Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-12
GRIP EPIDEMIC
HAS NEWARK IN
A TIGHT GRASP
Worst in Years and Pneumonia
Death Rate Is Away
Up.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE AGAINST RELIEF
DR.. Craster, Health officer,
Tells of city's Health in
Report.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE AGAINST RELIEF

Newark is in the throes of a grip
epidemic such as has been affecting
various municipalities of the East. 1t
is of a greater extent than has been
the case here for years. Weather
conditions are such that no imme-
diate relief can be expected and the
utmost individual caution is neces-
sary to preserve health, DR.. Charles
Y. Craster. acting health officer of the
city, announced today. Physicians are
on the jump attending to the unusual
number of cases, school and Office
forces have been cut into, and deaths
are unusually numerous. 1t is a pare
case when there is a family which
hasn't now or hasn't had a visit from
the malady. DR.. Craster issued his
monthly report today, and stated two
grip deaths were reported in Decent
ber which was before the epidemic
got in full swing.
Actual grip deaths are not the critic
rion by which grip epidemics are
judged. The most serious results
take other forms. Many times as
many deaths are attributable to grip
as the official statistics blame on It.
The big tangible indication of what
grip has done so far in Newark is in
the 100 per cent. increase DIR. Crastcr
reports in lobar pneumonia deaths.
Lobar pneumonia is one of the fatal
dangers to which grip exposes it's
victims.
Plays No Fayorites.
The epidemic is not playing any
favorites. Thousands are down with
the ailment and they are recruited
from every element of society. School
teachers and school pupils are miss
ing from school in abnormal num-
berS. Almost without exception busi-
ness houses have depleted Stairs.
Executives and office boys are fellow
victims. Mayor Thomas l.. Raymond
heads the list of official Newark, In
some instances endeavors have been
made to get sufferers out of their
present dwellings and into the Soho
Isolation Hospital. a number of tele-
phone calls have been received by
the institution asking IL the removal
! is possible.
Every victim is liable to serious
after-effects If immediate fatal con-
sequences are escaped In Bridge
port, Conn. where the war munitions
dtltNl1 mas ntdily ubdblth Sip pppu-
lation of the town in short period
and has superinduced dangerous
crowding. an epidemic is sweeping
through the city with such alarm
ing effects that lawyers report nu'
merous clients are taking the nrecau
tion Of making wills. 1t was when
the lawyers began to compare notes
on an unprecedented stream of will
fees that this was disclosed.
at certainly would call the
Newark situation an epidemic"
said DR.. Craster. when asked
if the term applied. Pres
ent weather conditions are, to
say the least. unfavorable. Every
precaution should be taken. 1t is
highly essential that the feet should
be kept dry. Cold. frosty weather is
what offsets the grip" He did not
see much likelihood of improvement
until the weather changed.
DR.. Craster states the reports of in
spectors ''show general failure OF
the garbage contractor to remove
garbage and ashes from all sections
of the city during December" In
spections of the common lodging
houses, he says, disclosed good order
and sanitation prevailing generally
Twenty-Five cases of dog bites were
eighty-seVen dogs disclosed two af-
fected with rabies. out of eighty
seven dogs examined two had rabies.
city Hospital Touched On.
Mention is made of the investiga-
tion of the plumbing and drainage
systems of the City Hospital, but no
details are given. The report states;
"A complete report of this inspection
will be presented at the next meet
ing of the hospital committee" At
the last meeting of the hospital COM
mittee, which was a secret session,
the members decided that all their
meetings shall be secret. Although
the committee has permitted no
inkling of the plumbing and ventila-
tion conditions to get out through the
usual channels, it has been learned
both We're found to be much in need
of attention.
The restaurant scoring campaign
resulted in thirty restaurants Tecejv-
ing nealth department certificates Of
excellence, three of them idving per-
feet scores. The food condemned by
inspectors of the food and drug de-
partment during the month consisted
of AIT bottles of preserves 1902 cans
of food. SIT packages of foodstuffs
and 126 dozens eggs.
DR.. Craster concludes this portion
of the report with a warning that
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