The sun., 1918-10-17
1926 IN DAY
FALL VICTIMS
& TOGRIP HERE
Doctors Fail to Report More
Than Fifty Per Cent.
of Cases.
DISEASE SWEEPING ON
Undertakes Unable to Care
for Dead-Physicians and
Nurses Exhausted.
.sEAsE SWEEPING ON

4 According to figures based upon an
estimate that SO per cent or less OF the
actual cases Of influenza are be'ig re-
ported. there were 1926 new care, yes
terday.
3 There were actually reported half this
number, but Health Commissioner Royal
8. Copeland believes that only half Of
The existing cases have been turned In
BY the physicians.
81 Roughly estimated. there have been
more than 100000 cases Of influenza
here since September IS. when the dis
ease was made reportable.
When asked: How many cases OF
influenza are there in the city to-dayT"
DR.. Copeland answered:
y In answering this question let us es-
innate that the average duration OF the
disease is seven days. / doubt IL the
average case does last this long, but /
want to be conservative In my state
ment. The total number Of cases re-
ported by physicians for the last seven
days IL so,332. estimate that the
number OF cases reported IL about 80
per cent. or less of the total number
in the city. Therefore We have about
$4,000 cases. This may run considerably
higher"
upon what basis do you estimate
that only 80 per cent. Of cases are re-
ported?'
81 base it upon the death rate. Since
September IS we have had reported as
0f4 cases, and during the same time
have issued death certificates covering
Influenza and pneumonia to the number
OF 5,102. 1t is uncomfortable that the
death rate Is 10 per cent, which would
be indicated by a comparison of the
number of cases reported and the num-
Der Of death certificates issued.
1T Is the belief OF army surgeons In
charge of military camps, where every
single case is known and kept under
observation from the onset OF the at
tack to its termination. that the death
rate Is per cent While military con-
ditions are different from the conditions
Of civil life. this proportion must be
accepted as reasonably accurate.
Deaths Set at o Fer Cent.
Major Lyons. the chief surgeon at
Camp Upton, in an address at the Kings
County Medical Society last evening.
WAhIh hCdiu. gave ACCURATE ucthis VI
the epidemic In that nearby camp. For
the purpose OF approximating the number
OF people In this city who have actually
had influenza, we may safely begin our
computation with this per cent death
rate reported by Major Lyons. Taking.
then. the total number OF death GER
tifcates issued for influenza and pneu-
Inonia, during the period OF the epidemic.
S.102. and considering that these figures
represent per cent. Of the total number
OF cases. II will be seen at once that the
actual number Of cases according to this
computation would be 10000. There
fore conclude that we are having re-
ported to us about so per cent Of the
actual number OF cases"
what good are the daily figures then
IL they are not reliableT r was an inquiry
made.
'.They give US a very certain index OF
the progress OF the disease in the COM
mun'ty."
There have been statements made by
reputable physicians that there are be-
tween 100000 and 100000 cases OF in
fiuenza in this city at the present time
Do you want TO make any estimate OF
the percentage OF doctors In the city who
report their cases?" DR.. Copeland was
asked.
mo. there ts no present way Of arriv-
ing at a conclusion"
There were 633 deaths from Influenza
and pneumonia reported for the day end
ing at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. an
increase OF rs over the day previous.
That the epidemic has been growing
daily at an alarming rate Is reflected In
the experience OF undertakers in this city
Tor the last few days: they have not
been able. to care for the increased num-
f,ra ~ 14ad nf tho fnral Shnns
receive so many orders for flowers for
the dead that they are advertising that
they can Ali no more. Doctors are over
worked and a great many OF them find
II impossible to answer all the calls
Nurses are at a premium.
Just what the actual conditions are
in the situation here is conjecture, but
activities are increasing TO care for the
constantly growing number OF cases
Relief centres are perfecting their plans
and getting into operation. Sour
kitchens are furnishing food to the sick
and other needy. An ambulance sys-
tenn for relieving the overtaxed hospitals
il In operation, and additional beds are
being provided In hospitals.
The Department of Health pleads fol
more nurses and domestic help and
other help, too There are not enough
doctors. and II is a problem as to where
the needed number may be gotten. The
Federal Government has not been called
upon for aid as yet. Or. Copeland said
yesterday that 1t is not needed.
Help for Munitions Workers.
An appeal for assistance for the pa,
tients suffering from influenza among
the munitions workers at Hopewell. Va.
where there Is at >st one case In ever
family, was madH. ksterday to Charles
d. Townson. hsij of the industrial de-
partment OF ~ y. NJ c. A. Wal
Council.
Five men wAI fined in Harlem Cour-
yesterday for splitting on the platform
Of the elevated station at 12sth street.
While del!rious from influenza, which
developed into pneumonia. Kassmi'
Szeiyanski. AN Austrian, who boarded
with his brother at 102 North Seventh
street. Brooklyn, leaped from from
window and was impaled on an iroI
picket fence. He died soon after.
Solomon Jones. ~, OF 122 Bedford
avenue. Brooklyn. while Ill from In
iuenza became insane and tried L
leap from a window. He was taken 4
the Kings County Hospital.
Departments Health Table.
This table given out by the Depart
nent of Health is admittedly inaccurate
and by the new system OF doubling
each figure. except the deaths. shoul,
DE multiplied by >. in order TO arr!,
At a nearer eXactness TO the actua
humber of cases in the city.
ISFI.UENzA--EEw CASES.
Wed. Tufs. Dey. IT,