El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-04
IOOOnfINe&a
Cases In City,
Doctors Declare

OOCLOf > AELLLLT 4
Leading physicians said Wednes-
day that there are as many as 1000
cases OF influenza in FL Paso. Some
Of them branded as ridiculous the re-
port Of the health department which
said there are only so cases.
When asked about influenza in the
I city, the health department issued a
statement saying that about 50 doc
tors were asked about the disease
and they reported a total OF about
! so cases. 1t was said. however. Al
the health department. that an the
Q physicians would be asked about the
{ influenza today and new estimate
would be made.
Epidemic Is Slid.
| The doctors. many Of whom say
| there are hundreds Of cases here, add
that the cases as a rule are mild
The health departments report for
] the week ending Wednesday stated
there were IS deaths in the city. three
/ Of which were from influenza and
i've from pneumonia which were
I perhaps caused by influenza
Reports Of deaths for December
show for the first week 81 deaths.
for the second. week 81 deaths, for
the third week 80 deaths and for
the fourth week 30 deaths. for Ian
week 50 deaths. third week "a
deaths. fourth week 50 deaths, COM
pared to IS deaths for this week
If there is an epidemic in FL Paso
these figures help bear out the state
ment that most Of the cases are mild.
according 70 physicians
During the epidemic Of 1918. in the
firstqWeek OF October there were S.
deaths in the city, in the second
week OF the third month there were
15l cases, in the third week there
were 229 and in the fourth week
there We're az naHHhE
Dr.. j. N. Richmond said he alone
has 20 cases at present three OF
which are iufluenZa-pneum cases.
''The report OF the city health
department TO the effect that
mere are only 90 cuses OF the
influenza in this city Il ridicu-
lOuS,- said DR.. Richmond. There
must be fully n thousand
tuesday q week ago ! phoned the
health department and reported seven
cases The next day I reported four
more and they said they did not have
but one other case besides mine in
the city. The next day 1 reported
three others. There have been a few
cases OF influenza here for more than
q month.
Last Saturday woman took sick
and - hours after the first symptoms
OF influenza developed she was dead.
After our experience in 1915. when
influenza killed more people than
OF conditions at present in the east,
We should begin 10 take precautiOn-
airy measures
ave are o. the eve Of an cpl
deniie and / am in favor OF let
ting the people know Ia, not f0
alarm them. but TO give them n
chance 10 be careful.
Persons should keep themselves
clean internally and externally and
avoid crowds and keen away from
Who hnn-a "a
Dr. NJ O. Wright said he had a
dozen patients with influenza. Most
OF the cases in the city are mild. but
a few are severe
Agrees With Or. Richmond.
while the exact number OF cases
Of influenza IS perhaps not known. 7
would judge that there are approx
mately a thousand cases. perhaps not
more than 750, but more than likely
between $50 and 1909.
4 do not think there is but one
way 10 catch influenza and that is
by coming into direct contact with it.
I do not think other preventative
measures besides avoiding coming in
contact with il do much good but
on This score doctors disa gree.
Another doctor reported that
be and his partner had under
their care % cases, and added
that there were several hundred
in the city and that the people
take care Of themselves and avoid
1ninElinE In crowds.
Dr. Howard Thompson reported 20
the health department that he had
eight cases. aud q number Of physi-
clans said they had four or five
7 see between Is and % cases OF
influenza every day" said DIT. J. -
Rawlings I treated a very severe
case yesterday and another severe
one today.
Estimates 100 Cases.
1t is out OF the question TO say
there are only so cases here There
are approximately 1000 or 400 cases
IN the city. IL there Is one.
The people ought 20 be told that
influenza is here again and be
quietly warned 10 keep out OF crowds.
keep off crowded street cars. stay
away from crowded moving picture
shows and theaters or go close 10 a
person who has influenza: get plenty
OF fresh air. obey other simple health
rules, and 60 TO bed as soon as they
are sick"
1t was stated at the city health
department that there is no law re-
quiring physicians 10 notify the de-
partment OF influenza cases. II was
also said at this office that IL was not
necessary under the law for signs
for conta gious diseases 10 be placed
on houses where there was influenza
Il is also not necessary under the law
for houses where there is influenza
70 be qua "a rfwen