Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-26
GRIPPE GERMS WIN
OYER THE DOCTORS
Only Few Physicians Able to Leave
Patients to Attend Conference
Of Health Officers.
OVER ONE HUNDRED EXPECTED

II anyone doubted the existence OF
a great epidemic Of grippe and other
illness throughout Nebraska, the
doubt would have been speedily dis
PEELED by visit yesterday to the
opening session of the FOURTH an
nual conference OF state and i local
health officers at Hotel Rome.
Rampant germs of numerous dis
eases are so malignant in all parts
of tn estate that only a few OF the
15O doctors and health officers ex-
pected to attend the convention were
able to leave their patients and come
to the first session. Fourteenth
teenths of expected convention at
tendance had to stay at home to cor
raj and kill the germs that had so
far escaped the doctors most
strenuous efforts.
At $50 a. M, when registration was
supposed to begin. not a single doctor
had arrived At 10 o'clock, when Mayor
Dahlman was supposed to made his adj
dress of welcome, only seven members
of the convention were present They en-
tered the convention hall, and found the
cold wave had kept the temperature there
down around the so degree mark.
Mayor Sends Substitute.
The mayor himself was busy talking
germs with the other city commissioners,
so he sent City Attorney John A. Rine
to do the welcoming act. Soon Governor
j. H. Morehead hove in view.
Then DR.. z. Arthur Carr Of Lincoln,
vice president Of the State Board of
Health Secretaries, induced Governor
Morehead and City Attorney Rine to
tors. as they paced up and down the
hall. swinging their arms and with their
overcoats buttoned UP tight
A few minutes later. however the mer-
curry in the convention hall started up
ward, and soon It was warm enough for
comfort. When DR.. Carr called the con-
ference to order. one hour later, ten
doctors were in attendance.
Welcome Speech Delayed.
Attorney Rlne's speech of welcome was
postponed till evening. DR.. C. F. Crowley,
city chemist of Omaha. made the first
address. on septic Tanks" to the ac-
compartment OF stereopticon illustrations.
Government Man IL Here.
DR.. A. w. Freeman of Cincinnati. epi-
demiologist OF the United States public
health service. is at the convention. He
says that epidemlcs Of grippe. influenza
and other maladies are common, through
out the country this year. but are being
held In check by strenuous efforts of doc
tors and health officers
Among other prominent FEATURES on the
convention program are the following:
Governor Morehead, DR. Hugo Erickson.
Detroit; DR. Paquin, health commissioner
of Kansas City; DIR. A. o. Thomas. SUI
perintendent public instruction.; Attorney
General Willis E. Reed. Howard Ken
nedy. chairman of the Board OF Commits
sioners Of State Institutions. Lincoln Or.
Ralph w Council. Omaha health COM
missioner, and a number OF other well
known physicians Of Omaha and the
state.
More Doctors Arrive.
BY late. afternoon the registration for
the convention had reached twenty-five,
and some Of the scheduled speakers had
arrived, so afternoon and evening Ses-
sions were possible. Today's program will
include some of the chief addresses, and
when the program Is finished, probably
about noon. the doctors and health Off
GERS will adjourn to Forest Lawn ceme-
terry to see a body cremated.