Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-11
ANTT-GRIP COMMISSION
FACES OLD PROBLEM
Physicians Appointed to Study
Epidemic Must Grapple With
Age-Long Difficulties

Physicians who were appointed by Di-
rector Of Health krusen to n commission
for the study Of grip and pneumonia are
confronted with problem old as medical
science itself They will begin to Crap
pie with this problem Thursday afternoon,
when. at i:3O o'clock, they will meet in
the office Of the Department of Health
and Charities.
Hundreds of volumes have been written
on the subject OF grip and pneumonia.
The literature upon the rubicct is tremen-
dous, and physicians feel that they know
n great deal regarding these diseases spe-
officially.
But one thing they do not know. one
of the most prominent of the physicians
said today. That Is the reason why cpl
denies of grip and pneumonia occur every
now and then tn take their heavy toll of
life.
Although the members OF the commits
sion named by Doctor Kruscn are among
the most skilful and learned physicians
In this city. known as a centre OF medical
learning. they are thus far at loss to
know just how to 20 about the solution
of the problem. All of them feel that 1t
will require a great amount of work, and
none of them is willing to speculate
on what the outcome win be. Other
physicians, realizing the eminence OF the
men delegated to this work by Doctor
Krusen believe that their report. when
maze, VIII ne an important contributor
to the literature of the subject.
Doctor Krusen, in announcing today
the time of the first meeting, declared
that the commission would attack the
problem from purely scientific view
point with especial attention to local
conditions. If the physicians succeed in
establishing the cause of the recurrence
of the epidemic, however, 1t is felt that
they will have accomplished something
of nationwide, even worldwide, import
ancc. The present epidemic Is not con-
fined to Philadelphia, but Is raging in
all Of the large cities of the country.
DR.. David Riesman professor of clinical
medicine in the University of Pennsyl-
vania, is chairman of the commission.
DIR. Hobart \. Hare. professor of ther-
apeutiCs at Jefferson Medical College and
member OF the commission. said today:
"The question to be determined is just
what micro-organism is responsible ior
the epidemic" He said 1t would be diff
cult to say when report would be made
Oh the subject. While it appeared TO be
a simple problem, he declared, inyestigq-
tion will require considerable detail work
and may take considerable time.
All of the members of the commission
are eminent in clinical and laboratory re-
search work. The city laboratories will
be at their disposal and they will be aid
ed in every way by the Bureau of Health
The other members of the commission
are:
Dr. Judson Daland, professor of clinical
medicine in the Medica-Chirurgical Col
lege.
Dr. William Egbert Robertson, professor
of the practice Of medicine. Temple Uni
versity
Dr. Randle c. Rosenberger, professor
of hygiene and bacteriolOgy in the Jeffer-
son Medical College and the Woman's
Medical College.
Or Paul A. Lewis, director of the Aver
Clinical Laboratory of the Pennsylvania
Hospital. and director OF the pathological
department of the Henry Phipps Insti-
tute.
Dr. John A. Kolmer, professor of path
ology Philadelphia Polytechnic; professor
of experimental pathology at the univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.