Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-30
MANY ILL. OF THE GRIP
Health Officials Say Epidemic
Is Extensive.
LOCAL BUSINESS AFFECTED
Government Clerks and Employees Of
Stores on Sick List.
VIEWS OF HEALTH OFFICER
Says Disease Is Not Confined to
Washington-Prevails Through
out the Country.
LOCAL BUSINESS AFFECTED
VIEWS OF HEALTH OFFICER

| Washington is at present experiencing
one of the most extensive epidemics OF
grip that it has experienced in number
of years. It is not compulsory for physi-
clans attending this disease to report
cases to the health Office, as is required
| in other minor contagious. and for this
reason the authorities are unable to de-
termine accurately just to what extent
| the disease prevails.
DIR. William G. Woodward, the District
health officer, while not alarmed over the
conditions is taking great deal, of inter-
est in the developments. He says he has
no idea what the number Of cases on
hand is, but he thinks 1900 would be a
fair guess. He bases his estimate on the
increase in the number of deaths from the
disease, as reported at his Office and
from talks with physicians, some of
whom say they never had SO many cases
of grip to treat before in the history OF
| their practice.
When asked to express his opinion upon
what is responsible for the high preva-
lence of the disease, DR.. Woodward said
1t would be impossible to accurately de-
termine it. He said it is highly COM
municable, explaining that there is a diff
ference between communicable and con-
tagious disease. He said grip is cold
weather malady, and this is just the time
of year for it, and he does not believe
in the theory that the present spring
like weather has any effect upon the con-
| tagion. nor does he hold the belief Of
many that good cold spell would check
the spread of the disease. He believes
that the disease is going to have its run,
whether the weather is cold or warm.
DR.. Woodward's Theory.
DR.. Woodward has got theory in con-
motion with ha ori ic hot
is going to be certain amount of it ddf-
ing the season, and at its present rate it
will be exhausted sooner than ordinarily
He says there might have been just as
much grip last year. but that it was not
as noticeable because the cases were not
all experienced within as brief period
as how, and the run of the disease was
of longer duration. He also believes
more deaths are resulting from the pres
fore. Out of the 40 deaths last week
eight resulted from the grip. The pre-
ceding week there were only four deaths
from the disease; three weeks ago there
were only two deaths. The grip mortal
fty for the present week is expected to
show decided increase over last week.
Since Saturday night there have been
four deaths due to the disease, accord
ing to the records of the health Office.
THE grip is different from such con-
fever" DR.. Woodward said, 'in that it
is not confined to any one locality, but
during its season there is a general preva-
lence of it throughout the country.
THE reports from Baltimore are to
the effect that the disease exists in that
city to an alarming extent. 1000 new
cases of 1t being reported yesterday, max
ing approximately 10000 cases on hand at
the present time. The health authorities
of that city attribute the high prevalence
IF a diSea the uphrrkan smell nf
springlike weather, and they say there is
little hope of stamping it out until there is
a long siege of freezing temperature
Philadelphia and Pittsburg and New York.
according to reports, each has its share Of
the disease.
People Flock to Physicians.
During the past week drug stores and
physicians offices were thronged with
persons seeking relief from the trouble
some ailment and in some instances the
rush was so great the patients had to
call several times before they could be-
accommodated. Many doctors say they
had twice as many calls than they could
attend to, and had to turn them over to
others.
In speaking of the grip epidemic
prominent physician of Baltimore said
he had never known it to be so prevalent
as at the present time. He said: THE
only other time that I can remember
when there was a similar epidemic was
In 1889. At that time l was student.
but l remember very distinctly to what
extent the disease spread because I my
self was taken down and was very ILL.,
Undoubtedly, this unreasonable weather
Is the cause of the trouble and believe
that a good cold spell would effectual-
ly put an end to the spread of the dis
order. do not believe, however, that
the cases as a rule are very severe, as
most of my patients throw of the disease
in four o. five days."
AS Severe as 1889 Epidemic.
Dr. Woodward, District health officer.
said he does not recall particulars of the
prevalence of the disease in 1889, but he
believes the present epidemic to be as
severe as any he has ever seen.
The epidemic is having a telling effect
on the departments. the business houses
and the stores, where large number of
persons are employed. Chief Clerk
Chance of the Post Office Department
said more than one-tenth of the entire
force of that department Is i'll of the grip
and absent from sthe Office. The same
condition prevails at the Treasury De-
partment according to the appointment
clerk. The officials of the State and War
departments say about one-fifth Of the
clerical force is i'll of the disease, and
at a number of department stores whose
numbers of the clerks are suffering from
the same affliction.
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