The Washington herald., 1918-10-06
FROM
INFLUENZA IN
DAY TOTAL 38
Epidemic Increases Spread
in District as More
Victims Die.
1882 CASES REPORTED
Fowler Protests Against
Gatherings at Funerals
During Scourge.

Deaths from Spanish influenza in
the District of Columbia reached the
largest number yesterday of any
twenty-four hours since the begin
ming OF the epidemic with a total OF
thirty-seven reported TO the Health
Department late last night. The
death of a Herald empIoye had not
yet been reported.
The number of cases of influenza
in the District. reported to the
Health Department yesterday on the
first day on which reporting was
compulsory. totalled 1882 up to 4
o'clock in the afternoon. This figure
more than doubles the SIS cases re-
ported on Friday under the system of
voluntary reporting.
These figures would seem to ver-
ify the opinion OF DR.. Fowler. Dis
triCt Health Officer. expressed to a
Herald representative early in the
afternoon that the crisis OF the dis
ease has not yet been reached in
this city. Il feel" DR.. Fowler stat
ed that we are still on the up
grade. and rapid one at that. Only
time win tell whether the radical
steps which have been taken will
check the course of the disease. but
am confident that the best things
possible under the circumstances
have been done"
DR.. Fowler strongly advised
against gatherings at funerals. Il
want to discourage church funerals.
il they have not already been
stopped with the closing down of
the churches. said DR.. Fowler. II
recommend that all funerals should
he limited to the family and most
intimate friends OF the deceased"
Majority Young People.
A noteworthy feature of the
deaths resulting from influenza is
that the majority of them are
among people between the ages of
20 and SO years. at the strongest
and henlthiest time OF life. Out
Of the thirty eight victims in to-
days list. twenty-nine are under 35
years of age.
Both street car companies of the
city are suffering from severe
shortage of men. which makes it
difficult to cope with the situation.
OF the ninety-five cases OF influenza
reported by the Capital Traction
.
and motOrmen, the conductors out
number the motormen by a proper
ton OF more than two to one. ac-
cording to the statement OF an off
cial Of the road yesterday. In the
general shop of the company eleven
men were suffering from the epi-
demic. which has held up the re-
pair work. The Washington Rail-
nd ri Tnrononu
166 cases yesterday. an increase of
, thirty cases over the day before.
Drug situation Acute.
The situation in the drug stores
yesterday was more acute than ever.
with no relief In sight. At s O'Clock
in the evening fifty people were
waiting in one store to have pre-
sCriptions tilled. and new arrivals
were told that they could not be
waited upon before l o'clock. The
shortage of nurses and doctors is
still so great that Commissioner
Brownlow issued a request that no
nurses should leave the city to help
in other localities. since they cannot
be spared from the District in the
present emergency.
government bureau employing $50
girls has already been closed because
almost a score of the girls were taken
with influenza in the course of a few
hours, and the chief OF the bureau
deemed it unsafe to keep 1t open.
The suggestion has been made that
government departments not directly
engaged in the work of the war
should be closed for a few days be-
fore bureaus are so depleted by the
hnt
paired. 1t has been pointed out that
the conditions in many of the gov
ernment departments are Just as
favorable for the carrying Of the dis
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