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These statistics, although obviously not as complete as may be desired, indicate that:

1. The mortality rate rose to a much higher point during the primary wave of the 1918 epidemic than in the epidemic of 1889-90 in 9 of the 12 cities. It is of interest to note that the rate was relatively low during both epidemic periods in St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. If the mortality during the 8 weeks of highest mortality be compared for the two epidemic periods in the twelve cities, considered as a single population group, it is seen that the annual mortality rate during the period December 15, 1889, to February 8, 1890, was 26.7, as against 35.2 for the period September 29 to November 23, 1918. In the peak week the rate rose to 55.6 in the 1918 epidemic as compared with 35.4 in the 1889-90 epidemic.

2. While considerable irregularity in the curves as plotted in figure 1 is evident, the curves of the two epidemics manifest, on the whole. quite a striking similarity for the same cities considered individually and as a whole. The length of the primary stage or wave-aside from recrudescences or continuance of relatively high, but not truly epidemic mortality rates-was quite similar for the two epidemies in all of the cities.

"PATENT MEDICINES"-DISCLOSURE OF INGREDIENTS. REGULATION REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF INGREDIENTS OF PROPRIETARY MEDI CINES HELD INVALID BY NEW YORK COURT, BUT CAPABLE OF AMENDMENT SO AS TO MAKE IT VALID.

That portion of the sanitary code adopted by the board of health of the city of New York, which requires the names of the ingredients of patent or proprietary medicines to be registered in the department of health before such medicines can be sold, has been declared invalid by the New York Court of Appeals.'

When the ordinance went into effect, the plaintiff, a concern engaged in the importation and sale of proprietary and patent medicines, had in stock large quantities of drugs, the ingredients of which it did not know and could not ascertain. The ordinance did not except such merchandise from its operation, and the plaintiff contended that it was void, because in effect an absolute prohibition was laid upon the sale of its existing stock. This contention the court of appeals sustained. In the opinion the court said:

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The argument is made that the ordinance is an arbitrary exercise of the power government. We do not think so. Its purpose and effect are well within the limits of the police power. The purpose is the preservation of the public health and safety. The form of protection is publicity. *** The public health is safeguarded by disclosure to public officers charged by law with its protection. One other objection to the ordinance is yet to be considered. We think it points to E. Fougera & Co., Inc., v. City of New York et al., 120 N. E. 642.

real defect, though one that amendment may correct. The ordinance does not except existing stores of merchandise in the hands of druggists or other dealers, who do not know the ingredients and can not state them. That is the plaintiff's plight. *** In effect, therefore, an absolute prohibition is laid upon the sale of its existing stock, * * * Without warning and without fault, its right of property has been forfeited. There must be many others in a like predicament. We do not need to say that there is no power, even in the legislature, to work this forfeiture. The defect is so far-reaching, it is so deeply wrought into the substance of the law, that there is no opportunity to sever the good from the bad. * On the ground that the ordinance in its application to merchandise previously acquired fails to save the rights of dealers unable to comply with its requirements, we hold that the board of health has exceeded the powers delegated to it.

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ANTIVENEREAL DISEASE NEWS.

The United States Public Health Service, Division of Venereal Disease, is conducting approximately 175 clinics. During the period from November 15 to December 15, 1918, there was a total of 19,456 visits to 29 clinics, or an average daily attendance of 38.1 at each clinic. There were 2,489 new cases, which was an increase of 188 cases over the number of admissions of the preceding month. A total of 25,543 treatments were administered and 11,195 cases were remaining under treatment in the clinics, hospitals, and detention homes on December 15. As a result of 1,845 "follow-up visits" made by the clinic nurses and social workers, there were 1,070 visits to the clinics.

Minnesota has shown good results in her clinics. It is claimed that this is due to extensive social-service work, which involves following up by correspondence as well as by investigation. It has been possible to secure the adherence of incorrigible cases to a routine of precautions, so as to protect others from infection.

Many thousands of letters requesting pamphlets and expressing a desire to assist in the conflict against venereal diseases have been received from various States. Twenty thousand druggists have pledged themselves to refrain from selling nostrums for the treatment of venereal disease. Five thousand pledges not to publish advertisements of quack doctors have been received from newspapers.

THE CURE OF VENEREAL DISEASES.

MESSAGES FROM UNITED STATES SURGEONS GENERAL.

Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service.

You can not compromise with venereal diseases. Unless cured, syphilis and gonorrhea, or "clap," know only one result the destruction of the human body. Venereal disease in a person's body

Table I.-Influenza Epidemic of 1889-90.

Annual death rate per 1,000 population from all causes, by weeks, during the period Dec. 15, 1889, to Feb. 15, 1890, compared for 12 cities."

Annual death rate per 1,000 from all causes for the week ending

City.

Dec. 21. Dec. 28. Jan. 4. Jan. 11. Jan. 18. Jan. 25. Feb. 1. Feb. 8. Feb. 15.

