The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-15
City Officials Will Prosecute
Those Who Do Not.
Total Number of Cases Here Is
Now 49S.
OLDER PERSONS HARDEST HIT
Oscar Peterson Twelfth Victim
of Disease in Topeka.
Seventy Patients Being Nursed
in New Hospital.

says Dr. H. L.. clark, city health OFF,
Ger. remains about the same. 1 can
not say that the epidemic is not in
creasing nor that it is being checked
with any noticeable rapidity.''
The total number of cases reported
since the outbreak is 49S. This morn
ing As new cases were reported in the
offices of the public health depart
ment. OF this total practically all of
them have been definitely and author
itatively diagnosed as Spanish in
fluenza. 1t is an unusual feature in
connection with the epidemic current
in Topeka, says DIR. Clark, that the dis
ease seems to be most rigorous among
older people. AS a general thing au
epidemic of this disease plays the
greatest havoc among young people.
Their mode of living gives rise to
greater chance of infection and their
power of resistance is not so great
in contending with this particular
sickness. Middle aged / eople resist it
a great deal better but older people
have not the physical stamina to stand
up so well under its ravages. How
ever. in Topeka the epidemic has done
its greatest harm among middle aged
people
Seventy Patients in Hospital.
The emergency hospital continues to
prove of inestimable value in combat
ing the epidemic. The hospital is
now affording the best of medical care
and attention to more than seventy
patients. Today eight patients who
have entirely recovered from the eff
fectS of the disease will be released
and may return to their homes and
renew thier work. Several patients
were taken to the hospital this morn
ing and a few new ones VIII be taken
in this afternoon. The entire third
and fourth floors of the hotel building
are now being utilized in taking care
of the many patients.
If the number of urgent cases in
creases TO any extent it will be neces-
sary for the authorities to open up the
second floor of the building. bring in
extra beds and bedding and arrange
the second floor after the> manner
which has been established in the
third and fourth floors. Some of the
rooms are large and can be used for
more than one patient. At present the
second floor is being used by the
nurses and assistants who remain on
duty most of the time and are used
as sleeping quarters, by the nurses who
have remained on duty thruout the
night. The hospital is so full of pa
tients now that it is almost necessary,
in, to ascertain if there are any suffi-
GENTLY recovered to be sent home,
making room for the ones more dan
gerously i'll.
More Nurses Needed.
However, the urgent need is not for
room but nurses. More nurses. is the
chief desire of the authorities in
charge of the hospital. There are fif-
teen nurses on duty now. These are
III III -
and a night shift. While they have
managed with commendable ability to
take care of every case that has come
in, should the epidemic continue as it
is apparent it is continuing. it will be
physically impossible for the small
force of nurses now on duty to main
tain the physical grind.
Mrs. Bredel, chief nurse at the
emergency hospital, and Mrs. Bailey
in charge of the Public Nursing asso-
ciation. assisted by Dr. H. L. Clark,
city health officer and Commissioner
search of nurses, nurses aides and as
SistantS.
The reports from various sources
indicate that there are close to 200
women here in Topeka who responded
with great enthusiasm when the
chance was offered them to take the
courses offered by the Red Cross in
elementary hygiene and home care of
the sick. 1t has not been observed
that the response of these women to
the call of humanity and mercy has
been obeyed with anything like the
same alacrity as was demonstrated
when they were devoting their spare
time to preparing for just this sort
of thing by studying and training
themselves in the technical medical
educa ton which was offered them by
the Red Cross with Just this sort of
emergency in view.
Many Hiding Disease.
A statement was issued today by
Dr. H. L. Clark and Commissioner W.
L. Porter, chairman of the committee
in charge of the emergency hospital,
to the effect that people are displaying
the most dangerous form of criminal
diSobedience of the law in withhold
ing from the city authorities that in
fluenza is prevalent in their families.
There is law. just the same as any
other criminal law, providing that
cases of this sort be reported at once.
In the present emergency, says Com
missioner Porter. the necessity of re-
porting these cases is far greater than
ever if the people of Topeka desire to
stop the spread of the epidemic with
out a death rate as high as has been
experienced in thousands of cities in
the United States and in the various
army camps. Topeka has been ex-
.ceedingly fortunate, both Doctor Clark
and Commissioner Porter say. in the
low death nate which has been ex-
perienced, but this will not continue
unless the city authorities are given
the chance to exert their utmost eff
forts in combat ting the disease. If this
condition continues examples will be
made of the offenders.
Another Death Here.
Two more deaths occurred in To-
peka on Monday. Mrs. Nancy Led
ford of SIS East Fourth street died
Monday afternoon and Oscar Peter
son of 305 Lake street died Monday
night.
Twelve deaths have occurred in To-