAID that ne ndu d me- 49,
The increase is general. but If anything, there
are more cases among the upper classes than man =, III
others In previous years atmospheric COilu.
tions could be assigned as causes 1or an cpl
demic of grip but such is not the case just now
The weather has been mild II is not only cpl
demic but it is increasing all the time. 1t Is
an endemic for which no general rules OF re-
straint can be laid down. Whether or not the
grin is CONTAGIOUS is much mooted question:
hut the fact that when one member or the
family has IL the rest generally do, would seem
IN indicate that certain forms or IL are con-
tagious H., .,aov,oa5 b,y
The disease this year Is usually evidenced oy
catarrhal symptoms A high fever also accom-
NAMES the severe cases. 1t is generally OF the
erin-pneumonia type. No especial measures can
he named as those which would prevent one
from being attacked. The best safeguard Is u
stay in the house and not take chances II Is
not an epidemic which can be quarantiheo oI
hound TO any limits is the case with the ma
1ority OF epidemic diseases
Dr. L. Emmett Holt. of No. IA West Flity-
6fth-st speaking on the same subject, said;
There is very little doubt that there is an
abnormally large amount of sickness for TINS
time of the wear and an unusually large num-
ber of cases of grip. Whether or NOT lleIe az
enough cases OF the grip to say there Is an
epidemic is difficult to decide But there are
great number of such cases, ana the grip Is uii-
doubtedly on the increase X,,
There are many cases among chlIuIeh. IIlhh
dirty streets are more responsible Tor TINS uh-
usual sickness than any other one ractor. Inc
side streets in the uptown districts are not kept
clean, though some attention is paid 10 the main
thoroughfares. Since election the lack OF street
cleaning has been growing steadily worse. In
of the uptown sidestreets a street cleaner
is not seen for three four days at time III
A TRAVELLING EPICURE