Evening journal., 1918-09-30
So Physicians Report
2442 "Fiu" Cases i'm Civ

Iby the president OF the Board Of Health
that u might take many months before
a law could be passed making even
pneumonia a reportable disease. In the
meantime only the willingness Of ply
sicians 10 cooperate can be asked and
the experience Of the past week has
shown that the average physician is
not set prepared TO give fun co-opera-
ton. The lessons 20 be gained from
this are:
II. All dangerous communicable
diseases should be made reportable.
2. Doctors should be educated to
Cooperate more closely with The
health authorities.
% II should be made possible 10
pass needed legislation with FAR greater
cXpediency.
"The second outstanding fact Is that
Wilmington as yet possesses no hospi-
tai for contagious diseases. As 4 result
the existing hospitals have been ur-
gently requested by city md state au-
ihorities 20 accept patients suffering
from Spanish influenza Patients IN
the hospital already we'll on the road
TO recover from other. condltioss have
contracted influenza. as the clinical
examinations nave shown.
This Is now the eighth day since
the epidemic began in a pronounced
form and yet there are not adequate
facilities In Wilmington for caring for
those desperately sick. The Council
Of National Defense and the Red
Cross have been prevented from acting
with greater promptness because the
civil authorities have not been able 10
secure information upon which TO base
action. The city and county author-
ties have been prevented from acting
because Of the absence Of facilities II
IS not time 20 cry over split milk OF
look for some one 10 blame.
Action is needed and the Council
Of National Defense and Red Cross are
supplying that action In opening an
emergency hospital az the Country
Club but they are greatly Handicapped.
out Of three dozen graduate nurses
who have pledged themselves 20 aid
in time OF emergency considerably less
than one-third can now be induced 10
fulfill their pledge. Family and other
reasons prevent them from living up 10
their agreement. 10 is quite plain that
many acted upon the enthusiasm OF the
moment and now regret having acted
without full consideration VIII the
women OF Wilmington arise 20 the oc-
casion2 Is their patriotism OF the kind
that not only waits and suffers. but
that can arouse them 10 expose them
selves 10 disease 60 check an epidemic
which, II permitted 70 increase, may
affect the production Of ships and
munitions 10 a naked extent
~ make this ppeal. confident that
there will be many women who will
volunteer their services.
Miss Eva b. Hayes, who is organizing
the nursing force for the emergency
Hospital. will receive such offers at
the New Century Club building. or by
telephone at 2260.
THE hospitals can lend no nurses
for the emergency hospital for the sim
pie reason that the nurses who arc
now serving in them are very near the
limit OF endurance.
This condition is not local. Today, |
Charles Topkis. chairman OF the May |
Drs committee TO meet this emergency. |
I0ld me that nursing aid had been |
sought from Washington and that the
authorities there said they had received /
,imilar urgent requests from most OF |
he eastern cities. Nc assistance could |
be obtained from that quarter. This /
afternoon an Official Of the Atlas Powder /
company. In Perryville. Md, telephoned /
ne, asking II ! could furnish a nurse I
,r two. Tho Atlas Powder Company. |
which. he said, employs 1000 people, Is
a severe epidemic OF Span
sh influenza.
Mrs. Margaret Rooney, aged 30 years.
n No. iOi East Second street, who was
he tlrst influenza patient to be moved .
10 the Delaware Hospital. died at that
lospital Yesterday afternoon. Mrs.
Rooney was placed in the isolation ward
It the hospital as soon as she was
there.