Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-26
ALARM IN N. E.
Continued from PAGE Onel

Continued from Page One)
AIDES planned for the immediate flu
ture was included in the request. In
this city all agencies available for
preventing the spread of the disease
and relieving sufferers were merged
| into conference in the City hall,
called by Mayor Andrew ]. Peters.
A special health committee of five
was appointed to take full supervis-
ion of all preventive work. Henry
B. Endicott, chairman of the new
state health committee brought the
committees request for the closing Of
places of public gathering. At the
suggestion of the city committee Ma
yor Peters issued call to all theatre
and moving picture house proprietors
and managers to meet the committee
at City hall tomorrow morning when
decision regarding the closing of
their places will be made. Mean
while Health Commissioner w. c.
Woodward, member of the city
commute sent out a squad of in
spectors to the theatres to ascertain
conditions among the audiences.
The closing of churches was not
contained in the state health commit
tees request. Some of the conferees
advocated this action but others
pointed out that there was less dam
ger of spread of disease in church,
es because most of them had direct
sunlight in the daytime, while plac-
es OF amusement are lighted artifi-
cially. A suggestion that met with
considerable favor by the city health
committees was that the 5000
school teachers in this city be asked
to volunteer as assistant nurses.
The Women's health committee of
the Council of National Defense Of
fered to enroll all teachers who were
willing to undertake this service.
The state health committee tonight
recommended that specialists who
could temporarily divert their prac-
tice should register with the state
health commissioner for service
against the influenza epidemic.
Warning to proprietors of eating
places against careless handling Of
food was also sent out by the COM
mttee. Action designed to assist in
stamping out the disease was taken
tonight by James J. Storrow, New
England Fuel Administrator. Inac-
cordance with the request of DR..
Eugene r. Kelly, state commissioner
Of health, Mr.. Storrow advised all
local fuel committees and household
ers throughout the state that on ac-
count Of the prevailing epidemic the
mderate use Of coal heat in dwell
ings. apartment houses and office
buildings was permissible.
1t was estimated today that there
were between $4,000 and $4,000 cases
Of Influenza and pneumonia in New
England. There have been more
than one thousand deaths in the
New England states in ten days.
There were 107 deaths from influenza
and pneumonia in Boston for the "a
hours ending at 10 o'clock tonight,
a decrease of two from yesterday.
Deaths form the disease in this city
since September IA totalled- 597 to-
night. Striking feature of the ep-
idemic in this section today were
Mobilization of 1000 nurses to take
care of sufferers begun by public
health nursing service Of the Coun-
Gil of National Defense.
Schools. theatres and other places of
public assembly closed in many New
England cities and towns. Undertakers |
report they are hard pressed to fill de- |
mands for hearses and carriages for |
funerals. Some cities forbid public fu- |
nerals. Telephone exchanges in Greater |
Boston lost 700 operators through influ.
enza, about one-sixth of personnel.
Telephone companies request the pub
lie to forego non-essential calls. Bos- 7
ton police begin anti-spitting crusade,
with arrests, in effort to help prevent |
spread of the disease.
Rear Admiral Specer S. Wood, COM
mandant of the first naval district, I
among those stricken today and confin-
ed to his house.
Influenza conditions among sailors of
first and second naval districts showed
Improvement today. Only three deaths
and 60 new cases in first district, and 10
deaths and GA new cases in second dis.
trict More than go naval men in New
England nave died from the disease
since the epidemic started. Seventy
seven roldiers died today at Camp Dew
ems but the number of new cases is
steadily decreasing. Military authori-
ties take drast c steps to stop spread of
the disease.
Nearly 1000 shipyard workers in Quin-
cy are i'll. Seven died in that city today.
All hospitals are filed Quarantine plac-
ed about shipyards in Portsmouth, "
Fl. Seven hundred cases reported In
that city.
Boston fire department 95 cases.
hard hit by epidemic. Six fiemen
died from influenza. Nurses and ply
sicians in-noculated with new type
Of influenza anti-toxin similar to
typhoid vaccine. twenty-five school
teachers and more than 1000 public
school pupils in Lynn. Between 1000
and 10000 cases in that city. With 4
population Of 1900. the Hyde Park
district OF this city has 1900 III and
physicians obliged TO refuse new "