A BLACK WEEK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 133, 1 March 1929, Page 11

A BLACK WEEK

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC IN ENGLAND OVER SIX HUNDRED DEATHS IN LEEDS WORSE IHAN WORST WEEK IN 1918 (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (••Times” Cables.) (Rec. February 28, 7.55 p.m.) London, February 27. “The epidemic record last week is the blackest in the city’s history,” reports the Leeds health officer, when supplying influenza statistics. “It was worse than the worst week of the serious epidemic of 1918. The deaths totalled 625. This is the worst recorded, and is equivalent to 68 per 1000. The most tragic aspect relates to infants under twelve months, among whom thedeaths were three to every ten.” The Health Department is certain the actual position is worse than the figures indjpate, because many cases of influenza-pneumonia are not reported to the Department. Consumptive cases are also abnormal. The influenza cases reported for the present week Indicate an even worse total, though the public has long been pretty sure that the epidemic can be ranked with the worst which has occurred throughout the country. Leeds is the first centre to give actual figures, however. ARCTIC WEATHER RETURNS ("Times” Cables.) (Rec. February 28, 11.10 p.m.) London, February 28. A return of Arctic weather in full blast has gravely increased the dangers attendant on respiratory diseases. Severe frosts continue to be reported almost throughout the country, but even worse are the wintry blasts of the east wind, which are testing even strong constitutions. Horse racing has been off continuously for over a fortnight and owners have been deprived of £30,000 stake money by the abandonment of thirtythree days’ racing. The Waterloo Cup, after two weekly postponements, is now tentatively fixed for the middle of March. Ice skating is again in full swing in most parts. (Australian Press Association.)’ (Rec. February 28, 7.7 p.m.) London, February 27.

Though Britain, following a warmer week-end, has been thrown back to iceage conditions, nevertheless there is a welcome harbinger of a warm summer. Shells have just been found on the Cornish .coast brought by the Gulf Stream from New Zealand and Pacific Islands beaches. They have never before been seen, except in years marked by the hottest summers. The last occasion was in 1921.