Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-02-03
INFLUENZA KILLS 10,836
IN \. !. IN EIGHT WEEKS
Epidemic From September IS to
November 10 Exceeded All
Records Of Grip.

New York, Feb. 3.-Exhaustive statis-
tics Of the epidemic of influenza in this
city are given by DR. William II. Guilioy,
Registrar of Records, In the Health De
partment's monthly bulletin dated Dec
eInber. 1918, Just issued. Throughout
the bulletin the epidemic Is called an
epedimin and nothing else. Dr.. Guilfoy
writes, in small part:
'.Since the epedmics OF 1890 and 1891,
influenza became endemic in this city;
not year passed up to the present year
in which there were not from 100 10 500
deaths reported yearly from influenza,
but at no time was the toll taken by this
disease at an equsl to that exacted during
the present epidemic, TO- $50 deaths being
reported from influenza during the
period from September Is. to November
10, inclusive. In addition to this excessive
rnortalitv there were reported g, o,722 deaths
from both pneunlonias during the same
period"
DR.. Guiffoy's paper IS illustrated with
charts One forms the basis Of com
parlson as 10 mortality from influenza
and the pneumonias at different age
groups.
AGE GROUPS SUSCEPTIBILITY
The age groups under Is years of age
SlE1GfcG very AILIt IIOIE tite llItttioH dS4
that the question OF the closing of the
public schools, which was agitated for 8
time. could be answered IN the negative
bv reason of the low mortality, especially
among the age group 5 TO Is years, those
wears comprising the ages of the children
attending the publsc schools. II is note
worthy that from the ages Is 10 45
suffered greatest from the epidemic, 81
per cent OF all deaths from pneumonia
and influenza having occurred at these
two age groups.
The greatest number Of deaths re-
rorfed from both causes was at the 2Sth
wear Of life, there having been lob re-
r,orted at this age; the next individual
age Was 90, with Sl7 deaths reported; i;
50 years, with $50 deaths; "a years, with
9OS deaths; 20 years, with $50 deaths;
% years, with 730 deaths; "a years, with
$50 deaths; % years, with 57l deaths;
81 wears, with $40 deaths, and p years,
with $50 deaths. From 2l 10 81, there
were $3.50 deaths reported among maies,
which gave a yearly death rate of As
per ] 900 living at this age group
The highest week OF mortality WAS
the fifth week, In which $3.50 deaths
were reported, as compared with ap-
proximately 1000 deaths in the hfth
week Of the epidemic of 1891"
As has been said, the bulletin is dated
December last, and therefore can give
no figures of the more recent phases OF
the epidemic. The effect Of the marital
condition Oh the mortality varied with
the age groups. The death rate per
] 900 of population was lowest in New
York among the SIX largest Eastern
cities during seven weeks of the epidemic,
including "the eliminating week" The
figures are: Phiia. phia, 50; Baltimore
AZ; Boston, 40, J 4dalo, 80; Newark 49,,
New York, Il.
The bulletin contains q paper on the
Bacteriology Of Influenza by DR.. Anna
W. Williams, Assistant Director Of the
Health Boards Bureau of Laboratories.
DR. Williams conclude, after much study:
THE evidence IN favor Of the infuenza
bacillus being the initiating cause Of the
present pandemic of influenza is strong,
but does not constitute proof"