The sun., 1918-10-13

Yesterday to see that all car windows be
kept wide open. Four moving picture
houses were closed yesterday by the
Health Department because OF the lack
OF ventilation.
Speaking OF the nurses who have vol
unteered to care for influenza cases, DR..
Copeland said;
think the women nurses have shown
a degree OF heroism hardly paralleled;
they are just as brave as the women
who 20 on the battlefield. I cannot ex-
press my admiration for them. for words
are Inadequate"
He spoke OF the splendid work they
are doing at the Municipal Lodging
House. where there are zoo patients,
with facilities to care for hundred or
SO more. These nurses made n sanitary
hospital out Of the rooms and provided
all necessities, including food. Another
COOK and two walters are needed there.
The Red Cross Is helping wonderfully.
Its Nurses Emergency Council is getting
nurses for the local hospitals and homes
and also supplying domestic help, and
In many cases supplying the necessary
FOODS. When the laundry at Bellevue
Hospital suspended on account of the
epidemic Red Cross girls walked In as
the employees walked out. and soon had
the laundry operating to capacity. They
will continue this work until the emer-
gency is over There are many other
associations helping in various phases
OF the work In stamping out the dis
east
That the work of the local Health De-
partment has come TO the favorable no.
tice of the United States Government IL
shown In telegram to DR.. Copeland
from Col. Victor c. Vaughn. chief cpl
demiologfst OF the United States Army.
Precautions Win Approval.
Col. Vaughn also il professor Of
health and sanitation at the University
OF Michigan. Tho telegram follows:
Your regulations are most excellent.
AT present I would not advise closing
schools, theatres, churches or factories.
but I would advise people to avoid
crowds as far as possible. The epidemic
Is due to specific virus. which is dis
seminated for the most part directly
from person to persops-and the rapidity
OF the spread OF the epidemic is in in
verse proportion to the distance between
individuals.
People should avoid all unnecessary
personal contact. They should protect
themselves and others against the
dangers Of coughing. sneezing and rapid
talking. The habit Of handshaking
should be abolished during the present
epidemic. So far the disease has been
most prevalent among young adults and
In places where these are orowd'ng
together. Should IL become prevalent
among children the question of closing
the schools might be reconsidered. but
at present I believe that under tho
proper sanitary supervision the majority
OF children are better of in the schools
than they would be In their homes or
on the streets.
There In no reason why there should
be any panic or any interruption of the
essential industries. Special attention
should be given to the thorough disin-
lection OF glasses and dishes used In
soda fountains and restaurants. The
ordinary method of washing and clean
ing glasses and dishes does not secure
sterilization. No one acquires the In
huenza unless he takes into his respira-
tory organs the excretions from the c,r-
responding organs OF some one else who
is infected"
An Appeal to Nurses.
DR.. Copeland appealed again yester-
day to nurses. physicians and ministers.
Every man or woman who has had ex-
perience in the care of the sick" he said.
faces the patriotic duty Of offering his
services In the emergency. by calling up
the influenza clerk OF the Health De-
partment."
Physicians are informed that patients.
where possible, should be treated In their
homes. II this Is impracticabie. or II a
nurse Is desired. the same functionary
should be notified. Preachers are asked
to call upon their congregations for
nursing volunteers.
DR.. Copeland said:
Undoubtedly the number OF sick peo-
pie in New York Is greater than the cold
figures indicate, but We stand by our
statement that up to date . per cent. Of
the population Is the extent OF the pres
ent serious epidemic. II there were no
other reason for calmness, patriotism
and the cause of the Liberty Loan would
lead us to advise GOODNESS on the part OF
our people. However. there is no pres
ent occasion for panic.
AS Col. William H. WEIGH said in his
telegram to-day, the situation in New
York Is less serious than in other at
fected parts OF the country. Certainly,
comparison with experience in the army,
where is collected the flower of the ma
ton. under ideal supervision, makes US
take courage"
Condition of the Diseases.