New-York tribune., 1916-07-14
Though Deaths In
crease, Doctors See
Hope of Winning.
MAYORS BOARD
TO GO SLOWLY
Experts Not in Favor of
Radical Measures for
Curbing Malady.

One hundred and seventeen new
cases of infantile paralysis and twenty
four deaths were reported TO the
Health Department yesterday.
Since June 20, when the spread of
the malady began to cause alarm, the
lives of more than 800 children, most
of them stricken while apparently we'll,
have been its toll in the greater city.
Though mortality figures rose again
yesterday. for the first time in many
days a feeling of optimism prevailed
among physicians. For the secon
successive day the number Of new
cases showed a marked decrease, and
fear that the 1875 cases found Tuesday
would make the fight almost hopeless
were dispelled.
Brooklyn Again Leads.
As on every previous day since cases
began to appear by hundreds, Brook
lyn suffered most severely, seventy-six
new cases being discovered there.
Manhattan reported sixteen; Queens,
where the disease seems to be gaining,
twelve; Richmond, ten, and The Bronx,
three.
In contrast 10 the more encouraging Q
situation in New York, the New Jersey
State Health Department finds the out
look in that state serious. Fifty-three
new cases we're reported, making n
total of 10 in thirteen cities and
towns. Newark reported twenty-five.
The committee appointed Wednesday
by Mayor Mitchell to consider sugges-
tions of further measures advisable
met yesterday afternoon in the Office
of Health Commissioner Emerson. The
members of the committee-Dr. Simon
Flexner, DR.. S. S. Goldwater, DR.. A. II.
Doty, Dr.. Antonia Stella, DR.. Leon
Louria and DR.. Walter B. .James-sev-
eral members of the medical advisory
board, including DR.. Leland f. Cofer
and DR.. Francis Carter Wood, and
Commissioner Emerson were present.
II was decided, after much discus
sion. that it would be wise to keep
track of persons who had been in con-
tact with paralysis patients with a
view to determining whether such per-
sons spread the disease. A committee
probably will be formed to do this
work
More Circulars Ordered.
II was also decided that additional
circulars of information for the benefit
of the public and the medical profess
sion should be widely distributed.
The Mayor had asked the committee
TO consider several suggestions as 10
the cause of the epidemic and the ad-
visibility of certain preventive meas
VI IS against its spread. On all but one
of these the committee reported ad-
versely. Il was decided that the exist
ence of cases of infantile paralysis in
districts near pushcart markets in Man
haitian and The Bronx was a mere coin
cidence. which could not have a causal
relationship TO the occurrence of the
disease; that the disinfection of sewer
basins and house sewers and the
sprinkling of dsinfectants on the
streets ard sidewalks Of infected dis
tricts could NOT be expected TO have
any effect upon the spread of the dis
ease, and that the killing of all cats
and dogs in such districts was not de-
sirable.
Il was further agreed that the estab-
lishment of tent colonies on beaches or
elsewhere within the city was not de-
sirable. The committee thought 1t ad-
visable TO open and extend playground
facilities.
The surgeons Of the Federal service
now in New York have perfected plans
for their research work. Part of their
laboratory investigation will be car
ried on at the hospital on Ellis Island
and part, in all probability, in the lab
oratories of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons. The work will be seri-
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