The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-05
Surgeon General Blue Tells Public Best Methods to
 Stamp Out Malady
EPIDEMICS REPORTED
 IN MANY MORE CITIES
State Health Offices Advised That Emergency Medical Aid From Public Health Service
 Will Be Supplied

Washington, October 4 Spanish influenza continues its rapid spread both among the civilian population and in army camps. Reports today to the public health service showed the disease had become cpl demic in many more cities, while 12,975 cases were report ed among soldiers training in this country.
 Besides the New England district, the disease now has reached epidemic pro- portions in New Jersey and also in parts of Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maine and Delaware. Thus far 161 doc tors and a large number of nurses have been ordered to report to the public health service officials in charge of the situation in the different places where the disease is especially prevalent.
 There is no record tonight to show the
 
 civilians, but in army camps pneumonia cases nearly doubled, being 1854 today. against 930 yesterday. Deaths in army camps, however. decreased, being SSl compared with S9O the day before. The total number of influenza cases in the camps now is 127,975; pneumonia cases, 10 429, and deaths, 2S69.
 Camp Funston Kan, reported the heaviest increase in influenza today, with 1276 new cases, while Camps Jackson, South Carolina and Sherman, O., each reported more than 1000. Although both Camps Dix, New Jersey and Grant, H., reported fewer cases of influenza, the pneumonia and death rates at those points increased. with 3s0 pneumonia cases and 43 deaths at Grant and TIP pneu- monia cases and 59 deaths at Dix.
 PHYSICIANS SENT
 In the fight against the disease among the civilian population the public health service has sent physicians to Nashville, Tenn. Norfolk, Va. and has calls from West Point, Va; Portsmouth Va; All toona, Pa, Herlin. W. H., Passport, Me, and Chester, Pa, which will be filled as soon as possible.
 Telegrams have been sent to all state health officers to the effect that emer- gency medical and nursing aid from the public health service and the Red Cross in connection with influenza will be SUD- piled only by requests addressed to the surgeon general of the public health serv- ice by state health officers. This action it was explained, is in the interest of tho systematic and intelligent handling of the campaign against the disease. Public health service officials empha- Sized today that the best way to combat ths, disease Is to prohibit public gather ings. This has been done in many cities and authorities everywhere that influ- enza threatens to become epidemic are urged to take similar action. In Wash lhgton loy1ay churches were asked not to hold religious services until the disease is stamped out, while all idance halls and army hostess houses were ordered closed.
 As part or it's campaign, the public health service has sent 10 state and municipal officers over the country sug- gestions to the individuals as to how best avoid tile disease AS the head of the treasury department.3 of which the public health sereice is bureau, Sec retary McAdoo in a statement tonight asked newspaper editorsl to give publl- city to the suggestions
 BLUES INSTRUCTIONS
 Tn only way to stop the spread of Spanish influenza is to close churches, schools, theaters ard public institutions has developed. in the opinion of Sur geoi General Blue
 'There is no way to put 1S-.on- wide closing Srder into effect, said Dr. Blue today, "as this is matter which is up ,o the individual commu- rities, +. sorie states, the state board of health has this bower, but in many others 1t is 4 matter of municipal regu- lation. dope that those having the proper ssSrority jwill close all public gathering places If their community IS threate.ed with the epidemic. This will do musf. towards checking the spread of the csease."