Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-17
taken in attempted compliance With

SSAAFSS HSO%ARA EWAkAH
the new law.
UNIVERSITY. CAMP CONDITIONS
While interest naturally ce9ters just now around the,
development Of Spanish influenza in the community and
the steps taken to control 1t. a word may appropriately be
said with reference to the handling OF the situation at the
state university. where the students Army Training camp
is located.
The problem presented was a complicated one in
that there were assembled at the institution several hun
dred young men under conditions experimenting army
camp life. to which they were utterly unaccustomed. and
that the disease is Of a character which renders 1t ex-
tremely difficult TO handle even among civilians. where
the surroundings are entirely normal. To Lieutenant
Gaynor and all his assistants credit must be given for
alertness. energy and sound judgment in the steps which
ease.
The disease made its appearance in tho country ut a
time when practically every institution was crowded with
young men vino had been assembled under orders from
the government, to undergo a brief period Of intensive
training in order that they might be fitted for speedy
transportation to engage In active army work overseas.
The need for men on the battle front was urgent. and ev-
erywhere the quarters were necessarily crowded. and the
facilities for handling even the most ordinary work were
often Of the crudest and most incomplete character.
When there appeared to be a probability that the
disease would invade this section the authorities at the
university camp made preparation to meet it. Additional
space was Communicated; plumbing and other necessary
work was rushed as rapidly as possible; .hospita! facilities
were enlarged: nothing. apparently, was overlooked. As
cases developed nurses were occurred as they could be
spared from similarly urgent work down town, and the
student body itself was drawn on for this service. Com
munication was had ut once with the Red Cross. and the
full facilities Of the local chanter were placed at the dis
pOsal Of the, camp, IiOspital supplies. shipped ont a-
cording to custom at the first Of the month, were requi-
sitioned, and these have been distributed as fast as they
could be. returned from Minneapolis
1t is impossible to present more than a brief outline
of the measures taken, but it may be said that in no par
ticular have the needs /of any of the young men been
neglected. and that supplies Of every kind have been
forthcoming as fast as the need for them developed and
acquisitions could be made. As = result of what has been
done the situation at tho university has been much better
than in most other camps. and it would probably be i'm
possible to find an equal numbertof young men. drawn
promiscuously from the same sources Of our population,
and remaining in civil life and in their own homes. who
have received equally Intelligent and conscientious care.
If there are cases. and doubtless there are. in which
patients from homes in which a considerable measure OF
luxury has been the rule have not been surrounded by
quite the conditions which they might have had in their
own homes. two things are to be remembered. First. the
epidemic has taken such a hold on every circle in every
community that the proper care Of the sick in even the
best appointed homes has been exceedingly difficult; and
second, we are in the midst of a great war, fitting our
selves for It, preparing for it. taking part in it, and it has
not been found practicable to call the war off until the
epidemic has run its course.
The conditions at the university are very gratifying.
The sick wards are being depleted, and the convalescent
wards are rapidly filling up. Few new cases develop. and
the deaths. fortunately, have been very few.