The New York herald., 1920-01-25
Lesson of Previous Epidemic.

Richmond. 81 ny I
ri To'a: !a:s jan. Sal sSal a55s 3ss ls3 :3 ,oss g
Lesson of Previous Epidemic.
The lesson from the last epidemic" de-
tbr. Copeland, lis that intimate per-
nai contact is responsible for the trans
mission OF the disease. TO ask the citizens
~ New York 10 avoid crowds is futile
Nevertheless, it is ssential that the Jam
ming of persons in the subway trolley
md elevated ears must be stopped
One Of the gratifying experiences in
he control of the last epidemic was the
'egulation of the hours Of the opening
A:l closing of business places in order
tldt the demand on means of transporta-
ton might be spread over a period in
;ctd of being concentrated at particular
periods Of the morning ana evening
IN addition to the representatives OF
r theatres and the department stores
With whom | conferred this afternoon.
tlso had a conference with Frank He'd
ley. president and general manager of the
lnterboroueh William s. Mender vice
president and general manager Of the
- r. 7. Mr.. Fecley. of the Third Avenue
Railway, and an engineer from the Public
Service Commission.
They acceded TO the wish Of the Health
Board that everything be done to reduce
crowdng In the subway. elevated and sur
lace systems and they agreed to regu-
late the train schedules SO that they can
aid in that respect as well in many
others.
Mr. Hcdey declared that the scheme of
regulating the opening and closing OF bust
ness houses in the city during the epi-
dcmic in 1918 worked so well that the
transit people would like to have it con.
unued indefinitely"
Failing Off In Pneumonia.
Reverting to the gradual spread Of in
fluenza, DR.. Copeland said The reports
received today indicate about the same
invasion of the city by the disease as was
indicated yesterday. Pneumonia usually
follows Influenza but this year there is
failing off in that respect. Many cases
that originally are reported as influenza
are reported rs pneumonia when that
disease develops. | Gear some of the phys
iclans of the city are not reporting their
cases as rapidly as they might. It is inn
portant that every physician in the city
report such cases 10 the Health DEPART
ment Immediately after treating the pa
tient.
Deaths from influenza and pneumonia
~ ilS the tWonty-four hours ending this
morning" continued Dr. Copeland. were
ever than foi the corresponding day in
'he epidemic in 1918. Indications are
there VIII be- fewer deaths in the statistics
10 be made public at ten o'clock this MORN
.ng than those contained in the report
received UP To this morning
This morning representa- tives OF the
Nurses Emergency Council the Henry
street Settlement the American Fed
Cross and tue Association for Improving
he Condition of the Poor. met here to
discuss witt. me scheme of co-ordinated
effort.
1T was ssreed that instead of having
these organizations carry on their activi-
ties in some centre detached from the
rrtr1 ont Ne oil . "a
rninistrative forces having 70 do with the
control of the epidemic should have their
offices in the Health Departments gem
eral headquarters No 500 Pearl tsreet.
Manhattan.
Il am very glad that these splendid
organizations have offered to the Board
of Health all their influence and re-
sources. We will have IN the Health De-
partment - assist our own officials Miss
lillian WalG. chairman of the Nurses
Emergency Council; Miss Annie Good
rich, of Teachers College. and Miss Par
son, of the American Red Cross.
Centre in Health Department.
ION MONDAY desk room will be provided
for them in the general headquart rters.
Contrary to 1915, every activity will centre
acre.
''The Anti-Tuberculosis Society through
Dr. John 5. Billings director has placed
posal of the Health Department. In
Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and staten
Island the various philnnthropie societies
have been organized under the direction
cf the Health Department. They will un-
dCrtake such work In the homes as may
he necessary TO relieve suffering.
''In short. / think | may say that every
social and relief organization in this COM
munity is now hitched up to work for the
control of the epidemic. Miss Elizabeth
GREGG superintendent of nurses of the
Bureau Of Preventable Diseases OF the
Health Dcpa rtment. is in charge OF all the
nursing problems presented to tho Health
Department Miss GREGG or ono of her
assistants viii be on duty in general head
quarters for twcnty-four hours Of the day
during the epidemic Her representatives
viii be on hand for like period in the
othcr borough headquarters of the city.
we have ample hospital facilities de-
cared Dr Copeland. but We need nurses.
Wa need them not alone for home ca ses.
hut should the disease extend, we will
have to have more nurses for the hospitals.
The Health Department requests per-
sons desiring nurses to telephone 10 the
departments headquarters in their respec-
tive borouchs. The numbers are as
follows Manhattan, Worth-9i00; Bronx
fremont 1915 Brooklyn, Main f790;
Queens. Jamaica-iTc: Richmond, Tomp-
sinsville--ii0
mr. Copeland said that he had requested
tho Officials of tho subway. elevated and
surface car systems to endcsvor 10 have
straps IN the cars OF their systems cleaned
with disinfectant at least once day lie
said policemen yesterday arrested many
persons FOR splitting in the stations and
ears Of the subway. elevated and surface
lines.
owing 10 the refusal Of many persons
10 rick the dangers Of tho inclemcnt
weather and tho prevalence OF inf1u-
cn1a and Inc Illness of i.t0o operators
there has been an increased demand on
tho employees of the telephone company.
according 20 q statment issued by J. S.
McCulloh, vice president of the com
many
THE difficulty OF handling this huge
load ~ telephone calls Is increased by
tho fact that i.f00 operators are absent
on account of sickness" he said De
iays in handling calls are unavoidable.
in certain central office districts where
traffic has hoen conEcsted for some
time. these delays frequently continue
several minutes.
Tho operators arc doing everything
iu their power TO meet the unusual situ-
alton and the telephone company earn