New-York tribune., 1916-07-18
400 Dead and 1000 Ill
Since Epidemic
Started.
NO NEED TO FEAR,
MAYOR EXPLAINS
Assures Out-of- Town PeO-
ple - Hotels Not Al
fected by Outbreak.

More than 1000 cases Of infantile
,srslvsis have now been reported to the
Health Department, and yesterday the
.o.sl death toll of the epidemic rose to
.be 400 mark. But more than on any
,rev;ous day the health authorities
were confident that their fight against
the plague was meeting with success.
"We look upon the diminished num-
Der Of cases" Health Commissioner
Emerson declared. "as evidence that
we are reaching cases sooner and con-
trolling them better and that the cpl
demic is on the wane.'
Ninety-fve new cases were discovered
during the twenty-four hours which
ended at 10 O'Clock Yesterday morning
ffty-fve in Brooklyn, twenty IN
Queens. eighteen in Manhattan and one
each in Richmond and The Bronx
There we're fourteen deaths, three less
than the day before.
Health Heads Encouraged.
The total OF yesterdays cases is only
one less than that reported Sunday, but
each day without a marked increase
brings he health authorities much en-
eouragement. It was admitted that
many cases would probably be reported
today which had not been found
sooner because Of the absence Of physi-
clans from the city over the week end,
but it was believed that the figures
would not mount alarmingly high.
With yesterday considered crucial as
indicating 20 a considerable extent
what limits in the number Of cases the
epidemic could normally be expected to
reach, Health Department officials were
watching with unusual interest the re-
ports on the spread of the disease
which reached them.
While no definite predictions regard
ing to-day's figures could be made,
since additional reports from physicians
are looked for this morning it was an
nounced when the Offices of the Health
Department closed last evening that
the number Of cases found during the
day in Manhattan and Brooklyn had
been fewer than expected.
No Need for Alarm, Says Mayor.
To allay the fears Of people in other
cities who have been informed that a
visit 10 New York might expose them
to the epidemic. Mayor Mitchell issued
statement last night emphasizing the
fact that there was no need for alarm
in the state of the city's public health.
He quoted comparative statistics fur
nished by the Health Department to
show that when the large population
was considered in relation 10 the num-
Der Of cases of infantile paralysis, the
epidemic sank to its proper proportions.
The Mayors statement follows:
1T has been drawn TO my attention
that there exists among people living
outside this city a widespread fear that
visit 10 New York exposes the visitor
10 the danger of contracting or carry
ing away infantile paralysis. This, |
am informed, is leading many people
who normally have business TO transact
IN this city 10 remain away. II seems
10 me that something should be said
10 allay this groundless fear on the
part Of the people of other communi-
Ties, which Is at present operating TO
the disadvantage of New York and its
people.
Death Rate Higher in 1915.
The Commissioner of Health has
Placed in my hands the following COM
parative statistics, which demonstrate
mat there is not the cause for alarm,
either within or without the city, which
kas seemed to be growing in the last
lew days:
Comparing the mortality rate of in
!ahts under one year during the week
Just closed with the corresponding week
iast summer, we find that the rate of
deaths Of that week last summer repre-
sented a yearly death rate Of 100 out
of every 1000, while during the week
Just closed the rate of deaths repre-
sents 8S.6 out Of every 1000. In other
words, the infant death rate Of the
Wnole city was lower last week than
ouHng the same week last year, while
the entire death rate of infants and
ADULTS combined was 1853 out of 1000
curing the week just closed and 1873
curing the corresponding week last
summer. The Health Commissioner
tells US that the slightly higher general
oeath rate last week was due TO heat
pFostrations Of adults.
During the last week-that is, dur
ing what is probably the height Of the
oatoreak-two cases of infantile paraly-
SIS were reported from the central dis
met, including most of the hotel and
shopping sections sections and both the
grand Central and Pennsylvania sta
IONS IONS; II has population of more than
toVVOO, This is about the size OF At
lahta, Ca, or Oakland, Cal. Does any
vhe suppose that two cases IN either OF
'nese cities would cause alarm?
During the same time there were
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