The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-07
Scourge is SO Virulent In New
York City That Off
cials Become
Alarmed.
s1xTY-F1vE ARE DEAD
Other cities Report Cases and Gov
ernment Has Taken
Notice Of the
Menace.

NEw YORK, July 7-Overworloed
board OF health officials who have
been striving unsuccessful to kill the
infantile paralysis epidemic here. ad-
united today their belief that the
scourge probably would continue
throughout the summer. So virulent
has been the outbreak that none of
the drastic measures heretofore
found effective in dealing with It has
served to check its spread. The
mortality continues at about twenty
four per cent-higher than ever re-
corded in previous outbreaks hero.
1--WE have gone the limit in taking
every known precaution to prevent
the epidemiGs spread" eaid DR.. EN-.
erson, health commissioner, "and yet
Z have mo- ttconfidence that we are
meeting with success. look to see
the outbreak continue throughout the
summer"
Health board officials arc anxiousfy
awaiting the arrival here of federal
public health service surgeons and
epidemic experts whose aid was
promised yesterday by Secretary of
the Treasury McAdoo.
It was estimated today that the
total number of cases has reached 750.
Since the outbreak OF the disease
there have been sixty-five deaths.
Two Cases Found.
PHILADELPHIA, July 7.-The dis
cuvery Of two cases of infantile par
alysis in this city has led to drastic
action today by health authorities to
prevent a repetition here Of the New
York epidemic.
Fifth Case Reported.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, July THE
fifth case of infantile paralysis was
No deaths have occurred. but city
officials are planning a more rigid
campaign against flies and dirt All
babies arriving from New York are
examined.
One Child Dead.
CHICAGO. July 1.-THE death OF
one child from infantile paralysis and
discovery of seven new cases here
prompted health authorities today to
take steps to prevent the epidemic
assuming proportions similar to the
wave of the disease in New York.
Several cases were reported down
state. Ten deaths from infantile
paralysis have occurred in Chicago
since January 1, 1916, about the av-
erage for the disease here.
Government Takes Hand.
WASHINGTON, July 7.-Fearing a
possible nation wide epidemic of in
fantile paralysis, the United States
public health service today took steps
actively to aid New York health off,
cials in fighting the disease that has
already killed more than 16O New
York babies in less than a month.
The Battle Begins.
WASHINGTON, July THE first
step Of federal authorities in the
battle against the dreaded disease. it
was announced today, will be visit
of Assistant Surgeon William Colby
Rucker to New York. The United
States public health service, follow
ing a conference at noon today, or
dered six Of its experts to cooperate
with New York officials to prevent
spread of the disease which today
was reported in Cleveland, Chicago
and other cities.
Surgeon Lavinder will have charge
Of the six men. DR.. Rucker today
to doctors of the service
all over the country for reports on in
fantile paralysis in their states.
Monkeys are needed Immediately
for experimental work If the disease
is to be checked.
Commissioner En- telegraphed
DR. Rucker today that zoo monkeys
belonging to the Rockefeller institute
are being held in the Philippines be-
cause of a department of agriculture
embargo against the importation of
animals. Emerson asked that these
he released. Rucker took the matter
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