The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-03
CAIN MAY co TO
5000 BY NIGHT
OFFICIALS FEAR
Distribute Hospital Equipment
From Funston, Plan.
Allen to Appeal Directly to
Wood for Aid.
TWO COMMUNITIES ASK HELP
Scores of Cases and All Doctors
Sick, Their Plea.
Governor Issues a Call for Vol
unteer Nurses.
Governor Issues a Call for Vol
unteer Nurses.

Threats of a general flu quarantine
were issued today by DIR. S. J. Crum-
bine. secretary of the state board of
health. Unless unnecessary meetings
are avoided and public gathering
places closed in conformity with the
public health orders. a general state
order may be expected. Doctor Crum-
bine's decree followed early returns
indicating the number of flu cases
would exceed 1000 and might reach
5000. At noon seventy of 116 report
ing districts had given notice of 1904
new cases.
Plans for distribution of emergency
hospital equipment from Camp Fun
ston were being worked out today by
Doctor Crumbine and his assistants
During the day the health department
secretary was in conference with Gov
ernor Allen relative to additional
equipment Governor Allen urged ev-
cry support of state health orders
and declared he would appeal directly
20 Gen. Leonard Wood for hospital
supplies from the central department.
State Officials Alarmed.
Evidences OF big increases in the
number Of influenza and pneumonia
cases caused real alarm in health Of
fices this afternoon. DR.. Crumbine
foresaw q return to conditions rival
ing those of a year ago unless public
meetings were placed under the ban
at once.
unless the communities in Kansas
take steps thru their local officials to
y prevent calling of unnecessary meet
ings and to call off many meetings
already arranged. we are facing a
situation which will require state
wide quarantine" said Doctor Crum-
bine. Death reports are already be-
ginning to show up big and further
increases may be expected as the num-
ber of new cases develop. They way to
fight this disease is to stay away from
public gathering places and to go to
bed when you are sick, Once you go
to bed-stay there until you are fully
recovered.
Appeals came to the health depart
ment this morning from the town of
Narka, Republic county. where the
three doctors have gone to bed-each
a victim of the flu. There are eighty
sufferers in the community who are
without medical care.
In Emmett. Pottawatomie county.
the towns doctor is suffering from
pneumonia. Appeals were sent to
Doctor Crumbiue for a doctor and one
or more nurses.
Allen Calls for Nurses.
I'VE must have more nurses" Gov
ernor Allen urged after conference
with Doctor Crumbine today. 81 be-
lieve that in the rural communities
many women who have nursed with
local physicians can help in relieving
the distress. There are likewise many
retired physicians who could be of
great aid to the communities if they
would but offer their services"
Arrangements have been completed
for immediate moving of emergency
ston. More than 500 beds and equip
ment at Funston has been placed at
disposal of the state. It will be sent
to suffering towns. under directions
from Doctor Crumbine.
In addition to 1904 new flu cases
reported TO the state health depart
ment early this afternoon AZ addition
al cases Of pneumonia were reported
as were Is deaths. -Four deaths oc-
CURED in Nemaha county and three
in Topeka. Kansas City. Kan, re-
ported the greatest number of new
pneumonia cases-nine. Cloud county
was second with seven cases.
Crumbine in Statement.
"The nursing forces of the state
must he modified at once" Doctor
Crumbine said in a statement today
There were fewer than 5000 KansanS
who lost their lives in service during
the great war. But we lost 1905
from the flu and pneumonia during
the 1918 and 1919 epidemics.
There were $50 cases Of flu IL
Kansas Monday. and new cases are
being reported by the thousand The
medical and nursing service of the
state is overwhelmed. The time ha;
come for a new emergency service.
THE soldiers in this new call tC
arms are the women of the state who
must do the nursing of these cases
The trained nurses must act as off.
GERS and the practical nurses and
? women who have had home trainins
courses or who have had some ex.
perience must help in this work
Registered nurses must volunteer L
act as officers of definite nursing
units. The nurse who reserves hei
services for one private patient whC
can pay a large fee while hundred.
of other patients must go withou
nursing, should be classed with tht
draft evader."