The sun., 1916-09-22
SCHOOLS IN BOSTON
YIELD TO PARALYSIS
Opening in the Hub Postponed
From Sept. 25 to Oct. 2
Owing to Epidemic.
DECISION HERE TO-DAY
Truancy Law Not to Be In
vOked Even II Glasses Are
Called Next Monday.

Boston has decided TO postpone the
opening Of the public schools there from
September Is to October 2. owing to the
prevalence of ~infantiie paralysis, des-
patches last night said. The date previ-
ously had been changed from Septcm-
Der II.
Tho date Of school opening in New
York may yet be subject to revision.
Mayor Mitchell has arranged TO meet
william g. Wilcox. president Of the
Board Of Education. this morning in his
ONCE at City Hall to confer regarding the
Availability Of opening the schools next
Monday. Mr.. Wilcox will bring will
him the statistics quoted by Commits
sionsr Of Health Emerson to prove that
there 10 no danger In opening the schools.
Despite the increase In the number OF
cases from eighteen on Wednesday "a
tWonty-seven yesterday. COMMISSIONS
Emerson remained frm In his belief that
there will be no danger to children In the
opening of the schools.
1.-THE continued abatement Of the cpl
demic OF infantile paralysis warrants a
statement to the public with the sugges-
ton that II Is time to give up useless
hysteria." ne said. N teacher or pupil
will b permitted to attend the schools
from addresses at which poliomyelitia
SSSANo % AhoAu Us Neos ~
Emerson Gives Figures,
Commissioner Emerson quoted figures
q show that since the height Of tho cpl.
demic. six weeks ago. when the average
daily number of cases was ne. the num-
Der Of cases has dropped steadily until
now the daily average IL only % or %.
Tho action OF private schools In post
poning their opening until later dates
was deplored by Commissioner Emerson.
He said he had written . letter to the
Ethical Culture School. which Is At
tended by his own children, recommend
ting September 20 as a suitable opening
date. The school authorities decided,
however. not to open the institution until
October 16.
II think II will be q real contribution
- tho general health Of the city to take
b 500. 600 school children from their
play In the streets and put them under
uniform system Of life and daily medi.
cal inspection In the public schools" III
MD.
In order to prove how slight Is the
danger OF public school children con.
tracing the disease IN school Commits.
missioner Emerson analysed by age the
tw~enty-seven cases reported yesterday
All but one were Of children 8 years Of
under and all but four Of children Of
- under. One case was a boy OF II.
To Respect Parents' Fears.
School authorities intimated yesterda,
that II the public schools open mex
Monday children whose parents keel
them at home will not be compelled e
attend. 1t was said the truancy Law
would not he invoked until II was GER
tain all infantile paralysis danger wa.
past.
Oustave Straubenmullcr. chairman O
the Board Of City Superintendent, II
the absence Of Supt. Maxwell said IT.
although tho health authorities felt M
harm could come from the opening OF thu
schools. the causes OF the disease wer'
u little known that the fears Of tn,
parents would be respected until II wal
apparent all reason for apprehension
had disappeared.
The new cases were distributed abou
the city AZ follows: Manhattan. 10
Brooklyn. II: The Bronx. 4: Queens. .
n Richmond, none. There were onl.
9 deaths. 3 OF these being In Manhattan
: In Brooklyn and I In Queens.
Outside Of New York city. but within
the State. twenty-five new cases wer,
reported. They were distributed anon
the counties as follows Onondaga
seven Tompkins. six Oswego. four
Westchester. three Suffolk and Nassau
n each. One death occurred In Onon
daga county.
In New Jersey there were th'rty-si,
new cases. bringing the total to 3.44s