Evening journal., 1919-09-11
NEW DISCOVERIES WILL COMBAT FLU EPIDEMIC.

NEW general outbreak of Spanish nu," predicted
IA for the coming winter in recent warning by DR..
Royal S. Copeland, Health Commissioner for New York
City has given rise TO alarmed speculation in Delaware
and other states to the Of preparedness Of
medical science TO cope with another epidemic OF the
dreaded disease
Dr. Copeland ophhalmogls of international reputa-
tion, and late member OF the medical section of the
Council National Defense says that the country is to
undergo another siege Of the influenza which took such
great toll Of lives last year. and The Health Department
OF New York is laying its plans accordingly Wouldn't
It be well for the Wilmington Board of Health and our
State Board of Health TO do likewise
Whether the recurrence of the "nu" is to prove as
generally fatal it did when it nrst raised its head a
year depends almost entirely the progress the
countrys medical make in the perfection Of
to nght the disease. and practcng phyicans are
greatly encouraged this connection by what has been
done by experts OF the big medical schools.
The uncertainty the nature OF the infection, the
varied character OF the effects found the lungs OF diff
ferent patients and the multiplicity Of the various com
plicatns organisms which invade the lungs when weak
ened by the influenza combined TO make exceedingly
dlnout tho task Of finding serum but recent expert
ments by prominent members Of the staff Of the Harvard
Medical School indicate that science win face new
epidemic with far greater hope Of success than before
Although the Harvard Medical School has been very
much handicapped by the large number Of its experts
who nave been IN military service, ana IS 10 nave
had available funds for making intensive study Of
the last epidemic of the influenza, number of its in
struciors have made independent investigations for the
government which have shed important light on the ma
the disease and the best methods Of lighting It,
Reports from seven prominent members Of Harvards
medical staf who serving at the time in the med
cal corps of the navy indicate that many Of those who
will be attacked by the "u this coming winter will be
saved by a serum developed from convaescen patients
thing which was practically unknown at the time Of
last years sudden spread Of the disease
One of these experts DR.. F. II. Rapport conducted
experiments with 3i5 serums finding 81 per cent positive
In Joint report for the Navy Department Drs. E. w.
Goodpasure and F. L. Burnett have made noteworthy
contributions the understanding Of the various germs
which follow the influenza and which so often have
proven fatal TO the weakened patient
Drs L. w Mcclure and w. r. Redden experimental
with ISL patients a serum from convalescents and
with only six resultant Deaths found that the serum
greatly reduced mortality and shortened the course OF
the disease.
DR.. ]. Keegan and DR.. NJ j. Rosenau reported hndnss
equally encouraging.
II is largely for the purpose OF lighting just such
epidemics this predicted outbreak of the "Au'
that the alumni of Harvard said be campaigning
for additional funds. Two and a-hal millions OF the
eleven million dollar endowment fund which is to be
raised this fall be devoted TO the needs Of the Har
ward Medical School, provide adequate income for
era medicine and surgery for pedatrcs and obstetrics
the intensive study of occupatona diseases and
such worldwide epldemcs the Spanish "1u."
Medical men enlisted in the big campaign contend that
the with which the coming epidemic will be'met
will depend largely on how well the laboratories and
research departments OF the big medical schools are
equipped face the situation and the large share Of
Harvards general endowment which Is to go to its med
cal school shows that Harvards alumni anxious to
see the problem OF the influenza solved and solved inn
mediately.
Quite apart from Harvard, all health authorities
in Delaware should prepare meet and TO with the
"nu" the instant IL appears.