The Yale expositor., 1918-10-10
INFLUENZA CASES
GROW AT Custer
MEDICAL CORPS ARE LA6oRINe
NIGHT AND DAY TO RELIEVE
THE SUFFERING.
MANY TRAINED NURSES ARRIVE
Brigadler-General Laubach's Request
for so Medical Men From Wash
lngton Turned Down.

Spanish influenza patients at Camp
Custer now number 1000 or 10 per
cent OF the total strength of the
camp.
Seven deaths in the Seventy eighth
infantry from pneumonia proves the
genuineness of the claim made when
this unit was quarantined recently
that pneumonia, not Spanish influenza,
was causing the regimental quaran-
tines.
There was reported 1,010 new cases
of influenza I'm a 24-hour period Paper
work at the base hospital is so far
behind that little else than the names
and organizations of victims can be
written down.
Each regiment has now cleared a
barracks where men showing symp-
toms Of Spanish Influenza are taken to
be CARED for until their conditions
suggests necessity of removal to the
base hospital or the buildings II has
Communicated as auxiliary wards.
The medical corps has been over
worked, having labored night and day,
and there are instances where the Of
ficers have fallen into a dead sleep
sitting down. Brigadier-General Lau-
Oach's request for so medical men from
Washington has been turned down
the war department explaining that 1t
has not the available physicians. The
general has, therefore, started making
his own doctors, taking 300 enlisted
men with some knowledge of nursing
and giving them special courses in car
ing for the disease. They are now
being scattered in all regiments, re-
lieving doctors and nurses needed at
the base hospital. They will work
nights. largely, giving the medical
men an opportunity to snatch a little
sleep and thus continue At for duty
The symptoms of the disease are so
plain that the soldier-nurses can do
as efficient work in the early stages
as trained medicos.
Michigan towns are sending in offers
of assistance, but thus far the camp
administration is able to handle the
epidemic without outsiders exposing
themselves. General Laubach consid-
ers that one of the biggest problems
Is preventing the disease from spread
ing to adjacent communities. He is,
however, very appreciative of the fine
spirit shown by. the state. Trained
nurses continue to arrive and are, Of
course, welcomed. The number has
gone from 80 to 1873 within two days.
The newcomers are making II pos
sible for their sister nurses to get
little rest. after having been constant
ly on duty since the malady broke
out.
Another large number OF GONZALES
cents were released from base hospi-
tal-but not from quarantine. They
we're taken back to their regiments,
but placed In the "A" companies,
formed to remain in seclusion and to
be given only enough exercise to re-
build their strength.
Motor transportation also is badly
needed and General Laubach has
wired Washington to hasten shipment
of additional cars TO which the Four
teenth division is entitled-motorcy-
cles, touring cars and roadsters,
which are needed to transport doctors
and nurses about the quarantined
camp II is four miles from one end
of Custer to the other.
Medical officers unable to get the
sheets and pillow cases needed. They
could use so carloads if they had them.
Blankets are being used until sheets
can be dug up from some source.
Four of the Y. NJ. c. A. buildings
and two X. c. buildings have now been
taken over for emergency use. Fifty
secretaries of the organizations are
on duty assisting in classifying pa
tients at the base hospital.
stop Disease Close Public Places.
Washington.-The only way to stop
the spread OF Spanish influenza Is 70
close churches, schools, theaters and
public institutions in every communi
ty where the epidemic has developed
In the opinion Of Surgeon-General
Blue. of the public health service
There Is no way to put nationwide
closing order into effect, said DR.
Blue, as this is a matter which is az
to the individual communities.
Epidemic Causing in New York.
New York.-With Spanish influenzs
and pneumonia gaining Roadway here
the health authorities today took steps
looking toward readjustment of the
citys business and industrial life un
til the epidemic has abated.
Troop Movement Stopped.
Washington. - American troop;
abroad now number 100000, mem
bers Of the House Military Committed
were informed at their weekly con
ference at the War Department.
| Spanish influenza in camps and can
tonments will retard shipments some
what in the immediate future, thel
were told, the department having
|