Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-22
DEATHS IN 15OAYS
OF INFLUENZA, 872
Summary of Reports to D. c.
Health Department From
Oct. l to IS, Inclusive.

An Official checking Of the deaths
from influenza for the period from Oc-
tober / to and including October 10,
based upon reports to the health de-
partment by attending physicians ana
on which burial permits were issued
on the day and date Of death-death
certificates having been issued day
or SO later-shows that there were S72
deaths in the city from influenza for
that half Of the month.
The minimum number Of deaths was
on October 2, when there were twenty
two. The high mark Of fatalities was
reached on October IL, when ninety
two deaths were reported.
Fluctuation, October S to g..
Between October and October 8
there was a. marked fiuctuation, the
figures rising and falling. On the first
date there were 40 deaths, the follow
ing day showing "a, the next day 40,
and on October there were 81
deaths. Since the high record of 90
deaths on October IL there has been a
marked decline in the death list.
The figures herewith given from Oc-
tober 16 to date. both inclusive. are
quasi official. but will have to be
checked to make them official.
The. deaths in the five-day period
period unoficially total 1913. which
First fifteen days of the month r2ake a
total Of deaths Of 1,065. The total.
however. may he slightly increased or
decreased in the final auditing of the
unofficial figures.
aR,;,1 rs-
The official figures are: October /, 49,;
October 2. %; October 3, 80; October A.,
40; October 5, 40; October 6, "a; October
=. 49,; October 8. 81; October 9, e.;
October 10, so; October II, II; October
IL, 90; October 10, 80; October IA, "a;
October Is, IS. Total, S72.
! The unofficial, unchecked figures are:
October is. 81; October II, 65; October
T., Al; October 49,. 20; October 20, &c.
Total, 1913.
1t will be noted that these figures do
not Correspond with the figures reported
each day in the daily press, as from day
to day many Of the deaths recorded in
the papers are belated in reaching their
proper classification by dates in the
daily official vital statistics.
2O,s59 Gases, October Total.
II L lie OlACidt lS uTeS OIL the OIL
the new cases. of influenza reported
from day to day for the month of
October, including the IT'S cases for
today. are 2G,S59. This, however. the
health authorities say, does not by
any means indicate the scope of the
spread of the contagion for the reason
that there have been, and are, many
cases of the disease in mild form
that confined the patients to their
rooms for a day. or two and where
home remedies were used and no ply
sicians were called. There also were
many cases where physicians and
nurses could not be obtained when the
epidemic was at it's height.
Then. again, it must be taken into
consideration that the disease was
not one. of contagion included in the
list of reportable diseases like small
pox. diphtheria, scarlet fever and
other highly contagious and COM
municable diseases, until it was made
mandatory by an order of the District
Commissioners October to report the
The high mark was reached October
8. when there were 2,174 new cases.
The order of observation-disclosures had
only gone into effect few days prior
and: the physicians. many of whom
were without the necessary cards on
WHICH to make their reports. are be-
lfeved to have punched all the cases
they had on the day the large number
came to the health Office.