The Washington herald., 1918-10-05
MUST
MAKE REPORTS
ON INFLUENZA
Health Board Acts to Oh
tain Data on Disease
Spread.
INCREASED DEATH LIST
Five More Grip Victims
Succumb-City Closed
Tight.
INCREASED DEATH LIST

An order requiring that all cases
Of Spanish influenza occurring in the
District of Columbia be reported at
once to the Health Department has
been issued by DR.. Fowler, Health
Officer of the District. This order
was confirmed, by the Commissioners
yesterday afternoon and went into
effect Immediately
DR.. Fowler felt the necessity of
compulsory reports because the re-
sponse to the request of the Health
Department for voluntary reports
has been entirely inadequate. Or.
Fowler regarded the total of SIS new
District cases reported to the Health
Department yesterday under the vol
untary system as a false indication
OF the extent Of the epidemic.
Il feel" DR.. Fowler stated, that
tho seriousness Of the situation war
rants the step which the Health De-
partment has taken in demanding re-
ports. 1t is difficult to tell how far
TO go in preventive steps unless the
extent of an epidemic is nnown.
When the real condition has been
ascertained proper measures can be
taken to check the spread of the
disease"
Latest Death Report.
Five people died in washington
yesterday as victims of the influenza,
or pneumonia resulting from it. They
were George Davis. q, colored, who
died at the Freedmen's Hospital;
Roy s. Painter. IS. of 235 II street
northwest; Catherine Semistine, q,
Of SIT Fourth street northeast; Ed
ward J. Brown, S27 Fourth street
northeast, and Joseph Garvey. "a. of
6SU Blair road.
The request for the closing Of the
churches made yesterday by the
Commissioners coupled with the re-
quest that no private dances or
parties of any kind be held until the
influenza is checked, completed the
bottling up of Washington in an
effort to check the spread of the in
fluenza.
The order closing the schools last
Wednesday was followed by the
closing of the theaters and moving
picture shows. after which followed
orders affecting Libraries and play
grounds. The Fairgrounds were
closed yesterday morning after a
conference between DR.. Fowler and
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, superinten-
dent Of Fairgrounds. Mrs. Rhodes
had hoped that the Fairgrounds
would prove a solution of the re-
creation situation, and that after
being used by the children of the
city during the day. they could be
turned over to the government war
workers for tennis and other out
IN fhN la
and early evening. When the schools
and the seventy-two school play
grounds were closed the $4,000 chill
dren who ordinarily use these play
grounds overcrowded the sixteen
municipal Fairgrounds to such an
extent that Mrs. Rhodes deemed it
most unwise to keep them open.
City's Big Problem.
The question OF recreation for leis-
ure hours has assumed the proportions
of a serious problem in Washington.
Thousands of people strolled aimless-
ly about the streets of the city last
night.
The closing Of the Library Of Con-
gress to the public at 4:3o yesterday
afternoon does not apply to members
OF the Senate or House, or the few
government officials who are accord
ed the privileges of the institution
Books required for official purposes
by enlisted men in the army and navy
and civilian employees of the govern
ment may be had upon presentation
Of a letter from the commanding Of
ficer or head Of the bureau or depart
ment concerned Employees of the
library are required to report for duty
as usual.
Shortage Of Doctors.
The seriousness of the Influenza
situation in Washington is no doubt
due in part to the fact that there
is considerable shortage of doc
tors and nurses. More than half
Of the normal force of local pny-
sicians are in the military service.
Those who are still in practice here
are overworked under ordinary con-
ditions, particularly in view OF the
increased population. Reports show
that since last Sunday doctors and
nurses have been working day and
night, and at the drug stores the
pharmacists are working long hours
in an effort to fill the hundreds of
prescriptions that are coming to
them. The demand for physicians,
nursese and prescription clerks is
abnormal and no relief Is In sight
The medical orps If the Omitted
States army, through the surgeon
generals office, has been called upon
to render professional Sc vices to
the war workers employed in the
city who have been stricken with
the disease. Several hundred of the
young army surgeons in fast auto
mobiles are now making calls on
this class of patients. Fifty is now
an evenings assignment for one
army physician.
Epidemic Spreading.
Reports of conditions throughout the
country indicate that the force of the
epidemic has not yet spent itself On
the contrary. the disease is on the in
crease in many States and reports OF
cases in South Dakota received by DR..
Blue, Surgeon General of the U. S.
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