From the cradle to the grave—from the earliest infancy to the greatest age—man is liable to attacks of pneumonic fever. The newly-born babe, the prattling child, the rollicking boy and winsome girl, the bashful youth and demure maiden, the man in his strength and his mate in her loveliness, the sedate of both sexes as they descend the decline of life, and the aged totterers upon the brink of the grave; all furnish victims to this devouring enemy of mankind.
Although no age is exempt, yet the disease is met with much more frequently at some periods of life than at others. During early childhood pneumonic fever finds easy and exceedingly numerous victims. From 5 to 20 years of age the mortality sinks to its lowest level. From 20 to 40 years the proportion is increased somewhat, to be again considerably augmented during the next score of years. Old age