New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-30
Few Will Give Blood and
Shortage of Serum
May Result.
SCHOOL OPENING DATE
TO BE SET TO-DAY
Epidemic Makes Record in
Fatal Results, but Is
Waning.

Thirty more cases and seven more
s,.ths were reported by the Depart
nert Of Health yesterday than on Mon
a,v The new cases numbered seventy
dire. and the deaths thirty-two. These
ssureS. however, are lower than those
A. any other Tuesday since June 27.
Figures showing that the death rate
II the infsntile paralysis epidemic has
almost doubled within the last seven
weeks snd is now greater than that OF
,nv other paralysis outbreak OF which
here is any record were made public
v,,,erdsv by DR.. John s. Billings, De-
,utv Commissioner Of Health. During
n. week ended August 2s the death
rste was 81 per cent, rise Of 10 per
cent since the week ended July Is. The
ate for the entire epidemic up 10 this
morning is 1883.
From the beginning Of the epidemic,
in early July, the death rate has been
yerv high. While in 1907 the rate for
,s. entire epidemic was but 10 per cent,
during the week ended July IL, the
present epidemic, II was Is per cent
The rate dropped two points on the
following week. but In the next seven
days it jumped eleven points. II de-
elined then 70 % per cent and remained
st that point during the three weeks
ended August l, and 10. and then
jumped again TO q per cent for the
week ended August %. This was fol-
lowed by the jump to 81 per cent for
the week ended yesterday.
Reason for Increase.
DR.. Billings said that the increasing
death rate is giving the Department of
Health much anxiety, but that it has
been impossible 70 discover a reason.
Virtually the only one so far advanced
is the excessive humidity of the last
few weeks. This is borne out by charts
Of the department officials Of the de-
psrtment also pointed out that in cpl
denies Of all diseases there appear 70
be years in which the death rate is
much higher than in others.
Health Commissioner Haven Emer-
son said yesterday that definite date
for the opening of the public schools
will be announced tomorrow following
the meeting of the Medical Advisory
Board of the Health Department. The
Commissioner said he considered 1t
I very unlikely, in view of the con-
rtsntly decreasing number Of new
cases, that the board would recommend
any further postponement beyond Sep
TENDER 20.
At the Offices Of the Board Of Health
II was said that the word had been un-
oficially passed around that the schools
would open on September %. William
G. Wilcox, president Of the Board Of
Education, issued an order yesterday
directing the teachers not to report
until Monday, September II, on which
date the sessions of the Teachers In
ttitute will begin. Principals and clerks,
however, were ordered to report on
September 6. Mr.. Wilcox also an
nounced that he has decided to post
pone the dates for the registration OF
PUPILS until the Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday of the week preceding the
opening Of the schools.
DR.. Emerson said yesterday that he
considered the days report of new
cases, although showing an increase
over that Of Monday, as another indl-
cation that the epidemic is burning it.
self out. The figures show fewer cases
than were reported on any other Tues
day since June p, At the beginning of
the epidemic, when forty-four new
cases and nine deaths were listed. On
Tuesday, July 1, there were ninety
three cases and fifteen deaths; on July
II there were 1875 cases and thirty-two
deaths; on July Is there were l2l
cases and twenty-five deaths; $50 cases
and thirty-eight deaths on July %;
l59 cases and fifty-fve deaths on Au-
gust /; 1873 cases and fifty-two deaths
on August 8; 163 cases and thirty-nine
deaths on August 10; 11S cases and
thlrty-nine deaths on August p.
Age Groups in Disease.
The Department of Health completed
yesterday the tsbulating in age groups
Of the ninety-four persons over six
teen years of age who are in the hos
pltals or quarantined with pohomye-
hits. By boroughs they are:
Manhattan: Women-0ne % years
old, four II, two 10. two %, one 26,
two 80. one 80, two 35, one SO, one 81.
Men-Two II, one 19, one 20, one p,
two 22, one %, two "a, one 25, two 26,
two q, one 2S, one %, one 30, one 81,
one 81, one IS. one AZ.
Brooklyn-Wo Women, two 16, three II,
one 10, one p. three %, one %, one %,
one rs, two 28, one 20, one 80, one So,
one 81, one 40; men, one II, three 18,
one p, one "a, one %, two &c, one q,
enc 20, one 80, one 81, one 81, one 81,
one 46, one 81.
The BrOnX-W Women, one 10, one 20;
men, one 20, one 26, one 30, one S6.
Queens Women, one Is, one %, one
q. men, one 25, one 35, one &c.
Richmond Women, one rs, one 30;
men, one II.
The larger number of patients being
discharged daily from the hospitals has
relieved the department from worry
concerning the possibility Of q short
age Of beds. Almost as many were dis
1aarged yesterday as were brought into
ne hospitals, and within a few days
Ne number Of discharged patients is
opeeted 20 exceed daily the number