The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-18
DRAFT HALTED
HERE TO ASSIST
FIGHT ON GRIP
COnbOy Releases Doctors
and New Vaccine Prom
\ ises Relief.
MANY HOUSES ARE LENT
Decrease Shown in New Cases
as Business and Phones
Are Crippled.
MANY HOUSES ARE LEN


terday marked the fight New York Is
making against the epidemic of infu-
enza and pneumonia.
Martin Conboy, director of the draft
here, stopped the operation Of his ma
chine, which has been busy in its 1S9
local exemption boards classifying the
men who registered for service last
month. AS the result it Is expected that
large number of physicians who have
been giving their time to the exami-
nation of registrants will be released
to combat the local epidemic. Also the
mandatory order calling a registrant
for examination Is done away with for
time. eliminating the possibility that
responding registrants might spread the
disease.
Vaccine Findings Presented.
The Department OF Health presented
The results of experiments conducted
with the anti-influenza vaccine pre-
pared by Dr. william II. Park, director
Of the bureau of laboratories in the de-
partment. They indicate that where
the vaccine has been used there has
been a sharp decrease in the number
OF new influenza cases. The report led
Health Commissioner Copeland TO say
that ipasmuch as immunity from in
fiuenza has been produced by use of the
vaccine 1t Is the strongest possible indi-
cation that Pfe!ffers bacillus is the
cause of the disease On the strength of
this report he ordered the preparation
of sufficient vaccine to meet the demand
Of 10000 doses day.
The third development was the re-
sponse of the general public to the ap-
peals which have been sent out for aid.
Mrs. Louis G. Kaufman. wife OF the
president of the Chatham and Phenix
National Bank. donated to the Health
Department for, its use a building,
formerly a private hospital. at Fifty
seventh street and Lexington avenue.
Mrs. Kaufman has fitted up the building
with the necessary surgical and nursing
adjuncts at her own expense, and simply
asked the Health Department to assume
the responsibility of providing physicians
and the treatment of the eighty children
and babies who can be cared for at one
time. Many other prominent women
offered their homes and other buildings
to be used as temporary hospitals One
hundred per cent of the postgraduate
students in Teachers College who are
studying nursing volunteered their SER
vices.
Homes Sought for Children.
An appeal was sent out to New York
ers who have the room to take into
90 chi n
dren OF victims OF the epidemic removed
to hospitals to prevent a spread Of the
disease.
While these activities were in prog
ress reports received embracing the en-
tire city indicated decrease In the num-
ber OF new influenza cases.
Other Developments showed that while
the organization to fight the epidemic
Is rounding into shape influenza and
pneumonia are making inroads into the
forces of almost every industry.
The New York Telephone Company
Issued an additional statement. which
read in part:
with the losses Of central office oper-
ators In New York city through sick
ness increasing rather than decreasing
the company to-day issued another ap-
peal to telephone users. asking them vol
unfairly to restrict their telephoning to
calls that are absolutely necessary.
AT the company's main office at y
Dey street II was said that the opera
tors absent to-day due to Spanish IN
fiuenza totalled 1900. Unframed en-
ployees cannot take their places"
The statement also said the company
has sent cards to all telephone subscribe
ets in the city repeating the appeal and
asking that the cards be placed beside
the subscribers telephone
The Public Service Commission Of the
Second District reports from It's head
quarters In Albany that operating forces
in the telephone offices under its juris-
diction have been seriously depleted.
Business houses and banks have be-
gun to feel the effects. An official OF
the Federal Reserve Bank in this dis
trlct said that ESQ employees of that
institution were absent through illness.