Williams news., 1918-10-18
CRISIS OF SPANISH
 INFLUENZA HERE

That the crisis of the local Spanish influenza situation is at hand is the opinion of the State and federal health authorities, who have established an emer- gency hospital here andare talk ing active measures to stop the spread of the epidemic.
 Dr. Alice Goetz, who has been sent by Surgeon-General Rupert Blue, of Washington, D. C., to combat the epidemic in Arizona, and who is cooperat- ing with Dr. Orville Brown, the State Superintendent of Health, arrived in Williams last Sunday Accompanied by Mrs. Faith A. Lane, Public Health Nurse from Phoenix, who has been working in Winslow on the epidemic.
 Under the direction of these experienced workers the public school was equipped for an en- ergency hospital, and Miss Eli Zabeth Paul Jeffries, of Phoe- nix, was placed in charge. For ty patients are now in the hos pital, and several have already been discharged s:s recovered.
 Miss Jefries came here direct ly from Winslow where the au- thorities assisted in checking the epidemic. In that place there were seven hundred cases and twenty-three deaths. It is expected that Williams may have a similar total of cases but lower death rate.
 Miss Jeffries is being assisted by a number of volunteers, but urgently needs more help. She states that she has unlimited accommodations, and with more volunteer nurses can handle the situation without undue strain upon any one. She also states that there is no danger of infec- tion in doing this work, as the attendants wear masks, caps and gowns, and frequently use antiseptics. There are many women in Williams fitted for this service, who, informed of the necessity, should respond. WhileNess romantic than nurs- ing in France, this is just as vii tai to the nation.
 Miss Jeffries needs help especi- ally during the morning hours. She is coping with a disease, the virulence of which is now as- serting itself locally, and the hearty cooperation of the town means not only the saving of lives already in danger, but will mean fewer new cases. An en- ergency supply of bedding and pillows should be on hand, and those who can loan these things are helping not only the com munity, but are doing an inval- uable service to the country, in helping to stop the epidemic.
 Mrs. Faith A. Lane has made an interesting survey of the town, taking a census of the in- fluenza cases and conducting an educational campaign on hy- glene as a preventative, with personal advice and demonstra- tions, in the homes.
 Monday and Tuesday Mrs. Lane visited 114 families repre- senting a population of 456. She found 24 cases i'll, 121 re- covering and 86 who were en- tlrely recovered. This was in the west part of town and north of the tracks.
 Wednesdays canvass reach ed 389 residents, and showed IT ill, 98 recovering, and 22 re- covered. This totaled 845 in population reached, 368 cases ill, convalescent and entirely re- covered, at that time. Approx lmately "A new cases developed late Wednesday, showing that the epidemic was still spread ing. These cases were advised to enter the emergency hospi- tai, tho entry is not compulsory. Mrs. Lane is convincing the re- sidents that it is their patriotic duty to guard against this dis ease, not only to check it's fur ther spread, but because this is a time when thenation needs every available unit of man power, and thus conservation of the lives of the civilians has be- come of great importance. She recommends a liberal patron