The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-02
The INFLUENZA SITUATION.
QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS RE-
MAIN ON FOUR COUNTIES.

QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS RE
MAIN ON -FOUR COUNTIES.
Public Meetings Forbidden In Hamp-
ton, ColIeton, Lancaster and New
berry Counties.
Columbia, Oct. 31.---Orders Were
issued yesterday from the State health
department to the sheriffs Of Hamp.
ton, Colleton, Lancaster and Newber-
ry counties instructing them to ex.
tend the duration Of the present quar-.
antine and not to lift the restrictions
November 3. I.
When the Quarantine. was EXTENDED
October % until November O., the or.
ders were to the effect that all re.
strictions were to be removed Novem'
ber 8, unless otherwise instructed bS
the health department.
The order to the sheriffs OF these
four counties: means. that schools
churches and all places OF public
meeting will remain closed until con:
ditions improve and it is deemed safe
to permit assemblages. While con-
ditions in these counties have shown
improvement recently, health officials
are of the opinion that it would be
unsafe to permit schools and churches
and picture shows to open at pres
ent. In the order. extending the du.
ration of the quarantine. no time Is
set for its removal, but when condi-
tons are such that no danger is IN
Cured to the public health by crowds
the restrictions will be lifted. The
measure taken by the health authorl-
tics is in line with its policy to take
every precaution to prevent influenza
from getting a new foothold in the
State. No other counties are affected
by the order.
+: DR.. C. ". Akin OF the United States
public health service. in charge OF IN
a,1enza control work, said yesterday
that he estimated that there had
been so, 900 cases of influenza in the
State during the epidemic, 5000 cases
of pneumonia and 5000 deaths. While
this estimate is based on a few reports
relatively, these reports serve to por-
tray conditions over the entire State,
and are considered an index to eon-
ditions in communities from which no
reports have come and the esn-
mates made are conservative.
Reports received yesterday were re-
garded as encouraging by DR.. Akin
who said that all points asking for
assistance were being covered. Splen-
did work is being done by the public
health service and the physicians and
nurses being sent ont have brought
aid and comfort to hundreds OF pa
tents.
From a survey made by Acting As
sistant Surgeon G. M. Saliba OF con-
ditions in, Lancaster County, it i:
shown that there are in the county
1857 cases of Influenza. The public
health service plans to perfect an or
gyirization in this county and three
physicians. and six nurses will be pro-
vided to give assistance in every way
possible. Acting Assistant Surgeons
Chet Mcdonald, G. M. SalibaL, and G.
NJ. Love will engage in the work;
DR.. Mcdonald will have charge OF the
work in the town Of Lancaster, while
DR.. Saliba will he assisted in his work
in the rural districts by Dr.. Love.
Reports yesterday from a section OF
Florence county about eight miles
from the county seat were to the .ef-
feet that within an area of about
eight square miles there were some
200 cases Of influenza The health
service will send medical officer te
the stricken section, and Public Health
Service Nurse Locke will secure ad-
| ditional assistance in Florence.
Acting Assistant Surgeon II. Nd
Smith was sent yesterday to TIM
monsviIle. Nursing aid will be sen
to Bennettsville and Florence and VII
be assigned work by Acting Assistan
Surgeon A. S. Hays. Acting Assistan
Surgeon F. A. Brandt, who has beer
on duty in Williamsburg county, VII
60 to the hospital at BennettsTlile
as will Miss Annie I. Painter, a regis
tered nurse Acting Assistant Sur
geon E. D. Helfrich will go to D1liel
to assist in the work being dom
there. Acting Assistant Surgeon M
In. Waters, who has been on duty II
summerton, reported at the health
Offices yesterday and says condition
are better. Acting Assistant Surgeon
Is. F. Blakely, who has been on dut.
at Fort Mill, reported at the offc
| Yesterday that the epidemic was un
der control in Fort Mill
Passed Assistant Surgeon g. V
Akin yesterday gave to w. L. Spence
of the Red Cross list OF nurse
needed at the present time. Accord
ing to this list, one nurse is neede
at Easley, Johnston, Alcolu, one
Bishopville, two at st. Matthews, on
at Lake City, two at Dillon, one
EBennettsville, one at Ridge Sprin
and oHe ct Manning.
The Red Cross yesterday sent t
Lancaster a large shipment of med
ical supplies to be used in the treat
plent of influenza and pneumonl
cases.