The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-09
FIGHT TO CURB GRIP
WON BY COPELAND
Commissioner Expects Disease
TO Show Decline Here
in Few Days.
BE CAREFUL, Is SLOGAN
Only 1892 Of 100000 AZ
fected Because Of Prompt
Action.
BE CAREFUL, Is SLOGAN

f,serea epidemic. said last evening that
since September 10 there have been re-
ported 'it.7ss cases Of the disease
among . population Of 100000 people.
Yesterdays new cases Of influenza, a.
reported for twenty-four hours ended at
10 A. n, numbered a,so5. an increase
Of sf5 over the preceding corresponding
period, New cases OF pneumonia during
the Same time were reported as 2s2. an
increase of i2S. Deaths from influenza,
~ reported. aggregated 1ts. an increase
Of 90. and from pneumonia 1ss. an In
crease Of 10.
The height of the epidemic has been
reached, Or. Copeland believes, and he
predicts that In a few days the disease
will be on the decline. He warns New
Workers. however. that they are not out
Of danger and, says II bchooves them TO
exert the greatest personal care ne
urges them 10 continue cooperating with
the department In its programme to
combat tho disease and keep folks we'll.
A physicians do not always report
cases immediately" according to In
structions. the figures for yesterday un-
doubtedly contain many cases diagnosed
on Sunday, which should have been in
on Monday. II In believed that reports
for to-day and Thursday will give a
more accurate reflection Of actual con-
ditions.
stuffy Movie Houses Watched.
The Health Department has been
watching with. great suspicion to
quote Commissioner Copeland) the small
moving picture house, with its low ceilj
int building, minus windows and with
out proper sanitation. as fruitful place
for influenza germs The commission
sent sanitary inspectors TO the man
ayers Of these places yesterday. The
defects were pointed out and all hands
were directed 70 see to IL that the doors
sihouid remain open from 8 o'clock In
the morning Until performances began.
The mana gers were told that there could
be no oxercrowding and that they must
limit the sale Of tickets to capacity only.
Furthefmore--and this N going TO hit
tts kids hard-orders were issued that
under no circumstances must rhildren
under twelve be admitted TO these per-
formances. even though they are accom-
panied by parents or guardians. DIR.
Copeland has obtained q promise from
Police Commissioner Enrisht that po-
icemen on reserve duty will be detailed
70 these small movie houses 10 keep the
Riddles out and TO aid the department
In tho rest Of It's plan to make these
popular amusement places unpopular re-
Dort9 fOr the inHuenxa germ.
Commissioner Copeland got first hand
evidence yesterday that schools are
faithfully rarryins out the Health De-
partment mandate that pupils must be
subjected to- an examination for In
huenxa symptoms Immediately upon the
arrival at school each morning. An
eight year-oid boy attending the Ethical
Culture School was sent home by his
teacher because, as he later explained
ssV O.. IN wa n
q. Copeland. Jr.
Teacher on the job.
The teacher gave him the once
over" said the boys father, Commits
sioDer Copeland, In his afternoon talk to
newspaper men, land then she sent him
home. like It. 1t shows that she was
on the Job"
Copeland. Jr.. was Immediately placed
in the care OF n physician and Is not
seriously Ill
There In perfect cooperation of the
public school system with the health au-
thorities In the programme OF keeping
the schools open and for providing tally
inspection Of pupils. Or. Copeland and
DR.. william L. Ettinser. superintendent,
of schools. conferred yesterday and
agreed that the schools in themselves
could be made a mighty force In fight.
ing the spread Of the epidemic. DR.
Copeland said that n representative OF
Surgeon General Blues ONCE told hin
yesterday It would be unwise at this
time to close New York city's schools.
The Department OF Healths new
clearing house showed yesterday there
were 40 vacant beds In private hospi-
tails maintaining ambulances.
DR.. Copeland said that the city Is In
urgent need OF at least $50 nurses &c
meet the situation occasioned by tbs
great pressure on the hospitals by rea
son Of the Epidemic and the Illness Of
90 many nurses who In many cases con
tfacted disease from patients.
Nurses Needed in City.
"As a result ot/my appeal for nurses
which the papers printed" the Health
Commissioner went on, to-day we tool
on twelve graduate nurses. six nurses
aids and six undergraduate nurses. AL
will report for duty Wednesday Of
Thursday"
The city also needs. and needs badly
one cook, male or female. who will pre-
pare meals for fifty people at one city
institution. and ono waitress.
or tho It,7s2 cases of influenza which
have been reported since September IS
5000. according to the health officials
are active cases." which represents
patient apiece for New York's 5000
physicians.
Discussing the general situation. whicl
he considers very satisfactory, Commits
sloner Copeland said:
This 10 the time for the public Z,
exercise poise, self-restraint and calm
ness In, many other countries wher,
the visitation has gone by leaps an,
bounds practically one-quarter Of tn
population has suffered from infectio,
only In few days Had the same con
ditions existed In this city we woult
have had one million and quarter o
caseR Al n matter OF fact we hav
had 1872 cases of influenza reporte,
to date. There h reason TO believe tina
the combined efforts OF various agent
for care have kept down the disease
Now we seem tolbe on the plateau I,
few days the disease will be on tn
decline"
Progress of Disease.
The report of new cases OF infiuenzi
and pneumonia and OF deaths from thes
diseases for the last twenty-fou hou
period ended at 10 A. n. was as follows
INFLUENZA
,,..,.. Tuesday Monday Inc
Mammalian '''.... b0l tDs ~
BROOKLYN ......... $40 b7t D
Bronx ..'......,.. 81 $40 Q
Queens ..'".'''.. 100 llo y
Riehmond ......,' Bl 10 10