The Washington herald., 1918-10-12
MASKS URGED
FOR EVERYONE
New Step Suggested by
Authorities to Curb
Influenza.

washingtonians are advised by the
Public Health Service to wear masks
to protect themselves and others
against the influenza germ.
With the number Of new cases and
deaths increasing every day the au-
thorities are making a determined ef-
fort to protect those who have not as
yet contracted the disease and to save
those who are suffering from its ef-
fects.
The mask suggested by the service
will be so arranged that 1t can be
readily slipped over the mouth and
nose when entering a crowded street
car or going into a crowd of any de-
scription: They may be either made
at home or secured from any of the
four relief stations established by the
health service throughout the city.
DR.. II. 6. Mustard. Public Health
Officer, stated last night that the serv-
ice is preparing cards to placard the
city. asking the people Of the District
to adopt the mask.
Nearing the Peak.
Seventy-four deaths, resulting from
the disease, were reported at the
Health Department between the
hours OF o'clock Thursday evening
and 9 o'clock last night, the greatest
number of fatalities In any twenty
four-hour period since the epidemic
first caught the city In it's hold.
With the number of deaths increas-
ing every day, the number Of new
cases reported also shows no tendency
to slacken. Yesterday 1,59S new
oaoaa mana ranartal
health Office.
climax, the indications at present
being that the epidemic will continue
to rage in the city for at least six
or seven weeks more.
or seven weeks more.
Refusal on the part of certain
landlords in the city to fire their
furnaces at the request of the
| authorities resulted yesterday in an
order issued by the commissioners
requiring them to do SO at once.
New Ordinance Terms.
The ordinance, drawn up by Cor
| pOration Couns' Conrad NJ. Syme.
after a conf ice with DR.. Fowler,
district ,.----,h officer reads as fol-
lows:
mo account OF the serious menace
to the public health existing at this
time from the epidemic of Spanish
influenza and the opinion of the
health officer of the District of Co
lumbia that unheated dwellings and
| apartment houses contribute to the
| spread of this disease and are detri-
mental to the public health and
| safety.
Now, therefore, by virtue Of the
powers invested in them by joint
resolution of Congress, adopted Feb
ruary 26, 1892, the Commissioners OF
the District of Columbia do hereby
make and promulgate special
health ordinance. as follows:
Heat Regulations.
! THAT the owner, manager. superin-
I tendent or other person in control OF
every apartment house, lodging house,
hotel or rooning house, or other place
in the District of Columbia used as a
dwelling, who as principal or agent
Is under obligation to supply the in
mates thereof with heat, is hereby
required to heat such building to a
/ temperature of not less than 70 de-
grees Fahrenheit and maintain it at
such temperature while this ordinance
remains in force, provided that a
huctuation of temperature Of not
more than degrees from 70 degrees
Fahrenheit and continuing for not
more than one hour, shall not be con-
sldered a violation Of this order.
For each and every day any per-
son liable hereunder shall fail to com.
ply with the provisions of this ordi-
nance he shall be liabe to a fine not
to exceed forty dalars (s40)."
! At a special board session called al
noon yesterday the commissioners
| unanimously adopted the ordinance
Persons knowing of landlords violat.
ing the order are requested to repor,
them Immediately to the local police
Prosecutions Promised.
The authorities have promised
that prosecutions for violations of
the regulation will be pushed to the
limit Of the law The order must
be obeyed, IL the health authorities
are to gain control of the epidemic.
Staggered lunch hours will in ali
probability be adopted in the gov
ernment departments within aIfew
days. Several of the Offices have al
ready made arrangements wheeby
the employees eat their lunches at
different hours, and this has proven
successful.
The plan II adopted in all of the
departments would materially as.
sist in lessening the danger from
crowded lunch rooms. The health
ofncers believe that the crowds dur
ing the lunch hour in the restaur-
ants and lunch rooms throughout
the city are aiding the conta gion,
but are powerless to control the sit
uation.
Mr.. Mustard announced last night