The sun., 1918-10-20

far as the number Of new cases Of IN
nuenza Is concerned, and that subse-
Quent reports will show q rapid decline
The frequently complicating and fatal
pneumonias continue to show an in-
crease In the number Of new cases. as
well as the number Of deaths.
The crest Of the pneumonia curve
probably has not been reached. as this
ordinarily follows the influenza crest by
several days Until pneumonia begins
TO decline the high mortality rates may
be expected to continue"
Vaccine Proves Successful.
Explaining the preventive meas
ure against the disease DR.. Copeland
said:
while the Health Department at
present cannot commit itself to the eti-
ology Of the disease. and, although the
vaccine has been in use for only about
two weeks, the results thus far obtained
are suggestive. Our optimism as to It's
value. however, Is based upon reports
received. Careful analysis of all the
factors concerned cannot be made until
the epidemic is concluded and our pres
emit degree Of optimism may or may not
be found to be well grounded
AT all events the reports justify its
more extensive use. especially as Its ad-
ministration Is accompanied by so little
reaction, and this. localized, usually at
the site Of the injection.
''1e Is our opinion that when large
groups Of people are brought closely to-
gether or where an individual is under
the necessity of coming into intimate
contact with crowds Of people or per-
sons infected with the disease the vac
cine offers hope Of immunity against the
disease. Whether It shall be empioye ed
must be determined by the individual,
but there have been no instances Of I'M
toward or Ill effects, and IL Is our opin-
Ion that II deserves as extensive n trial
as the rate of production of the vac
cine will permit"
supply for Physicians.
New York city physicians will be sup
piled with this vaccine in reasona BILE
quantities on application to the De-
partment of Health laboratories, Six
teenth street and East River.
Through mistake upon the part OF
some one. the Polytechnic Hospital, which
had been taken over by the Health De-
partment for influenza patients. was
taken by the United States Army for
its use yesterday and held with armed
guards, who later were called Off when
1t was learned that the Health Depart
ments orders preceded those OF the
army. A slight inconvenience was caused
to few ambulances cases. which were
sent to other hospitals when the soldiers
would not admit them to Polytechnic.
Mayor Hylan called the attention OF
DR.. Copeland to the practice of certain
physicians and druggists who. the Mayor
said. are taking advantage OF the cpl
demic to profiteer He asked that
DR.. Copeland find some means TO punish
them, and threatened in his letter to
expose and advertise the proflteers. Ex-
orbitant rates have been charged for
medicines and calls. the Mayor said.
The Caroline Rest Home at Hartsdale
will open Monday for women and chill
dren convalescents' It is conducted by
the New York Association for Improv-
ing the Condition OF the Poor.
A decrease In new influenza cases in
Trenton, N. j.. was noted toy the Health
Department there yesterday. In the
State there were 6.112 new cases and
S67 cases of pneumonia reported. which
brings the totals to l2l,034 influenza
cases and 1850 deaths. and 4,915 pneu-
pionia cases and 1,445 deaths.
The Camp Upton surgeons bulletin
on the influenza epidemic yesterday re-
ported nine deaths and twenty three
cases. There now arc only 500 cases OF
Influenza In the camp hospitals