Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-03

Washington was declared sanitary
zone today by the United States public
health service, as a means of checking
the spread of Spanish influenza here.
DR.. H. S. Mustard, an expert of the
public health service, was placed in
command of the zone. which will be
around military camps.
Another important development to-
day was the announcement that the
has taken over the build
ings at COZ and 61a F street, to be fit
ted up as hospitals for the treatment
of government war workers, thou
sands of whom are rooming in the
homes of Washington and would be
left in a difficult position if they con-
tracted influenza.
Seven More Deaths in D. C.
Reports of seven more deaths from
the disease in the District yesterday
were received at the health department
today. They were:
Martha p. Ware. twenty-five years
old at Georgetown University Hos
pital: Walter Z. Forkner thirty years
old, at 81 Maple street. Takoma Park:
Viney Brice, colored, forty-nine years
old, at Garfield Hospital; Helen Bart
lett twenty-four years old, at George
town University Hospital; Lucy Leis-
man. thirty-three years old. at Garfield
Hospital: Fred Keller, twenty-three
years old, at Walter Reed Memorial
Hospital: Will McNeal, twenty-three
years old, at Walter Reed Memorial
Hospital.
Health Officer Fowler today appealed
cases of influenza which are brought to
their attention. Physicians need not
give the names or addresses of patients,
but he urged upon medical men the ne
cessity of informing the authorities of
the number of cases, SO that an idea
is spreading.
Bathing Beach Closed.
The health officer issued an order clos
ing the municipal bathing beach until
the epidemic passes.
The first step of Dr. Mustard, who will
work with the local health department,
will be to have a special inspection made
of all cafes, restaurants and boarding
houses.
No action has been taken toward
the closing of theaters in the District
of Columbia, according to Commits
Sioner BrownloW. He said it would
depend upon the recommendations of
the surgeon general and District
health officer.
Private Schools Asked to Close.
Letters were sent to all private
schools in the District today by the
closed until after the spread of the
disease has been checked. DR.. Fowler
said that in connection with boarding
schools he did not think this step
would be necessary at the present
time. as the students all reside at the
schools and do not go to them from
various parts of the city.
DR.. Mustard comes to this work es-
pecially fitted. the officers of the pub
lie health service say. When the big
nitrate plant for the War Department
the entire enterprise so vital to the
manufacture of munitions was threat
ened by the desperate malarial condi-
tions about the locality. Practically
malaria. and other sanitary conditions
were very bad. The ordnance officers
feared that malaria would force aban-
donment of this project in much the
same way that it had driven the
French to abandon the Panama canal.
Dr. Mustard was placed in charge
of the situation by the public health
service. He was in complete charge
of the sanitary situation in a zone
ninety miles square. His superior
officers lin the public health service
describe> his accomplishments as re
aily wonderful" He removed the
menace and now there are very few
malarial cases in the entire terri
tory about the communities of Flor
encc, Sheffield and Tuscumbia.
Exceptions to Store Order.
In connection with the orders issued
by Mr.. Brownlow yesterday for the
opening of stores at 10 O'Clock in the
morning, he pointed out today that
exceptions to this order are all gro
cery and drug stores, stores Of like
character, confectionery and soda
fountains, and also that the order
does not apply to manufacturing es-
adjustments.
Laundries. auto supply and repair
shops as we'll as wofkrooms of tailor
ing establishments are not required
to open at 10 o'clock. But he said
that the store part of an establish
d