Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-14
DOCTORS APPROVE
CLOSING SCHOOLS
Recommend Course to Admins
trative Board to Prevent
Spread of Influenza.
MAY TAKE ACTION TO-DAY
superintendent Hill and DR.. En-
nett Oppose Drastic Step
at This Time.

! Closing Of schools and SUNDAY
! schools as safeguard against furthe.
spread Of influenza among children of
! Richmond was last night recommends d
| to the Administrative Board by the
! Richmond Academy Of Medicine and
Surgery. IL is probable that a special
meeting Of the board will be held to-
day to pass upon the matter.
The recommendation came after
lengthy discussion in special meet
ing called TO consider the matter at
the Chamber of Commerce Because SO
many OF the citys physicians wer:
busy lighting the ravages of influenza
throughout Richmond. only twenty six
were present. Sixteen of these voted
for the closing recommendation Dr.
j: Fulmcr Bright and DR.. T. y. Emmett.
city school physician. were the only
dissenters. Eight did not vote.
Many of the physicians were in favor
Of closing all public gathering places,
but i, was finally decided that the
Then. ii results were not satisfac,o ,ory.
more drastic action could be taken.
HAEAGES AMONG CHILDREN
NOW MUCH GREATER
Dr. Mcclure Newton was the instiga-
tof oil last nights meeting. His prac-
ticc is almost entirely among children.
He said that since the recrudescence OF
the disease in epidemic form he had
noticed that it's ravages among chill
drcn was much greater than when the
disease first made its appearance here.
By investigation he had found that
sonal contact at school. In this he was
supported by d.. r. w. Miller. who
quoted from his notebook at least
twenty cases that had resulted directly
from contact with school children.
DIR. St George T. G-innun Speaking
FOR the resolution TO close the schools.
said that until influenza appeared here
he had looked upon measles ~ the
most rapidly spreading Of diseases
"Bui influenza goes by measles so fast
you would think II was tied to "A post"
he declared
Hill. AND EMMETT ARE
OPPOSED TO CLOSING
Acting Superintendent OF Schools A.
~. H!ll and DIR. Emmett opposed the
resolution. contending tina. the average
chi!d was much better cared for and
safeguarded in school than he could lie
at home. Or. Bright charged the
a,eademy with meddling. and advised
nsna J. s7'sTFue!'tss he 'sa Id. There viii be
some empty cradles. but the education
oi humanity must not be stopped"
eny, replied that DR.. Bright would look
dincrently upon the matter were hn
not BACHELOR ard had cradle OF his
own. Rather than have my cradle
empty. ] would advocate the closing of
schools for a thousand years. and feel
that my duty as a physician demands
that I protect the cradles of other faith
ers.'
FOUR DEATHS AND .S1
NEW CASES YESTERDAY
There were 2G7 new cases Of In
huenza reported Yesterday up to )
CLOCK Four deaths were attributed
10 The malady. In the meeting last
night a dozen physicians said they had
not reported new cases coming under
their observation for yesterday They
had @ been too busy to do so. they said
during the week 1866 new cases and
nine deaths had been reported. oni:
IN three weeks during the height or
The former epidemic did the number
OF reported cases exceed that number.
ana this week has another dav 10 20
ID TO the present time 1915 cases
nave been reported since the last weel,
IN september. Since that time the
'nalndy has resulted in death 10 730
5000 PUPILS BEING
KEPT AWAY FROM SCHOOLS
report by weeks, as compiled fo,
the academy by Commissioner Graham
-, H. hons6n. OF the Administrative