Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-12-19
Serious Epidemic of Influenza.

Serious Epidemic of Influenza.
The Register last week made mention
OF the fact that there was a re
crudescence of the epidemic of influ
enza that had prevailed in this section
a couple Of months ago. The cours'
OF the disease has not been stayed, ant
it prevails to serious extent. Their,
are many more cases in town thar
| during the first visitation Of the disease
though fortunately it is not in the same
fatal form and there has been no deatf
in the town or immediate neighborhooc
from this cause.
The disease seems to be especially
prevalent among children this time, anc
great many of them are sick in this
community. Last Thursday it was
thought advisable to close the public
school, and so the pupils were dis
missed that afternoon and told tina
they would have holiday until after
New Year.
President Thos. C. Miller yesterday
decided to close down Shepherd College
for the holiday vacation, several days
sooner than the school would have
ended the session. Several of the
students at the dormitory had mild
cases Of the influenza, and others from
the town and county were sick, so il
was thought best to close until after
the holidays. 1t is hoped by that time
the disease will have run its course
and conditions will become more favor
able.
Last Saturday afternoon the local
board Of health had a meeting to con
slider what action had best be taken
After discussing the situation it was
agreed to issue a notice quarantin
ing all homes where the influenza
exists. This quarantine was made q
sort of voluntary matter for those at
fected by it, in the hope that it would
be properly carried out, without enforc-
ing stringent regulations. If it shall
not be fairly observed further steps will
be taken by the health board. This ac-
ton was taken in preference to the clos
ing of public places as was done be-
fore.
The influenza seems to be again
general throughout the country. AL
most all of the neighboring towns in
this section are affected and schools
generally have been closed. 1t pre-
walls also in the cities and is the cause
Of great deal of anxiety. AS rule il
is not in as fatal form as during the
first visitation and there are not nearly
so many deaths.
Among the many victims of the in
huenza in the town and vicinity are
Mayor j. L. Waldeck and his wife and
two children; Mrs. D. B. Lucas and
her son Daniel, the latter being very
sick; Holland and Raymond Miller:
Mrs. st. Clair Clayton and her daugh-
ter Elizabeth; little Sam Hodges, Lucy
Van Reinhart, Gladys Hartzell, Stewart
and Kenneth Osbourn; Jack Crowl.
Russell Henson, Irwin Myers; Miss
Naomi Moler, Miss Julia Terrell,
Phineas Rush, Elizabeth Cornell, Will
liam Butler, T. ]. Hoffman, Joseph
Hamilton and his son; Kenneth and
Edgar Knode, at Bridgeport, who were
very sick; Elsie and David Bi!lmycr,
JEANNE Athey, Miss Emma Mckee,
Franklin McQuilkin, George Mcdonald,
Mabel Thompson, Elizabeth Hill, Ed
ward Johnson, Miss Corinne Rogers,
little Elmer Wintermoyer, Winters
Folk, Wilburn Miller, Charles Lowe,
H. Nj. Shell, Miss Ella May Turner.
Mrs. ]. S.. Myers, Bernice Stanley,
Roland Myers, Robert Underdonk.
The family Of H. E. Melester is bad
ly afflicted with the flu. His daughter,
Mrs. Morris who came here from
contracted the disease
soon after she got here and Tuesday
his oSher daughter, Miss Elizabeth,
was taken sick. This morning Mrs
Melester is sick in bed with the saEie
trouble.
Mrs. Clyde Grubbs, principal Of the
Graded School, has
been quite sick with the influenza this
week. -
Calvin Alder, little son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. John Alder, has been very SICK
with the influenza, but is reported 10
be somewhat better this morning.
A good many colored persons are
sick with the influenza-hve children
of John Stanton, on Wild Goose Farm
are down with it. Rose Mackey, a we'll
known colored woman OF this town, is
very i'll. with pneumonia complications.
Others who are ill are Peter Robinson:
E,orence Williams and the family OF
Walter Brown.
The danger of relaxing efforts to
check the spread Of influenza was en-
again on Monday by Surgeoh-
General Blue, of the Public Heath
Service. "The epidemic is not ended,
the Surgeon General said, "and such
of cases and deaths as
are now occurring in many locahties
NAV be expected to become more or less
general ANY statement at the present
time that the epidemic has come or
gone for good can only do harm, for IL
will lull people into a false sense Oh
security and cause them to relax the
precautions they should take to aVo'o
the infection.
"People are more afraid Of smallpox
than thew are of Influenza" Health
Commissioner John D. Blake said to
Mayor Preston, of Baltimore, in explain,
alton of the fresh outbreak Of the "hu."
"And vet" he added, influenza is five
times more contagious than smallpox
and ten times more fatal" The
mavor asked the reason for The sudden
increase in the disease. DR.. Blake
said il was because people had neglect
ed TO follow advice about staying away
form crowds.
Judge Woods Reversed.
In a decision handed down by the
W.. Ir;-a;n;n Snnreme Court last