The Washington times., 1918-10-08
EPIDEMIC HERE
STILL on INCREASE
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over 100 other "fIu" patients are III
at the institution.
Miss Lillian Rinker. superintendent
OF nurses at Casualty Hospital, Is
seriously i'll with Influenza. while four
other nurses and two doctors are un-
der treatment from the same malady,
Providence Hospital has but few in
fluenza patients. and only two nurses
are i'll with "flu."
Car Service Affected.
Washington street railway traffic
was seriously affected today. when
303 motormen and conductors OF the
1910 employed by the Washington
Railway and Electric Company and
the Capital Traction Company were
reported i'll with Spanish influenza.
Employees of the street railway
companies are aiding in the fight to
keep street cars moving by working
overtime, according to information
given out by the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company today.
Conditions are expected to improve
within a day or so. when emergency
employees can be enlisted by the COM
panies.
Spanish influenza is fast being
brought under control in all military
camps in the vicinity of Washington,
according to information given out
by military authorities today.
NfeIgs Hard Hit.
Camp Meigs is the hardest hit OF
all encampments, with 400 cases un-
der treatment. Two new cases were
reported last night
The Third field artillery camp, East
Potomac Park, has less than 100 cases
of influenza, withonly four reported
during the last twenty-four hours.
Camp Leach. at American University
Park has twenty-five cases in the hos
pital, but no new cases OF influenza to-
day. There have been no deaths from
influenza at Camp Leach.
To Prohibit Meetings.
An order prohibiting ali outdoor
meetings of any kind will be issued
either tomorrow or Thursday. Com
missioner Brownlow today an
nounced.
A committee representing the Prot
estant churches of Washington, head
ed by DR.. Randolph H. McKimm. Of
the Church of the Epiphany, called
on Mr.. Brownlow today and protested
against the closing of churches. Mr..
Brownlow told them the churches
must remain closed. He told them of
the new order which will prohibit all
outdoor meetings. Churches, he said.
will be included in this order.
All soda fountains and eating
houses, including lunch rooms, res
taurants. etc, whose sanitary condi-
tions do not come up to the standards
of the United States Public Health
Service. will be closed to all soldiers,
sailors and marines. DR.. Mustard
stated this morning that a guard
would be placed on all places where
sanitary conditions are not good, and
all men in the service would be kept
out II the owner OF the establish
ment refuses to carry out the sugges-
tions to improve conditions. DR.. Mus
tard stated that the places will be
closed.
To Use Open CVarz.
A plan to put all open street cars
in service is being considered by DR..
Mustard.
81 am considering recomme nding
that every open street car in Wash
ington be put into service" DR.. Mus
tard stated today. CLOSED cars are
dangerous TO the health of persons
riding in them, especially IL the pub
lie persist in keeping the windows
closed. Open cars are a great REM
edy to the congested conditions on
the street car lines"
With an organization OF nifty
nurses and i've physicians, DR.. Mus
tard today had the city divided into
five sections, each in charge OF q
physician who will have about twelve
or fifteen nurses working with hiEl.
All will work directly under DR.. Mus
tard. The physicians will assign
nurses and make calls on influenza
patients who find 1t impossible to get
medical assistance. The nurses will
be sent to various homes to give in
structions to families.
This organization started work at
noon in five different school buildings.
They will receive instructions from
DR.. Mustard who will receive calls
for nurses and medical assistance
over the Health Department tele-
phone, used especially for this work
Main GOOO-branch 1854. All persons
in need will call this number.
Teachers Helping.
School teachers are assisting local
and Federal health authorities to COM
bat the epidemic. Some have been as
signed to inspection work. They are
visiting the lunch rooms and soda
fountains in the city. Others have
volunteered TO do clerical work in the
office of the department, while others
have been sent out as instructors to
families.