The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-09
Health Officials Warn of Effects
of Flu Epidemic.
Number of Victims in City
Reaching Dangerous Stage.
81 new CASES IN TODAY
Improvement Shown Over Re-
ports of Last Week.
Twenty Patients Cared For at
Christ Hospital.

Up to 2:30 o'clock this afternoon 81
new cases of influenza were reported
at the office of the public health de-
partment. Altho this Is a large num-
ber to be reported in one day, the
totals are the combined results of the
reports of the physicians for Sunday
and Monday. A significant feature
which may be regarded with some
degree of optimism is that the num-
ber of releases reported is greater
than the number of new cases. Eighty
three releases were reported this
morning.
Three deaths were reported today
Laura King. 1902 North Logan street,
was a victim during the night of the
disease, and Ernest Clark, age 20, son
of Mrs. George Pratt. of 625 Branner
street. died this morning from in
fluenza. Geo. M. Crawford, 1115
Tyler street. died shortly after noon.
According to the reports of physi-
clans turned in to DR.. H. L. Cark, city
health officer. the disease is not near
ly SO rigorous in its attack as 1t was
/ during the first outbreak of the cpl
demic. However. Doctor Clark says
that there are quite a number of
cases in the city in a very dangerous
condition and it is quite possible that
this week will witness the report of a
number of deaths occurring among
| ease last week. There were $50 cases
| reported last week and many of these
cases are reaching the most critical
stage of the disease at present.
| The report for today indicates some
improvement over conditions a week
ago today. The value of the closing
orders seems to be justified in that
conditions have shown a slow i'm
provement Immediately following the
restriction order.
I Patients at Hospital.
The larger of the two cottages at
Christs hospital is now entirely
fitted out to serve in the capacity of
an influenza hospital. About five pa
tients were taken in at the hospital
| this morning which brings the num-
! bers of patients under the care of the
staff nurses up to about 20. Patients
who are financially. able TO pay Tor
their medical attention while under
the care of the nurses at the hos
pital will be expected to do so while
those who are not able to pay for the
/ treatment will be taken care of at the
| expense of the city.
Nurses Are Needed.
The need for nurses has again be-
come a feature of the utmost impor-
tance. At no time during the first
epidemic was there a sufficient num-
| Der of nurses to adequately take care
| of the large number of cases Of the
| disease in town. The emergency hos
pital, which was then operated in the
short handed during almost the entire
scope of the epidemic. The nurses
| who gave their services at this hospi-
tai were compelled to work day and
night. DR.. Clark was insistent this
morning in urging women having the
emergency. Names can be registered
at either the Office of the public
health department or at the nursing
association and they will be assigned
| to duty from these offices.
| New School Plan.
No decision has as yet been attained
in the movement to provide a system
| whereby school children. may go to
| their respective schools in small
groups or classes, at different times OF
! day, where they will receive instruc-
| tions which will enable them to carry
! on their studies at home. In this way
the time during which the schools are
closed on account of the epidemic
would not be entirely lost. Doctor
Clark said that the idea was regarded
with favor, but whether or not the fea-
/ ture would be permitted depended
upon results as indicated from the re-
ports for today.
the public health board. Leland Gun
ningham, age ~, OF sos Fillmore, died
/ Sunday morning, and Mrs. Bertha
Farrow, of 723 Tyler street, died late
Sunday evening.
A baby girl, born Sunday at the
Provident association. was christened
"Fluese" by the nurses. The parents
have not signified their intention of
permanently adopting the name.
Late Saturday afternoon Commits
| sioner Porter received a letter from
C. C. Nicholson and Jesse Shaw, of the
/, board of deacons of the First Baptist
church. offering the use of the church
| building as an influenza hospital.