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The statistics for deaths are from the Twenty-first Annual Report of the Board of Health of Massachusetts (loc. cit.), pp. 380-381, and the rates are computed upon the basis of the census population of 1899. Where no figures appear for any week the data are not available.

2 For eight cities.

Table II.-Influenza Epidemic of 1918.

Annual death rate per 1,000 population from all causes, by weeks, during the period Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 1918, compared for 12 cities.1

Annual death rate per 1,000 from all causes for the week ending-

City.

Sept. Sept. Sept. Oct.
14. 21. 28. 5.

Oct. Oct. Oct. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. 12. 19. 26. 2. 9. 16. 23. 30.

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11.3

New York.

11. 1

Washington..

14.0

14.4

Fall River.

15. 4 20.3

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9.4 10.4 12.3 13.8 19.3 22.4 29.1 23.9 20.9
17.8 14.3 19.3
11.4 10.8 11.7 12.4 15.7 25.4 27.4 28.5 26.3 26.6 25.3 27.4
10.2 9.5 10.1 10.1 12.1 21.4 40.7 56.0 46.2 33.4 25.6 22.1
7.6 11.9 11.9 11.4 17.0 21.6 32.2 27.6 22.8 21.9
16.6 18.0 31.5 51.7 68.9
61.7
11.5 12.1 17.9 33.1 56.6 67.6
18.5 39.7 79.7 100.5 65.6
24.4 60.2 101.6 98.0 62.6
14.1 12.7 13.2 14.4 31.3 75.9
19.7 19.2 65.5 85.2 68.0 46.8 24.8
14.5 32.6 65.8 98.0 85.4 50.6 29.0
14.8 17.2 28.7 65.4 91.1 76.5 55.9 30.1 17.7

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12 cities.

12.4 17.2 11.5

11.5 13.6 17.5 25.6 36.3 49.4 55.6 49.0 33.2 23.3 19.1 17.5

The statistics for deaths are from the Weekly Health Index, issued by the Bureau of the Census, and the rates are computed upon the basis of the Bureau of the Census population estimates as of July 1, 1918.

Table III.-Influenza Epidemics of 1889-90 and 1918.

Annual death rate per 1,000 population from all causes, by weeks, compared for 12 cities, the rates being arranged with respect to the week of highest mortality in each epidemic (see Fig. I).1

Annual death rate from all causes, by weeks.

Week of highest

mortality Weeks prior to week of highest mortality during the

Week of

demic.

Weeks subsequent to week of highest mortality during the epi

during

City.

Year.

epidemic.

highest

the epi

mortality

demic

during

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the epi

First. Second. Third. Fourth. Fifth.

Sixth. Seventh. Eighth.

demic.

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These statistics, although obviously not as complete as may be desired, indicate that:

1. The mortality rate rose to a much higher point during the primary wave of the 1918 epidemic than in the epidemic of 1889–90 in 9 of the 12 cities. It is of interest to note that the rate was relatively low during both epidemic periods in St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. If the mortality during the 8 weeks of highest mortality be compared for the two epidemic periods in the twelve cities, considered as a single population group, it is seen that the annual mortality rate during the period December 15, 1889, to February 8, 1890, was 26.7, as against 35.2 for the period September 29 to November 23, 1918. In the peak week the rate rose to 55.6 in the 1918 epidemic as compared with 35.4 in the 1889-90 epidemic.

2. While considerable irregularity in the curves as plotted in figure 1 is evident, the curves of the two epidemics manifest, on the whole, quite a striking similarity for the same cities considered individually and as a whole. The length of the primary stage or wave-aside from recrudescences or continuance of relatively high, but not truly epidemic mortality rates-was quite similar for the two epidemics in all of the cities.

"PATENT MEDICINES"-DISCLOSURE OF INGREDIENTS.

REGULATION REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF INGREDIENTS OF PROPRIETARY MEDICINES HELD INVALID BY NEW YORK COURT, BUT CAPABLE OF AMENDMENT SO AS TO MAKE IT VALID.

That portion of the sanitary code adopted by the board of health of the city of New York, which requires the names of the ingredients of patent or proprietary medicines to be registered in the department of health before such medicines can be sold, has been declared invalid by the New York Court of Appeals.1

When the ordinance went into effect, the plaintiff, a concern engaged in the importation and sale of proprietary and patent medicines, had in stock large quantities of drugs, the ingredients of which it did not know and could not ascertain. The ordinance did not except such merchandise from its operation, and the plaintiff contended that it was void, because in effect an absolute prohibition was laid upon the sale of its existing stock. This contention the court of appeals sustained. In the opinion the court said:

The argument is made that the ordinance is an arbitrary exercise of the power of government. We do not think so. Its purpose and effect are well within the limits of the police power. The purpose is the preservation of the public health and safety. * The form of protection is publicity. * * The public health is safe

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guarded by disclosure to public officers charged by law with its protection.

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One other objection to the ordinance is yet to be considered. We think it points to

1 E. Fougera & Co., Inc., v. City of New York et al., 120 N. E. 642.

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