The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-11
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Thirty Influenza Cases to Reid
Hotel Emergency Rooms.
Nurses and Doctors in Charge
of the Epidemic Here.
NOW $50 CASES IN TOPEKA
Fifty New Reports to City
Board of Health Today.
Fourth Victim, Mrs. Nellie
Mischke, 413 Fillmore, Dies.

The epidemic of influenza which
seems to be increasing in violence in
the United States has obtained a grow
ing hold upon Topeka. Two hundred
and fifty cases will cover the number
now current in this city. About fifty
new reports were made this morning
six cases occurring in one family.
All of the cases this morning have
not been diagnosed by physicians or
nurses in the employ of the public
health department. If investigation
proves the presence of influenza, the
fifty cases turned in this morning be-
tween the brief hours the office has
been open, from o'clock this morn
ing until noon today constitute the
largest report that has been turned in
since the first disquieting news Of the
presence of the malady in the city.
Thursday the total stood close to 200
cases. OF these, 172 cases. late Thurs
day afternoon had been definitely
diagnosed beyond any doubt as Span
ish influenza by the attending physi-
clans.
Altho Topeka has been fortunate be-
yond all expectations in the possible
death rate which has Prevailed in 9TH
er cities and army camps, influenza
has claimed it's fourth victim. Mrs.
Nellie Mischke, Alb Fillmore street,
died Thursday afternoon. She was
taken SICK SUNDAY influenza ran ltS
course and developed into pneumonia.
Hospital Is Open.
This afternoon the influenza hos
pital in the Reid hotel building at
Fourth and Kansas avenue received its
first patients. There will be close to
thirty people stricken with the malady
who will be taken to the hospital. Be-
ginning with the fourth floor of the
hotel building patients will be placed
t., II
more than one patient, possibly from
two to four in some of the larger
rooms which may be arranged as
wards.
AS the disease develops other floors
will be opened up going down from
the fourth floor. Each floor has
practically the same halls and room
nine rooms, thirteen of which are on
each floor. From twenty-five to thirty
patients may be accommodated on
each floor, SO that close to 100 pa
tients might be handled there # the
necessity should arise. If this should
bility that the annex to the hotel
building might also be opened
1t is asserted by the Reids who
operate the hotel and by Lee Green,
proprietor of the restaurant next door
south of the hotel, that many COM
plants have been lodged with them
against the use of these public accom-
modations for the handling of influ-
enza patients. However, it is declared
by DR.. H. L. Clark, city health Off
Ger, and WI. Porter, chairman of the
committee for the establishment of the
emergency hospital, that the danger
to other guests in the building is SO
negligible as to be unworthy of any
consideration at all. The disease is
nnf nnnf3 rriOI1S h1Jt If iS in factiO1JS
which means that it must be contract
ed by close contact with a person in
fected. This could be accomplished
far. easier on the streets or in crowded
buildings than it could by being in
the hotel building a floor or SO down
are located
Staff of Nurses.
Mrs. Louis Eggert Bredel will be the
chief nurse in charge of affairs at the
hospital. Mrs. T. B. Moore, a gradu-
ate nurse, will act as her office assis-
tant. She will also be assisted by Miss
Margaret Eaton and Mrs Hinkle Guy,
both graduate nurses. There will also
be a staff of practical nurses who
have taken the Red Cross course in
elementary hygiene and home care of
the sick which was given at the Y. w.
c. A. These women are all Red Cross
volunteers They are as follows: Miss
Carrie McMann, Mrs. Fred lies, Mrs.
Alta Huber, Mrs. Norman Keller. Mrs.
Matt Weightman, Miss Cooley. Miss
Northrup. Mrs. lies will have charge
of planning and arranging the diets OF
the various patients who require diff
ferent feeding during the various
stages of the course of the malady
Other practical nurses and graduate
nurses are expected to enroll for work
in the present emergency, but the lists
have not as yet been competed.
Keep Children In.
That many people are allowing thei1
children to take advantage of the clos
ing of the schools and roam about the
streets and town is declared by Doctor
Clark to be willful and criminal neg
ligence and fragrant violations of the
order which was given out to esta b.
1ish the safety of every one. Ordinary
care and common sense will assist
greatly in stopping the epidemic, says
Doctor Clark. but there are lot OF
people who are not going to learn any
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