The Washington times., 1920-01-19

WELL IN HAND
MaIady Reappearing in Mild
Form Only, Says D. c.
Health Officer.

DIR. william c. Fowler. District
health OFFICER, said today the innu-
enxa situation Is not alarming. and
stated he was not contemplating TAX
ing drastic steps-such as ciosins
schools ard other public piaces-to
check the spread OF the maiady'
The disease Is reappearing In only
a mild form" said DR.. Fowler. This
is clearly indicated by the fact that
but one death has been recorded. 1
believe the greater number OF the
cases of sickness In washington are
nothing but heavy colds or grip and
not real influenza"
Since s o'clock yesterday morning
146 cases OF influenza have beben re-
corded on the books of the health de-
partment. Fifty-nine came In yes
terday's mail and eightyseven In this
mornings mail. This brings the total
cases for the month to 2sS.
The present outbreak Is not COL
fined to any certain section OF the
city. Most cases reported are OF per
sons more than twenty years old.
There are a few cases or minors sur
fering with the malady.
Repeats Fresh Air Warning.
DIR. Fowler reiterated his warning
of Saturday to the public OF Wash
lnRtOn. plcnty VI AiOSh "ii .
pleI.ty of sleep and good food" says
the health officer.
At the office of the director Of the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance II was
stated today there are twenty cases
of influenza among the employees.
None of the cases are serious, 1t was
said.
DR.. Howard Barker, sanitary in
spector of the bureau, said today
every possible step to check the
spread Of the disease among employees
of the bureau has been taken.
every employe who Is suffering
with a cold and reports to work Is
sent Immediately to the dispensary OF
the bureau" DR.. Barker explained.
"In the dispensary a blood culture or
the person Is taken. This Is done TO
determine whether there are any in
dications of diphtheria. II We find
an employe has a severe cold or fever,
we send him home Immediately, with
the accommodation he get in tonch
with q physician Immediately.
"The present situation Is not un-
usual There is no great increase IN
the number of cases of sickness re-
ported"
Forty-eight Cases at Dormitortes.
Forty-eight cases of influenza are
being cared for At the Government
dormitories for war workers. IL mas
been necessary to utilize the recrea-
tion hall for a hospital. The innrm-
ary Is filled to capacity.
Miss Dora Burchard. superintendent
of the intirmary and head nurse. said
today every step was being taken to
prevent the spread of the disease
among the $500 girls rooming and
boarding in the dormitories. No seri-
GUS cases are among those reported
thus far.
Ernest L. Thurston, Superintendent
of Schools. said today the number or
absences in the schools during this
month has been less than the number
the same time last year. conditions
are normal" he says.
u. 9. situation in Hand.
Increase of influenza throughout
the nation was characterized as very
slight" in a statement issued today
by Surgeon General Rupert Blue,
head of the United States Public
Health Service.
THE cases all show a mild aspect
of the malady, Blue said.
Blue emphasized that the situation
is not alarming, If proper precaution-
ary measures are taken by local
health officials and the public gem
orally. He appealed to all health
officials to isolate patients.
Reports to the Public Health Service
shows that the disease is most preva'
lent In Chicago. 1t is subsiding, how
ever, according to Blue, in Camp
Grant and the Great Lakes Naval
Training Station.
Report Epldemic In Cuba.
Blue today gave orders for an in
vestigation Of a report that Cuba is
being swept by an epidemic OF flu. II
this report is found to be true, Blue
plans to take all necessary precau-
tions to prevent the epidemic being
transferred to the United States
through sailors on leave and trav-
elers arriving from the island.
Approximately 5000 cases of flu
were reported to the Health Service
between September I and January IL
when the last reports were tabulated
During this same period last year the
A mn AO0 afafed