The Washington herald., 1918-10-27
DECLINE In FLU
NOW EXPECTED
Days Death Toll Only %,
But Ban on Meetings
Is Not Lifted.

Tventy-nine deaths from inhu-
enEa were reported at the local
health ONCE during the twenty-four
hour period ending at 3 o'clock last
night
The number Of deaths resulting
from the disease and the number of
new cases have not shown a wide
daily variation for several days.
District health authorities believe
this fact indicates that the epidemic
is under control and are confident
that the next few days will see
rapid decline.
Despite the marked Improvement,
however. the authorities are deter
mined that the theaters, churches,
etc. shall not reopen until all dan
ger from contagion is past.
Local ministers endeavored to
persuade the authorities yesterday
TO permit the reopening of the
churches this morning. I'm response
TO their pleas, DR.. William Fowler.
District Health Ohcer. took the
matter up with Commissioner
Brownlow, who has just recovered
from an attack of the disease.
BrownIov's Statement.
In answer Commissioner Brown
low issued the following statement:
The Commissioners today consid
cred the question of the churches
opening for services tomorrow.
They sought the advice of the health
Officer of the District of Columbia,
who informed them that, in HIS
opinion, II would not be safe to
permit the holding Of services in
the churches at this time.
Through the health officer they
also sought the advice of the Office
OF the United States Public Health
Service. and that office emphatically
confirmed the opinion of the health
officer.
The Commissioners do not desire
to interfere any longer than is made
necessary by unusual conditions
with the regular assemblage of the
people in their churches. They lis
tened with sympathy to the repre-
sentations made on behalf Of the
churches, but in view of the en-
phatic opinions of the District and
Federal health authorities, they re-
gret that at this time they are un-
able to modify their former action
The Commissioners say that no
action looking to the opening of the
churches, theaters and moving pic
ture houses and the removing of the
general ban against places Of pub
lie gatherings will be taken until
such time as the health authorities
think 1t would be wise to do so and
so recommend to them"
Health Officers Approve.
Officers Of both the Public Health
y Service and the local health depart-
-ment last night declared their ap-
proVal OF Commissioners Brownlow's
stand
Public meetings Of any kind are
not safe at the present time DIR
Fowler stated THE public is asked
70 be patient until all danger is past
and in the opinion of the heaItK
authorities theaters. churches. etc,
can be opened without danger to the
common health"
Up to 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon
70 new cases of the disease had been
reported for the District
Reports Of the epidemic received
at the office of the Public Health
Service from various sections of the
country continue to show a marked
Improvement
~ Decrease in Army Camps.
Further decrease in the number of
new cases and deaths reported from
the army camps was noted in yester-
days report to the War Department
The numbep-of new cases was ,6O2.
as compared with 2,575 Friday. There
were Ss6 cases Of pneumonia reported,
and 2t9 deaths from both influenza
and pneumonia
surgeon General Blue issued a state
ment yesterday in regard to yaccines
IN combating Spanish influenza He
declares that as far as the Public
Health Service had been able to learn. ,
the use Of none Of these vaccines has
gone beyond the experimental stage. (
~ must be remembered." he stated !