The Washington herald., 1918-10-08
II INFLUENZA
DEATHS IN D. G.
In "a HOURS
New Precautionary Meas
ures Are Issued by
Health Officials.
EPIDEMIC UNCHECKED
Wife Of Porto Rican Com
missioner to Congress
Among Victims.
EPIDEMIC UNCHECKED

Forty-one deaths from influenza In
the District Of Columbia were report
ed to the local health authorities in
the period between o'clock Sunday
evening and . o'clock last night.
F. ads and relatives of Washing
;o..lans and war workers in the city
are requested by the health depart
ment to remain out of the city until
the epidemic Is under control.
Relatives of even those who are Ill
with the disease are warned that
their presence in the city can do no
good. and that they are running an
unnecessary risk.
An appeal has been made by Health
Officer Fowler and DR.. H. s. Mus
tard, Of the United States Public
Health Service, for nurses to assist
the authorities in combating the dis
ease. At q conference held yesterday
by the United States Public Health
Service, the District department OF
health. the American Red Cross, the
Washington Diet Kitcher and the IN
structive Visiting Nurse Society, a
call was sent out urging all trained
and practical nurses TO offer their
services at once.
Nurses Urgent.
DR.. Rupert Blue, Surgeon General
OF the United States Public Health
Service, declared that the safety of
the country depended upon the nurses
placing themselves at the hospital a
placing themselves at the disposal of
the government as soon as possible.
Doctors are urged to release all nurses
on cases where their services are not
absolutely needed.
As the epidemic is prevalent in other
cities. 1t Is felt that the nurses should
not be brought from other cities to
Washington, but that the demand
must be answered at home.
All fraternal meetings are forbidden
by the health authorities. according to
an announcement made yesterday -af-
ternoon. 1t is intimated that similar
action will be taken in regard TO the
meeting of all clubs.
Yesterday the galleries OF the SEN
ate were closed to visitors foI TIE
first time in history to check an epi-
demic. Similar action will probably be
taken In the House.
Warnings against soda fountains.
other soft drinking establishments,
and public drinking cups were issued
by the Health Department yesterday.
DR.. Fowler regards the soda foun-
tains as one of the chief agencies
in spreading the epidemic.
All classes at George Washington
University have been closed with the
exception of the regular military
training Of the members Of the Stu
dents Army Training Corps. Six-
teen nurses in the university hospital
are Ill with Spanish influenza. Two
members of the stan are dead. The
epidemic is raging among the stu
dents of the school,
Teachers Offer servicea
Teachers. released from duty by the
closing of the schools have volun-
teered their services as nurses in the
battle against the Spanish influenza
epidemic, in respnse to a call sent out
by the Nurses Bureau, Potomac Divi-
sion. American Red Cross.
The appeal was made to the teach
ers yesterday morning at mass meet
ing at the headquarters building of
each school division. Miss Georgia
NJ. Neyins, director of the Nurses
Bureau of the Potomac Division of the
American Red Cross, reported that her
office had been crowded all day with
teachers offering to aid in any capac-
ity in which they could be used.
Many teachers were registered In
the morning and were assigned to
duty in the afternoon, under the su-
pervision of a trained nurse.
mo response could be more gratity-
ing" said Miss Nevins. "than the will
ing manner in which the teachers Of
fered their services. They offered 20
scrub floors. to entertain children in
order to relieve tired mothers or to do
first aid nursing. In every case they
requested immediate assignment
Medical Students Volunteer.
Medical students from the various
colleges in the city have offered
their services to the authorities. DR..
Fowler, city health officer. said yes
terday that he would use them in
inspecting private homes and in
cases where immediate relief was
needed. In many cases whole fam
lilies are down with influenza and
are unable to care for themselves.
In one case reported to the author
tiles, seven members of a family
were sick, and there was no one
to send either for food or medical
aid.
A delegation from Howard Uni-
versity Medical College called on
DR.. Mustard yesterday afternoon
and offered their services. DIR.
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