El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-01
CHARITIES VERY
BUSY WITH FLU
Relief Workers Find Many
Deserving Cases For Help
During Epidemic.

The October report Of the work OF
/ the Associated Charles shows a big
increase due to influenza. It was made
: considerably lighter. though, when the
+ Aoy school was opened by the city and
the Red Cross society. partly on the
suggestion Of the Associated Charities,
as a hospital Mrs. Cora Preston, a
visiting nurse of the Associated Chart
ties has been going to the hospital
each day and securing a list of the
I discharged patients. so that visits
could be made to their homes prompt
" TO arrange for their after care ana
provide relief where It was needed
There have been three workers max
ing these visits since the epidemic
started. Mrs. Preston said that. while
Il has been necessary 10 give relleI
quite often for the majority. the most
important service was to see that they
did not have relapse because of going
to work too soon or sleeping with
closed doors and windows, and in
other ways to get them to continue
the treatments until they were able
to work.
Find American Woman Destitute
A worker from the Associated
Charities was sent to see an American
woman who was reported sick She
found the woman lying in bed entirely
alone and without help OF any kind
This Woman's husband was far away
in another town looking for work, so
that she had no money with which to
buy food even # she could have sent
out for it The worker provided her
with money for food and also arranged
for some one TO wait on her until she
was stronger
Girl Tells of sick Mother.
Another visit was made TO the home
Of an american family where there
were five children. The Oldest girl
the Associated Charities to help her
secure a permit to work She said that
her mother was very sick and her
father was quarantined at Fort Bliss
where he had his shop. and that she
would have to support the family
The nurse went at once TO the home
and arranged to help them out finan-
cialIy. so that this little girl would
not have to work. They said that
when the father came home from the
fort. though his wages were small ne
would pay everything back, If given
little time
Afraid and Is Refused.
Mrs c B. Hooper, who directs the
work among the Mexicans. said that
some of them we're very much afraid
OF the Epidemic One Mexican woman
quite well and strong and living alone.
came in to ask for help. and when
q sked If she had work she replied that
she was afraid 10 work in any ones
home for fear she would get the in
fluenza and she was not even willing
to leave her home any more than was
necessary. It was explained to this
woman that II every one were that /
much afraid of the disease there would |
be no one at all to look after the sick /
and she did not get the help she came /
for
Friends Burn WOmnn's Bedding.
Mrs. Hooper told Of another Mexican /
family where the mother had gone
willingly to the Aoy hospital and had
been cured and when she returned
home, to her surprise, found that the
neighbors during her absence had
gone into her home and probably to
protect themselves. had mistakenly
burned all her bedding and clothing.
thinking this would keep the disease
from spreading This woman had sew
eral children and il was necessary
for the Associated Charities TO renew
her supply of bedding and clothing
the DAY she was discharged
Many Mexieans APpreeiative-
Many OF the Mexicans have ex-
pressed great appreciation for the care /
thew were given at the hospital. one 1
woman who was visited was found I
her neighbors that she was
''Ohi so scared" when they took her
to the hospital. that she thought sure /
" she would die there but she said. /
Z will never be afraid of an hos |
Dital again" Some OF the Mexicans. /
however. who were burning up with I
fever when they were visited by the I
Associated Charities workers. denied I
that they were sick for fear Of being |
taken to the hospital.
Influenza Takes Bread Farmers.
Influenza has carried away many I
bread earners for large families. Many I
Mexican women who have not been ac- /
customed TO working are now plan 1
ming, no doubt. TO take up the bur I
dens OF their families in place of the I
father who has been taken away. One /
Mexican woman with two children /
whose husband and one child died !
from the influenza, has applied to !
leave her other two children at the 1
day nursery so that she may take up /
the burden. She says she worked be- I
fore she was married and that she
does not mind doing so again; other 1
women with children are supporting Z
them and she can do so also.
The months reports show that the /
associated Charities visited or helped !
in some way 10 families during the /
one month who were needing care just I
because of the influenza This number
is in addition 10 the regular work ]
he enrsa-r-