DEATHS DURING WEEK ENDED MARCH 1, 1919, IN CITIES. The following table shows the registered deaths from all causes, and from pneumonia (all forms) and influenza combined, in certain large cities of the United States during the week ended March 1, 1919. The annual death rates per 1,000 population for the week and for the corresponding week of previous years are also shown. The data are taken from the Weekly Health Index, March 4, 1919, issued by the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. The populations used in computing the rates are estimated by the Bureau of the Census as of July 1, 1918. Registered deaths and annual death rates per 1,000 population in certain large cities of the United States, week ended Mar, 1, 1919-Deaths from all causes, and from pneumonia (all forms) and influenza combined. "A" indicates that the rate given is the average annual death rate per 1,000 population for the corre sponding week of the years 1913 to 1917, inclusive. "C" indicates that the rate is the annual death rate per 1,000 population for the corresponding week of 1918. 2 Population estimated as of July 1, 1919. Rate is based on statistics of 1915, 1916, and 1917. EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA IN GREECE. The Public Health Service is indebted to the American consul general at Athens, Greece, for the following very instructive report concerning the epidemic of influenza in that city last fall. This report was made by Dr. T. G. Filtzos, inspector for the American consulate general, under date of January 16, 1919. "The actual conditions which cause the influenza virus to take on increased virulence are as yet not known, but in this case the epidemic was probably caused by the abnormal conditions of living, both mental and physical, the lack of food, and overwork, all being the result of the war. "The first appearance of influenza in Greece occurred last summer, toward the end of May; the symptoms were but slight and the people who were attacked suffered for three or four days with fever, accompanied by nervous symptoms. It was called at the time 'Spanish fever,' from the country where it first made its appearance. "Since the month of September the epidemic became worse and caused a considerable rise in the mortality. Many cases complicated with broncho-pneumonia appeared then all over the country, and of these cases perhaps 50 per cent were fatal. The most ordinary cases appeared with a general cyanosis, which spread the rumor of the existence of plague and cholera. The people were alarmed and the sanitary authorities were constrained to carefully go into the matter and issue instructions as to the nature of the disease and the necessary steps to be taken to avoid contamination and complications. Among these measures were the closing of schools, both private and public, and of nocturnal theaters and cinemas. Peoplo were then instructed to avoid the overcrowded places and trams and to retire to bed with first symptoms of malaise; they were further informed that coughing and sneezing were the means of spreading the disease from person to person. Owing to these prophylactic measures, or rather to the lapse of time, the disease began to decrease toward the middle of December, or rather began to lose its severe and fatal form, as appears from the figures of deaths given below. "The death statistics of Athens and Piraeus for the following months were as follows: "The ages that suffered most and had most of the fatal cases were between 20 and 45. The symptomatic treatment has generally been followed here. In the beginning of the disease most of the doctors tried the injection of corrosive sublimate in solution, but very soon it was abandoned, owing to rather bad effects. The colloidal metals 106316-19- -2 either prepared locally as colloidal silver or as electrargol by subcutaneous or intravenous injections, if there are no complications, have also been tried, and it would appear that this treatment gives very good results. Vaccine treatment was not tried here at all." COMMON TOWELS. COURT CONSTRUES LAWS PROHIBITING USE IN PUBLIC PLACES. The need for exercising great care in drawing up legislation is w.L illustrated by a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. Two acts passed by the Virginia Legislature in 1916 prohibited the placing, keeping, or use of common towels in any publ lavatory. The accused was the manager of an office building, which was rented to different individuals. On each floor was a lavatory which was kept locked and was only for the use of the tenants of the building. In a prosecution for an alleged violation of the ars referred to the court decided in favor of the accused, holding that the lavatories were not public lavatories. The court said: The gravamen of the offense is that the lavatory in which the towel is used in com mon shall be a public lavatory, which can not be affirmed of lavatories installed a an office building owned by a private individual for the convenience of tenants a the building, which are kept locked so that no one can enter them except tenants :1 the building, which tenants were furnished with keys by the accused. A pabo lavatory, on the other hand, is one that is open to all who may choose to usc it; & for example, lavatories in railway trains or steamboats, which are provided and asp open for the use and convenience of all of the public who travel thereon, or in ball ings to which the public generally have a right to resort, and which are equipped with open lavatories for their use. EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA. PREVALENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. Telegraphic reports for the week ended March 8, 1919, indicate little change in the prevalence of influenza in the United States. The officer in charge of the civil sanitary zone around Carp Zachary Taylor reports 1,118 cases of influenza during the week. 761 of which were in Louisville, Ky. (See p. 519.) During the week ended March 1, 784 cases were reported from this zone. As compared with the preceding week, increases in the number of cases were reported by the State health officers of Arkansas, Califorus Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, and Vermont. Decreases were reported from Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. (See p. 515.) 1 Irvine r. Commonwealth, 97 S. E., 769, * Reprint 406 from Pub. Health Repts., p. 201, chs. 10, 278. PREVALENCE OF DISEASE. No health department, State or local, can effectively prevent or control disease without knowledge of when, where, and under what conditions cases are occurring. UNITED STATES. EXTRA-CANTONMENT ZONES-CASES REPORTED WEEK ENDED MAR. 8. CHARLESTON SANITARY DISTRICT, S. C. FAYETTEVILLE SANITARY DISTRICT, N. C. Cases. Charleston: Cases. Influenza.. Chicken pox. 1 9 Influenza.. 8 Measles.... 1 Measles... 20 CAMP DEVENS ZONE, MASS. Mumps... 1 Ayer: Pneumonia.. 5 CAMP FUNSTON ZONE, KANS. Lancaster: Cleburne. 5 5 Lunenburg: Junction City.. 10 Measles..... Manhattan.. 36 15 Manhattan (rural). 29 CAMP DIX ZONE, N. J. Pottawatomie Ccunty. 7 Pemberton Township: Mumps: Influenza Pneumonia 1 Manhattan.. CAMP DODGE ZONE, IOWA. Pneumonia: Diphtheria.... Gonorrhea.. Meisles.... Scarlet fever. Des Moines: Cerebrospinal meningitis. Chicken pox... 1 Scarlet fever: 5 Junction City. 11 3 Manhattan. 5 Smalipox: 2 Cicturne. 14 Smallpox.... Syphills.. Grimes: Scarlet fever... Measics... Mumps... 8 1 1 Fneumonia. Carlisle. England. 3 Smallpox.. 4 Key. 1 Syphilis. 3 Loake... 2 Lonoke, R. F.D. 2 Cirard: Meto. Mumps: 1 Syphilis. 1 Ward... Muscogee County: Pneumonia: 1 Gonorrhea... 1 Carlisle. Influneza.. 3 Septic sore throat: 1 Ward... Fneumonia.. 1 3 1 Smallpox... (509) |