The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-25
GRIP DEATHS
DECREASE92
IN NEW YORK
Health Commissioner Says
City Is Due for Heavy
Drop in New Cases.
BIG DEMAND FOR VACCINE
Influenza and Pneumonia
Show Dccline-Cemetery
Situation Improves.

The outstanding feature of the infiu-
enza and pneumonia epidemic in New
York yesterday was the decrease Of sS7
in the number Of new influenza cases re-
ported 10 the Health Department. and a
decrease of ~ In the number of new
pneumonia cases. as compared with the
preceding day. There also were % fewer
deaths reported.
Health Commissioner Royal S. Cope
land reiterated his statement that the
epidemic is nearly over and submitted
a table showing the death rate for four
weeks before the countrywide epidemic
began.
The figures. which represent deaths
from all causes, show that in Boston
during the four weeks before the out
/ break in that city the average rate per
1000 was IS. In the first week OF the
Standardization was the first OF the
big cities to suffer--the rate increased
10 is per 1000; in the second week It
was SO: the third week, 81; the fourth
week. 100: the NTH week. 101, and in
the sixth week dropped sharply to So
per 1000.
Figures for New York.
In Greater New York the figures be-
fore the epidemic showed a death rate
OF 10 in every 1000, and In the success
sive weeks OF the epidemic the rates
per 1000 Increased as follows: first
week. 12; second week. 16; third week.
20; fourth week, SO.
In Philadelphia the normal rate be-
fore the epidemic was 12 in every 1000.
In the weeks Of the epidemic this ad-
yanced first to IS per 1000, then to SO /;
In the third week to 81, and in the fourth
week to 1853 in every 1000.
Comparing these figures the Health
Commissioner said that Boston suffered
much more than New York and that
guided by the Hub City's experience,
which has extended over elk weeks,
against New York's four weeks. the rate
here next week will show a sharp de-
crease, as II did in Boston.
DR.. Copeland also gave It as his opin-
ion that the epidemic. so far as New
York is concerned, is virtually over, and
based his assertion OH the reports he has
received from his emergency hospital
system. He announced that the Poly
clinic Hospital and the Municipal Lods-
ing House, which were taken over by
his department to handle the cases as
they developed. have been closed. and
that the city hospitals are reporting
more discharges Of influenza and pneu-
monia cases than admissions.
says Epidemic Il Waning.
This he said yesterday, plus the
fact that the epidemic Is becoming To-
Called in the tenement districts, where
the reported cases are largely those dis
covered by our emergency workers, indi-
Gates that the disease Is waning"
Or. Copeland took issue yesterday with
an official OF the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company who wrote him a let
ter saying that the air In the subways is
better than in the surface cars. In his
reply the Health Commissioner said that
each of them was looking at the matter
from a different viewpoint.
Many sanitarians throughout the
country have said recently that while
the present epidemic may die down
through the cold weather months II will
break out afresh In the spring. Com
menting on this, the Commissioner of
Health said that the evidence SO far COL
lected about the influenza vaccine which
is being prepared and given out by the
Health Department would indicate that
those who have received inoculatIons can
withstand the disease better than those
who have not.
Among the prominent concerns which
applied at the research laboratory of the
Health Department yesterday for vac
cine sufflCieV to vacclnate all OF their
employees were J. p. Morgan & CO.
American Can Company, New York Edi-
son Company Consolidated Gas Com
pany, United States Steel Corporation.
New York Telephone Company, National
Cloak and Suit Company. Downey Ship
building Company and the Public Ser
vlce Commission.
he
yesterday to prevent the further spread
Of the epidemic on Staten Island when
N closed number of saloons In the
vicinity Of large shipbuiiding plant In
the Mariners Harbor section Of Rich
nond. At the same time IL was an
nounced that more than a score Of soda
fountains In Manhattan, which were
found TO be insanitary. also were closed
and that others will be shut down,
The cemetery situation in Brooklyn
and Queens. which was acute earlier in
the week, showed considerable improve
ment yesterday. BY working night and
measure in catching up with the burials.
steam shovel Digs Graves.
Steam shovels have been resorted TO
IN several instances and apparently are
helping to solve the problem. while the
report that $40 day would be paid to
grave diggers has attracted tramp labor
In large numbers. A careful survey of
all the Queens cemeteries yesterday,
where the report Of $40 a day
originated, failed to disclose any such
wages. The prevailing rate for grave
diggers is 1913 a day. with so cents an
hour for overtime. At one cemetery 81
II day is being paid.
Calvary Cemetery reported not more
than 100 bodies not buried. and with
the use Of steam shoveis II II expected
these viii be buried immediately and
that all OF the bodies received from
now on will be buried AS they are re-
reived At St. Johns Cemetery it was
reported last night that burials are one
day behind Relatives OF those who
had died and were to be buried In this
cemetery offered to dig tho graves for
their dead and they were allowed TO try
IL. The plan failed to work, however
ms the volunteers were not accustomed
20 such labor.
At the Lutheran Cemetery conditions
have improved. as persons living In the
'ieIghborhood have volunteered their SER
vices. Mount Olivet Cemetery reported
that all bodies received have been buried.
Sotwithsta ndng tho Improvement In
the general cemetery situation many OF
The big burying grounds have limited
the number OF graves sold In one plot
GRIP WAVES IN NEW JERSEY.
Quarantine Lifted In Several
Towus-Ncw Cases Decrease 5000