New-York tribune., 1918-10-04
Influenza Situation Here
Still Well in Hand, Health
Commissioner Says
Philadelphia Closes
Schools and Shows
999 New Cases Reported in
New York in "a Hours,
With lis Deaths

The closing of the schools. theatres
and churches ef Philadelphia, and of
III theatres and picture shows in the
District of Columbia, in an effort to
prevent the spread of Spanish influ-
onza, does not alter the attitude of
he health officials here that the time
is not yet ripe FOR such drastic step
~ New York. despite the additional
"e9 cases reported overnight,
The increase of practically 1000
.4scs in twenty-four hours is no cause
lor alarm, Healtlr Commissioner
Copeland believes. On the contrary,
;here is reason to feel gratihed. he
says, that the rise from the day be-
tore of 7 per cent was not much
rreater. The figures still prove the
invasion of the disease is being con-
,rolled in New York up to the present.
No reports have reached the health
authorities that any anxiety is being
displayed by parents which in other
cities has caused many children to be
kept from attending school whe
they were ill or not, and out OF the
enc million school children here the
cases reported yesterday numbered 1oo.
To Try Vaccine
beginning to-day the Bureau of
Laboratories of the Health Department
will send out small quantities Of a
special vaccine manufactured at the
laboratories under the direction of DR..
William Fl. Parke, which, it is be-
lieved. may prove to be effective as an
snti-inhuenza and anti-pneumonia in
Nov, !, II
crtire quantity as made will be sent
to physicians within New York to be
administered to the people applying
for it without cost. No attempt will
be made to furnish the vaccine to other
localities until the needs of New York
have been met.
DR.. Copeland SAYS that the Depart
nent of Health does not recommend
this vaccine or any other vaccine in
any way This one seems to possess
great merit" he added, "but we must
be very conservative, tor we agree
with Surgeon General Blue that the
use of any vaccine in fighting this dis
ease is in an experimental stage"
DR.. Parke's vaccine is being tested
among large groups of army and navy
men in camps near New York.
Commissioner Copeland extended his
propaganda against infection yester-
day by asking the telephone company
to cooperate with him by placing warn
inss in every public telephone booth
or station against placing the lips to
the transmitter when using the phone.
He also dispatched a communication
to the Walters Union requesting the
greatest care in serving food in public
places.
A thousand rev cases in day stand
ing alone as Il statement of fact IS,
when considered in conjunction with
the population Of New York, an ex-
ceedingly low percentage OF cases, as
was indicated by health officials yes
terday. The infection was being
brought into the Port of New York be-
fore it was noted in Boston, where the
disease has been raging for weeks, but
the health officials took steps here to
guard against its spread, while the
Massachusetts officials used less strln-
gent measures.
Massachusetts at present has about
100000 cases of influenza, with popu-
lation in the state equal to about one
half of Greater New York. At the same
City would be entitled to 100000
cases"
The days report showed 115 deaths
from influenza and pneumonia COM
bined; one less than recorded the day
before Manhattan reported II deaths
from influenza and 20 from pneumonia; !;
Rronx. and IL; Brooklyn, &c and 90;
Queens and Richmond reported l and
deaths, respectively, from pneumonia
ard none from influenza.
The New York Chapter Of the Red
Cross has opened special bureau for
the enrolment of nurses and nurses
aids, who are urged to volunteer to
assist the city's health officials in car
ing for victims of influenza and pneu-
monia.
The epidemic appears to be seizng
whole families at time in the East
New York and Brownsville sections of
Brooklyn. Mrs. Esther Rosen and her
two sons, "a HerZl Street; Mrs. Bessie
Margolis and daughter, $50 Sackman
Street, and Mrs. Annie Moskowitz and
daughter, 353 Newport Street, are num-
bercd among the victims of a single
day.
George E. Blakeslee. jr., of Jersey
City, succumbed to the disease at the
Officers Training Camp, at Jackson
vile, Fla, yesterday. He'll was a for
mer student at Princeton.
A Dutch freighter arrived yesterday
at an Atlantic port with forty FIVE
cases Of influenza among the crew.
Two of those stricken were Chinese.