New Britain herald., 1918-10-07
Theaters Closed; No Dances Allowed;
 Hot Water Wash for Drinking Glasses;
 Mayors Home Hospital; 1,516 Cases

pial where new cases of influenza and pneumoni will be accommodated.
 Hospital Is Overcrowded.
 pr. Reeks, speaking as chairman of the hospital executive committee, declared today that the local institu- ton is already overcroWded and similar conditions exist, it has been taxed to it's utmost capacity. He said that in Willimantic where similar conditions exist it has been necessary to turn the state armory into an emer gency hospital and in the town of Wallingford a church basement has been used to accommodate the overflow, and in Putnam a parish house has been used as a hospital annex. In view of the increase of the epidemic ii this city the doctor feared that the local armory or other public building might have to be used, but the the mayors generous offer this unnecessary. He said that he was opposed to using the armory or church basement as a hospital, be- cause of the cold and dampness therein, and feels that the safety of the patients will be better protected by taking them into an improvised hos pital such as will be made of the mayors home.
 There is no doubt, said pr. Reeks that the local hospital is to be more overcrowded than at pres ent as the epidemic reaches it's height and as the mayors home will ac- commodate at least 50 patients the benefit of this offer can be realzed". Dr. Reeks said that at present the lower floors and corridors of the hospital have been converted entirely for the use of pneumonia and grip patients and it has also been neces- sary to place cots in the screened pore11es to the hospital to accommo- date patients.
 This Week to Be the Worst.
 Speaking from the standpoint of state health department, Dr. Reells said that this week will be the worst of the epidemic in this city. By the middle or end of this week he said the disease will undoubtedly attain it's height here, and then it will take another week to declne. It is then that the public must be particularly careful for it is at this time that pneumonia thrives, and with fatal re- suits.
 Because of the already overtaxed situation at the hospital, the eXecu- tive board has requested of all doc tors in the city that no surgical cases be sent to the institution that are not absolutely essential. All surgical cases than can wait, and all opera- tions that can be postponed must wait, the board says, on account of the epidemic. The board has also asked the cooperation of all the fac- tories by requesting that all accident and emergency cases of a surgical nature be treated at the factory in stead of being sent to the hospital. This request, which is being adhered to by the factories, is that all acci- dents which entail minor operations, amputations and surgical dressings be attended to by the physician at the factory and the patient then sent home.
 New Doctor at Hospital
 Because the physicians of the city are kept so busy attending to their patients at their various homes it is almost impossible for them to visit their patients at the hospital. There fore the state board of health through
 
 Dr. Byron w. Dawley of Tolued, Ohio, 1 who arrived here today to take charge l of all cases at the hospital. Dr. Daw- l ley will remain in constant attendance 1 at the hospital to care for all patients and to continue their treatment The 1 state board of health is rushing nurses l and doctors to all hospitals in the 1 state where there is a shortage. At l present there are II special doctors | around in the various cities and there | are enough, but the shortage of nurses is critical. The state board of health l had been assured of plentiful supply | of nurses to draw on from the Red | Cross in case of an emergency. but l just when the present emergency oc- l cured the government communicated l every available nurse with the result that the department is handicapped. There are nine nurses of the local 1 hospital staff who are sick. Mrs. An 1 derson, head nurse at the Colts Patent {G0irearms company in Hartford, was to 1 have started her two weeks vacation 1 today, but she has consented to sacri- | flee part of this vacation that she may devote some of her time to assisting l at the local hospital.
 l Wave Is Going Westward { Dr. Reel1s. in speaking of the cpl ] demfc, said that it is spreading west 1 ward. East of the Connecticut river l 1t is already at it's height, and in New ] Continued on Ninth Page)