The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-03

that the board again was to consider
the question of lifting the ban, and
asked that the physicians and sur
geons OF Richmond be given hear
Ing before the board took action on
the latest Recommendations Of DR..
Flanagan DR. Nichols told Com
missioner Hobson that the physicians
and surgeons would oppose the re-
opening Of places of public assem-
bIies
II is not improbable that the board
will again consider the matter to-
morrow 1t was reported yesterday
that the ban probably would not be
lifted until next Thursday, If then.
Flnnnasan's Recommendation.
DR.. Flannagan's second communi-
cation to the board follows:
Charlottesville, Va, Nov. 1, 1918.
"Mr. Graham B. Hobson, Administra-
! tive Board, Richmond, Va:
my Dear Mr. Hobson:
Replying more deliberately to your
telephone MESA se- of this morning
and also taking coghizance of the
Richmond Academy of Medicine. I
have this 10 say: The arguments
against opening up the churches,
moving pictures, etc, have been con-
stantly in my mind for several weeks.
and the grave responsibility resting
on me in recommending a reopening
OF these places now is very keenly felt.
particularly as / am thereby taking
upon myself the responsibility for
such cases rs may occur from con-
tact in these places. However, in the
light of death rate Of yesterday and
today but little, If any, In excess OF
Richmond's normal death rate, and a
rapidly falling influenza rate through
out the city, ! see no adequate reason
for further penalizing our churches
and other enterprises now under the
ban. I am, therefore, of the opinion
that under the conditions imposed, we
may, with reasonable safety, remove
the closing restrictions on Sunday
morning next tmidnight Saturday
November %. There is no doubt In
my mind, however, but that leaving
the closing regulation in force will
| somewhat improve our public health
position and SO, should the board de-
eide to table my recommendation
such could in no sense be construed as
a failure TO uph old the health depart.
n,ent; 1t is. in fact, an evidence of yea
in the opposite direction. | am appre-
ciative, too. of the motives that actu
ate the physicians of the city In TAX.
ing the stand they do. tSigned)
ROY X. FIANNAGAN.
Chief Health Officer."
DR. Flanagan, It is understood
will appear before the administrative
board in person tomorrow in behal
Of his two recommendations to tina
body.
| Soup Kitchens Closed.
| Because the demands upon them
| had ceased, the Visiting Nurses as
ISOLATION yesterday closed the thirty
eight soup kitchens which it has
: maintained during the influenza cpl
ldemic Between eighteen and nine
lteen hundred patients were servet
during the time the kitchens were i,
operation.
Despite the action OF the admins
Itrative board, Westhampton colleg,
for girls will reopen tomorrow morn
ing. When informed of the board
action in again tahling DR.. Flanna
CANS recommendation that the bal
on schools and churches be lifted a
! midnight last night. the dean OF tn
institution stated that this did not al
ter the situation; that she had beel
advised by the chief health officer las
Wednesday that the college would b.
iallowed to reopen tomorrow and tina
: tout-of town students, sixty or sevent.
lin number. had been notified to tina
effect Some of them already ar
/ here. while others are on the wa.
, We closed at our option. and We ex
: ipect to open Monday" she said
DIR. b. l.. Taliaferro. resident ply
, sician at Catawba sanaforium. an
: nounced yesterday that the infuenz
: ban had been lifted at that institution
land that new patients would be re
ceived. beginning tomorrow.