Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-16
CITY IS NOT IN GRIP OF
THE PNEUMONIA
EPIDEMIC
URGE PRECAUT|0N
HEALTH OFFICER ISSUES STATE
MENT ABOUT THE SlTuATlON-
ADVISES SOCIAL GATHERINGS
DISCONTINUED.

Spanish Influenza epidemic and has
no occasion for worry, according to
statement given out today by
Health Commissioner w. A. Pike. De
nying persistent rumors he intended
to again place the city under quaran'
tine, Dr. Pike gave out this encourag-
ing statement, supplementing his as
sertion with report that today only
three new homes were visited by the
mysterious plague.
For the past two days 1t was an
nounced that DR.. Pike was taking
steps to close up all places OF public
amusement and forbid gatherings of
people In large numbers. This he
emphaticaly denies. He recommends
however that a ban be placed upon
entertainments as much as possible
and that people avoid crowds. where
and whenever they can. Socials. card
parties, public dances and other forms
of entertainment were suggested as
good things to taboo while the present
"nu" scare is at its height.
In statement to Free Trader
Journal representative DR.. Pike SAID
he had made a very careful survey
OF the city, catherine his statistics
from local doctors, ami found there
were considerably less than hundred
cases of fin n Ottawa. 1t was during
this survey that he found the disease
had found its way only into three
homes since the last report.
The doctors written statement COW
ering conditions, together with his rec
omendations follow:
In view of the various rumOrs
that have been brought to my at
tention regarding the influenza sit
uation in Ottawa ! wish to state
that a thorough canvass of the
situation, including a personal in
terview with all the physicians, has
been made and | find that compar-
atively few new cases are develop
ing, and that most of those are of
a mild character Taking into ac-
count the unsettled weather condi-
tions, the number Of cases are not
much In excess Of other years at
this time.
At no time have there been more
than two or three new families a
day affected, and usually not that
many.
The epidemic Is quite prevalent,
however. in the country districts
that heretofore have been compar-
atively free from invasion. This
does not mean, however, that there
should be any let down in the mat
ter of precautionary measures
AN conditions of crowding
should be avoided, and all per-
sons coughing or sneezing should
be rigidly excluded from public
gatherings and all persons feeling
at all unwel should remain at home
and take the best of care of them
selves.
While the situation is not such
as TO warrant the discontinuance
of the ordinary business activities,
1t Is advisable that all gatherings
OF a social or nonessenial charac.
ter, such as dances, parties and the
various entertainments usually as
sociated with the holiday season,
be- dispensed with so far as pos
sible.
therefore request that as pre-
cautionary measure and In view or
the general feeling of unrest that
the various social organizations
and the people in general refrain
from planning any dances, enter
tainments, club gatherings, etc,
until such time as there Is bet
ter feeling of security and freedom
from alarm. w. A. PIKE.
Health Officer
Girls League Leads.
The first TO lead IN helping
stamp out any recurrence of the Il
fluenza Is the Girls Patriotic Lcagr
of this city. Today a formal stat