Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-29
Army, Navy and Treasury to
Use Medical Forces in
Influenza Crisis.
NEW SERUM DISCOVERED
\ TO CHECK PNEUMONIA
Big Appropriation to Be Used by
Public Health Service-Six
District Deaths in Day.

Congress late yesterday afternoon
appropriated a million dollars to fight
the spread of Spanish Influenza
The appropriation will be used by
the public health service, and under
the resolution directions are given to
tho Secretaries of War, the Navy and
the Treasury to use the medical forces
Of the Army. Navy and public health
service to aid in the work of local
aathorities.
New Serum to Be Used.
Vaccination with 4 recently dis
covered serum which from tests just
completed at several Army camps has
been found to be an almost positive
preventive of pneumonia, will be
used to combat the epidemic OF the
disease, which in the week ended yes
:Serday made its appearance in every
state, and in all but few Army
camps, causing many deaths.
The new serum has been used to
limited extent in several camps. but
! no announcement has been made OF
J its discovery pending the results OF
nected with the Army Medical School
developed the serum. which. 1T is
stated, is now being manufactured In
quantities sufficient to provide treat
ment for $4,000 persons daily.
But one treatment of the vaccine is
needed. Medical authorities of the
public health service decline to ven
ture a prediction as to its effective
ness but they are of the opinion II
will prove as valuable as the vac
cines being used against other
diseases.
Days. Death Toll Here.
Yesterdays death toll from Span
ish influenza in Washington was SIX,
bringing the total since the outbreak
of the disease a week ago to ten.
Three deaths were reported yeSter-
day noon and an equal number last
night.
Deaths from influenza reported last
night to the District health depart
Garnette B. Stormer, white, twenty
five years old, 50 U Street northwest.
Dorothy Jackson, colored, twenty
four years old, $40 Florida avenue
northwest.
James T. Furguson. colored. eigh-
teen years old. S17 Sd street southeast.
Garnette Stormer was sick two days.
/, Dorothy Jackson five days and Ferguson
\ two weeks.
AS a precaution against the disease
the mana cement of the National Train
ing School for Boys has suspended tenn
porarily the privileges of parents and
friends of students to visit them or send
packages until danger from the disease
has passed.
Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN. paymas-
ter general of the Navy, yesterday is
sued an order to officers, enlisted per-
sonnel and civilians in the bureau of
supplies and accounts, giving direc-
tionS as to measures to take to guard
those in the bureau against the dis
, ease.
Details of Order.
The order with other things ad-
, .vises plenty of fresh air and the
avoidance OF street cars and places of
public assembly. Simple. nourishing
food and plenty of drinking water are
urged. Dry feet and at least seven
hours sleep also are suggested. The
order states that persons really sick
should stay at home and fight the dis
ease nationally.
'Tnnuenza." says the order. usually
has sudden onset with chilliness, Sc
we're headache and aching all over
At times the disease begins with nausea,
vomiting and abdominal pain. Fever
begins early. Frequently catarrhal
symptoms do not appear until later;
when they do they are the symptoms
of bad cold in the head with 4 raw
throat and dry cough. Weakness and
prostration out of proportion to the
fever are common. Former epidemics
have been characterized by marked
mental depression. In the present cpl
demic many of the cases are having a
gradual onset-more like a gradually
increasing cold in the head"