New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-20

.terday's reports. The new cases num-
h.red 1874. nine more than were report
ed on Friday, and the deaths were 80
four more than on Friday.
Comparison of the numbers of ne"
cases and deaths in the epidemic OF
infantile paralysis during the past week
with the figures for the week ending
August 10 gave the Department OF
Health ground for belief yesterday that
the epidemic is on the wane and has
virtually been brought under control
in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Inc
Bronx. 40.
Last week the deaths numbered zZo
and the new cases 9l2, while during
the previous week they were re-
snectively POI and 1910, a decrease OF
Dos in the number Of new cases and OF
u in the deaths.
Health Chiefs Hopeful.
From our slight knowledge Of infan-
tile paralysis epidemics," said DR.. John
S. Billings, deputy health commits
sioner, 1--WE have determined that they
die out gradually instead Of suddenly
ceasing. The gradual decrease appears
to have begun in Brooklyn. and de-
crease has been noticeable for the past
week in Richmond. In Brooklyn there
may yet be two or three days in which
the total number Of cases may jump TO
seventy or eighty, but now the average
per day is around forty-five. This we
consider decidedly encouraging, and be-
lieve the plague has been brought under
control in that borough"
With the exception Of Manhattan
and Richmond, every borough in the
greater city showed a decided reduc-
ton in the number Of cases and deaths
as compared with last weeks figures.
The greatest decrease is in Brooklyn,
where the cases dropped from 568 to
33S and the deaths from 1873 to 70.
In Manhattan the new cases last week
were 322 and the deaths 81, while for
the previous week they were, respec-
lively. 1874 and ~. This increase OF SIX
in the number Of deaths is so slight
that Health Department officials be-
lieve they are holding their own IN
the fight, even in this borough.
New cases in Queens dropped from
2O3 to 154 and the deaths from 81 TO
81; in The Bronx the cases last week
were SO, against SO for the previous
week, and the deaths %, as compal ed
with %.
Richmond Remains Same.
Richmond remained virtually station
ary, reporting the same number OF
deaths for the two weeks, but show
ing a decrease of one in the number
of new cases reported last week, as
compared with the previous seven days
The daily average of new cases anC
deaths last week was, respectively
18O.2S and 1928, while for the previ
Gus week the average was 17l.42 anC
1912
DR.. Billings issued a statement las
night advising parents whose children
are now out Of the city TO keep then
away until at least October /, and a:
long thereafter as the disease con
tinues TO be epidemic. The Health De
partment contends that TO bring chi
dren back before that time would b'
merely adding new fuel to the flames
OF infantile paralysis. $500,
at is highly probable" said DR.. Bill
ings, "unleSs the epidemic is definitely
checked before that time, the Health
Department will require all children tC
remain at home for two weeks after
their return to the city. While not al
the children now in the country may
be susceptible to the disease, enough
of them probably are to cause de
cided increase in the number of cases
should they return and be exposed tC
it,"
New Case in Orphanage.
Health officials professed yesterday
not to be alarmed because second cas'
of paralysis has been discovered amonl
the three hundred children in the ST
Joseph's Orphanage at Flushing, Ions
Island. The victim is Rose Perrigone
seven wears old. who has been taken e
the Greensboro Hospital, where thu
first patient, Catherine Murphy, wa;
removed last week. A rigid quarantine
has been established since the discov
cry of the first case.
The use of the immune blood serum
with which DR.. Abraham Zingher ha:
obtained such beneficial results at the
Willard Parker Hospital has spread u
other cities and states where there are
cases of the plague. Officials of th'
Department of Health in Newark have
started a campaign 10 obtain supply
of blood for the preparation OF serum
and have already used 1t with good eff
feet in several cases.
Four hundred persons IN Philadel
mia who have recovered from the DIS
ease have sent their names TO thC
Board Of Health Of that city. and il
was announced there last night thai
by next Wednesday enough blood vii
have been obtained 20 furnish serum
for the treatment Of every case 50 fal
reported in Philadelphia. The health
authorities will not only use the serum
AZ the hospitals. but will furnish II e
private physicians who are treating pa
tients at their homes.
Many Calls for Serum.
Blood will be drawn from sixty Grip
pied children, all Of whom have haC
the disease, at the summer settemen
of the Brooklyn Crippled Children''
Hospital at Port Jefferson, Long Isl
and. The operations will be performed
by DR.. Frank S. Child. The efforts Of
the citizens committee which is rails
ing money to pay the expenses Of 4
campaign of appeal TO former paralysis
sufferers is expected 20 result in q
large quantity Of blood being obtained
within the next few days.
Fifteen persons appeared at Willard
Parker Hospital yesterday and offered
10 permit DR.. Zingher 10 draw blooC
from their veins. Physicians say then
greatest difficulty is TO avoid being de
ceived by persons who declare that they
have had infantile parAlvsis when they