New Britain herald., 1918-10-09

Needed by General Hospital.
Late afternoon reports from the
health department indicate that the
Spanish Influenza epidemic is spread
ing with even more alarming rapidity
than during the past few days.
Records in the department show that
els new cases were reported today,
bringing the total number af patients
up to 2,949. Doctors who are attend
ing these cases report that possibly
so per cent. of all cases are develop
ing into pneumonia il d more or less
serious form. The death rate of tho
city is also increasing to an alarming
extent and undertakers are faxed to
their utmost to caro- for sails ..TlG~
health department announces that
during the epidCTtiC the office in city
hall will be open evenings until 8 p.
m. 1
New Doctor Kept Busy.
DIR. B. L. Blackledge, sent here for
emergency work by the state board of
health, already has more cases on his
hands than he can attend to. When
ne began his work this morning there
was a list 35 new patients and this
number was increased hourly. The first
visit made by the doctor was to Il
family on High street where it was
reported that n sick mother was
sitting up in bed, holding her dying
baby and watching two other MEM
bars of the family who were also i'll.
The health department especially
puts the people of the city on their
honor not to call upon DR.. Black
ledge unless they have honestly
ri fai tn Ia nf
another physician. No to do this is to
impose upon the fild PHYSICIAN and
prevent him from attending to cases
that may be more serious. The
board also announces that Wrile no
fees are to be charged in needy cases,
in other instances where the family
can offord to pay a fee this money VIII
be turned into the city treasury and
then given to the Red Cross and the
Charity department.. The Charity de-
partment is furnishing money to buy
medicines for the families who can
not otherwise afford it. The public
is also urged to be very explicit in
sending their names and correct ad-
dresses when it is necessary to call
DR.. BlacllledEe. Yesterday afternoon
Earl Kisslbrack of the War Bureau
loaned his car for DR.. Blackledge's
use and today Mrs. a. G. Kimball
has leaned her machine and has per-
sonally driven the physician to his
cases. Mrs. kimball leads the auto
mobile auxiliary in this city
Soldiers Kept in City.
SO serious do army officers regard
the epidemic that all soldiers, both in
the ordnance and quartermasters'
corps, stationed here, have been given
explicit orders not to leave the city
limits. Heretofore these men were
Given courtesy passes which permit-
ted them to leave the city on occa-
sion, but these are now void.
OrderIics Needed at Hospital
Conditions at the hospital are seri-
GUS, not only because Of shortage of
nurses, but also because Of a short
age of orderies. Last night two mem
bers of the quartermasterS' corps Of
the army, Privatcs II. I3. Seward and
John Cooney, VINO work in a factory
here days, volunteered TO do this work
this would be too much of II tax on
their strength and their offer was de-
cIined with thanks. Later Elmer w.
I>ipnle of the North 4. Judd Mfg. Co,
who was at one time a nurse, volun-
teored his services and last night he
assisted at the hospital as an orderly.
fIe will not long be able to do this
work. however. as he can not get re-
leased from the factory and the war
bureau. which is making frantic ef-
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