The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-03
SHIPPING OUTPUT
MENACED BY GRIP
Hog Island and Fore River
Seriously Hampered by
Spread of Disease.
U. S. FIGHTING MALADY
Warnings Sent Broadcast as
Medical Department
= Lends Every Aid.
Speciai Despdtch 10 THE sus.

| Special Despdtch 10 THE Sos.
| wAsHINGToN. Oct. spanish infu-
erzs. which Is epidemic In forty-three
States. Is having a most serious ef-
feet upon ship production in Eastern
yards. particularly in the New England
and Philadelphia districts, II was stated
to-day by Charles NJ. schwab. Director
General OF the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration.
Eight per cent of the men at the
Hog Island yard and 10 per cent
at the Fore River plants are down with
the disease. most OF them skilled men,
riveters or other important workmen.
he declared. The percentage at all Of
the other yards Is high. but Hog Island
and Fore River plants. with from $500
to 5000 men each under hospital care.
are the worst hit. Hospitals at most of
the yards are crowded. and special build
ings are being put up for the care OF
| stricken men.
| II conditions grow worse. this situa-
| ton will give the shipbuilding pro-
eramme the greatest blow II has sus-
tained. The setback in the work Is
most serious.
Medical officers of the Shipping Board
have evolved a most successful method
OF treating the disease. the principal
cure being fresh air and sunshine, but
its spread has not been stopped. Pa
tents are isolated wherever possible in
specially built bays with open fronts
and sides.
Fight on Disease.
| Drastic Federal action to curb the
| epidemic that Is assuming alarming pro-
| portions Is being taken In many dlrec-
tons. Secretary McAdoo has offered
through the Surgeon-General the aid Of
the Public Health Service to all State
health authorities.
| number of officers have been sent
to New England, particularly to the
| shlpbuilding centres. A hospital train
has been sent to New England carrying
| six physicians, ten nurses and beds for
fifty patients. The Red Cross has been
asked to furnish nurses for many sec
| lions.
Investigations as to the causative
| organism and possibilities for the pre-
| vention and cure OF Influenza are being
conducted in all the laboratories OF the
service. especially at the Hygienic Labo-
| ratory. Washington. d. c., and an officer
has been instructed to look especially
into the part played by carriers In the
transmission of the epidemic. The value
| Of the vaccine recommended as prophy-
tactic against the disease is being in
vestigated. Request has been made OF
tho National Research Council to have
Investigations OF the disease conducted
by other Laboratories In the country.
d Bulletins In regard to the prevention
OF the disease are being distributed AZ
fast as supplies become available from
the Government printing office. Five
hundred thousand copies have been sent
to Red Cross chapters for local dis
tribution and an equal number are being
sent to State and local health authori-
| ties and the sanitation zones which have
been established by the service around
cantonments throughout the country.
| Warming to Public.
Posters emphasizing those elementary
| precautions which every citizen should
take to prevent the spread of the dis
ease sre being placed in every post Of
fice in the country and the United States
Railroad Administration Is sending out
similar posters to be placed In each
| railroad station. Another poster OF the
same character will be placed in the
most conspicuous places in all govern
mental departments and copies sent to
State and local health authorities for
the same purpose.
Telegraphic reports received by the
| Iuuiic heaitn service to-day indicate
that influenza is spreading rapidly Re-
ports of Its presence have been received
from forty-three States and the District
OF Columbia. The disease Is especially
prevalent along the Atlantic seaboard
and the Gulf OF Mexico. Slight abate-
mcnt was noted to-day in army camps
for the first time. New cases in camps
were $4,000. a decrease OF 1000.
In connection with the emergency
arising out Of the present epidemic and
In order that all available resources may
be utilized to the best advantage Secre-
tary McAdoo authorized the Surgeon
General to request the Red Cross to as
sumo charge OF supplying nursing per-
sonnet and taking charge OF the expenses
connected Herewith. together with the
furnishing OF emergency hospital sup
plies wherever II is found that the local
authorities are unable to furnish them
with the promptness required.
reply from the Red Cross accom-
panying the foregoing suggestion stated
that the War Council had at once made
an appropriation of $4,000 and that
steps had been taken TO prepare for the
enrolment OF nurse personnel and fur
nishlng OF emergency hospital supplies.