New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-06
Laboratory Experts Crap
pie with BaCiIIi to Con
vince DOubterS.
MORTALITY RATE
GAINS so PER CENT
Health Department Figures Show
Respiratory Diseases Making
Greatest Headway in Years.

Come now the doubling Thomases
who say "Whadayamcan grip cpl
demic? IT'S only the usual mid-winter
colds end coughs"
The Health Department has met
these paciicists who refuse TO ioin the
war on grip with n comparative state
men Of the deaths caused from respr-
atory diseases during the winters of
the last four years. Beginning with
November the deaths show an in
crease each week for each of the years.
but IN no year was the acccleration az
rapid as during the present winter.
4 comparison of the eighth. ninth
and tonth weeks shows the following:
1912 10. 226. -: 1913 155. 14S.
1863; 1914 -12l. 1853. 2ll, and 1915 2l5.
81. as. This winters deaths are al
ready 90 per cent ahead Of the high
tide mark Of former years. which in
each case was not reached until March
Numerous physicians have doubted
that this winters affection was really
the grip. II vas rather the work Of
pneumonia germs, they said. Answers
10 this came yesterday from research
laboratories.
At the Vanderbilt Clinic, operated
in connection with the Columbia Uni
versity School of Medicine. it was said
their culture tests had disclosed the
true grip germ in few cases, but
greater number of cases showed pneu-
mococci Their tests had been made,
they explained. with pneumonia pa
tients, where pneumococci would be
expected.
A. the Research Laboratory. Six
teenth Street. psychologists reported
that their tests had Shown an equal
number of grip germs and pncumococcl.
Bellevue Hospital had completed no
tests up till last night. although their
was injection IN the hospital and
throughout the staff.
"Whateyer II is" said a physician IN
the Physicians and Surgeons College,
at knocks you galleywest for about ten
DAYS. and we might as well call II the
grip
The Rockefeller Institute for Medical
Research from time 70 time chooses
certain diseases for free treatment.
Early last month acute lobar pneu-
monia was selected, although its prevail
ence had not become marked at the
time. As the only cases that have been
taken have been those known 70 pre-
sent the pneumococcus type OF germ,
the Rockefeller Institute Is unprepared
TO solve the mystery Of whether the
present epidemic is caused by the m
iluenza bacillus.
While experts calmly examine it, the
grip continues with undated fury Re
ports from the West indicate that It Is
much worse in many cities than m New
York. The Washington Public Health
Service calls il the most serious epl-
demic of influenza this country has ever
known.
"The Christmas season spreads 1t as
nothing else could" said Commissioner
Emerson, "for at time when all are
rushed TO the limit and partly run
down there is "A tremendous movement
Of people all over the United States. In
the kissing, hugging, dancing, crowding
and overeating that follows the mice
ton is spread as thoroughly as II II
were carefully planned ..
DR.. william II. McCastline, the medl-
cal adviser and university physician at
Columbia University. has issued a
warning 10 the students 10 use every
precaution to avoid contracting grip,
and 70 assist in checking the now
countrywide epidemic. In special
statement issued yesterday with the
reopenine of college after the CHRIST
mas recess, he sets forth rules TO fol-
low in order 70 avoid Infection, to-
gether with instructions for the cure
of the disease if once caught.