New-York tribune., 1918-09-30
Physicians and Nurses to
Round Up All Influenza
Suspects
Eind 20 Sick Sailors
At Grand Central
Health Department to Give
Series of Lectures in
Schools This Week


partment in the Pennsylvania Railroad
Station and the Grand Central Termi-
nal as a further move to prevent Span
ish influenza being carried into the city
from epidemic ridden points. The rail-
roads have assigned rooms in each of
the stations for the use of the city's
sanitary officers. All persons entering
the city will come under the scrutiny
Of employees of the station. and all who
appear to be afflicted with influenza
will be taken before the health officers
and examined.
This step, which practically estab-
fishes limited quarantine at the main
points of entrance to the city, was
taken following a midnight visit of
Commissioner Copeland and other
agents of the Department of Health to
the Grand Central Terminal, where
twenty sailors bound for Eastern sail
ing points were rounded up. Each had
a temperature ranging between 101 and
103.
All Taken to Hospitals
They were all taken to hospitals for
treatment and quarantine. These men,
if they had been permitted to leave the
station and enter crowded subway
trains, might unwittingly have carried
the disease to hundreds of others. The
new plan to intercept as many as pos
slble of the cases arriving from out of
town before they have an opportunity
to mingle with New York crowds it is
hoped will prove an effective step in
the fight to prevent a scourge in New
York such as that which is now raging
in Boston.
A great shortage of medical and
nursing assistance to cope with the
situation facing New York was made
known by Commissioner Copeland yes
terday. He has issued an appeal to all
physicians to lend their aid to the de-
partment in combating the disease, and
asks that women who are interested
and would like to aid as nurses or
nurses assistants to telephone the de-
partment to-day. giving their names
and other information, so that they
may be made available to the depart
ment on short notice.
Investigating Serum
The health authorities here are al
ready in touch with Public Health
reference to the reported discovery
by physicians in the Army Medical
School of serum which is declared
TO be practically a positive guar
antee against infection from in
fuenza. Commissioner Copeland says
that the cty's laboratories have been
hard at work on the same problem.
He expects to acquire details of the
Federal discovery this week.
At conference scheduled to-day by
the Public Service Commission a re-
quest from DR.. Copeland that the sub
way management be required to pro-
hlbit crowding on trains will be taken
up. Commissioner Copeland expects
thorough cooperation on the part of
the 1nterborough officials, he said yes
terday. The turning off of the fans in
the trains is an excellent thing, he de-
clared, as these fans tend to raise
germ laden dust from the floors of the
cars. The surface cars and elevate d
trains are furnishing ample ventilation
at the present time.
Commissioner Copeland has made an
appeal to the general hospitals of the
city to cooperate with the Department
OF Health in handling influenza cases.
These institutions, he asserts. are well
equipped to take care of many patients
suherlng from the disease, and thew
should do so. The modified quarantine
required should not act as deterrent.
Situation Well in Hand
The Commissioner said last night
that while no official figures are OBJ
talnable on Sunday he believed the
number of new cases yesterday
would not exceed $50, and only two
deaths had occurred so far as he was
aware: He declared the situation to
be we'll In hand, and the various moves
made by the department. which might
De construed as drastic under the cir
cumstances,. were simply preventive.
ANY one discovered to be suffering
from influenza in public places will be
taken care OF. If he can be removed to
his home he will be taken there nv
private conveyance or ambulance.
Otherwise he will be dispatched to n
hospital
Commissioner Copeland says that
since the disease began to make its ap-
pearance here he has been in recent
OF numerous letters from persons and
concerns Offering a remedy or a. pre-
ventlVe formula to the city for use in
staving off an epidemic. In every case
the matter has been referred to the
mead OF the Bureau of Communicable
Diseases, DR.. Harris, for investigation.
Inc Commissioner repeats his advice
that the only genuine preventive for
spanish influenza lies in keeping out
Of the vicinity of another person's
sneeze or cough, although a method Of
lnoculation against the disease NAV
bring about way to become immune.
Educational Campaign On
While new methods for coping with
the disease are being evolved constant
ly, the propaganda of instruction goes
steadily on in the schools and all pub
lie places. Daily lectures and talks on
the way to prevent infection are to be
gwen this week in classrooms with the
cooperation of the Department of F,du-
cation. The police are placing warning
placards in every place where people
congregate and the public service COM
panles and amusement agencies are do
ing their utmost to help spread instruc-
ton which may yet block the approach
OF serious epidemic.
The Commissioner of Health again
warns the public against the use of
nostrums in treating influenza. 1t has
been brought to his attention that
some patent medicine agencies are try
ing to capitalize the situation and are
putting out literature and signs claim
ing their concoction will either prevent
or cure Spanish" Influenza The Com
missioner insists that all persons af-
hicted with the symptoms of a com
mon cold coupled with chiliness, fever
and aches in the head, back and Joints
must go Immediately to bed and send
Tor physician of repute, thereby
avoiding contracting pneumonia them
SnIv oil