New-York tribune., 1918-10-19
Precautionary Measure Is
Adopted to Check the
Spread of Influenza
4,93O New Cases
Reported in City
Many Motion Picture Thea
tres Closed for Viola
ton Of Sanitary Rules

With reports Of 4,990 new cases of
influenza in the city yesterday, Rear
Admiral K. n. Usher. commandant OF
nc Third Naval District, ordered all
,aval men to keep out of the subways.
The deaths from influenza and pneu-
monia for the day totalled 600, an in
crease of seventy three over the day
before. New cases of pneumonia num-
bered 6S4. showing a slight decrease.
The Health Department has closed
many motion picture theatres IN the
city for violating the sanitary code, it
IS announced, but Health Commissioner
Royal S. Copeland said yesterday that
ne had no intention of changing his
general programme in reference 70 the
atres and schools. The records show q
larce percentage of absentees. but
nearly one-half Of these. the Commls-
sioner says, are being kept home by
parents who fear infection.
Nurses and Aids Needed
The Health Department needs 200
nurses at once At Bellevue Hospital
alone forty orderles, forty scrub
women. thirty nurses and fifty nurses
aids are required. The city has taken
over the Pclyclinic Hospital, on tlf-
tieth Street. between Eighth and Ninth
Avenues, for the handling of pneu-
monia eases.
A heavy demand for vaccine is re-
ported by health officials. Persons
NAV be vaccinated by their physicians
or at the Bureau of PreVentahle DIS
'oaecs on the third floor of the Health
Departments building.
Reports of protiteerine in funeral
nrices and in drugs are under lnVesu-
cation.
The Standard Shipbuilding Company,
OF Shooters Island; the Staten Island
Shipbuilding Company, Of 'o', kich-
nond. and the Downey Shpbuildlng
Corporation, OF Mariners harpor, nave
appealed to Pres dent c. d. Van Name
Of the Borough of Richmond. to close
the schools. theatres, saloons. soda
fountains and other gathering places
on Staten island The companies say
The efficiency Of their plants has been
reduced 40 per cent by the cpldcm'c.
Car Lines Warned
The transportation companies ol inc
CITY we're again warned yesterday by
nr Copeiand that poor ventilation ar
rangCmentS anu ''i""~
cars must cease.
Yesterdays reports showed Manhae-
ian still leading in the number OF new
,nfnr,la eases with SOB; Bronx
75g: Rrooklyn, ,632; Queens, as;
Dichmond, l5A. Manhattan's deaths
rom the disease totaled 167; Bronx
IS; Brooklyn, III; Queens, SO, and
Richmond, H. Manhattan reported q
2eS pneumonia cases; Bronx, "a
BROOKLYN, lS0; Queens, 81, and klch-
mond. 10. Pneumonia deaths IN Man =
haitian numbered 1875; BronN, 40 :
prooklyn, 40; Queens, Ia, ana hlch-
mcnd, 0. %
From September IS to October lS
,his wear there have been 12.12S deaths
rom all causes in New York; IN
Nucnza and pneumonia are oifclaliy
blamed for Clio of them. In the same
ncriod last year only 6.5io deaths We're
recorded 10 of which we're due TO IN
nuenza and 6i5 to pneumonia.
Hospital Visits Discouraged
The city hospitals have not been
.,usrantined. Commissioner Copeland
yays. but visits arc discouraged. he
Hronx County Medical Society has
urged the city TO turn the "a battery
Armorv into a temporary hospital
Jersey City Will lift its closing ban
on theatres. schools, saloons and other
ssemblAge places to-day. The epidemic
is believed to be definitely checked.
Factories engaged in war work IN
Long Island City report reductions IN
4orce of from l. TO 50 per cent because
of influenza.