New-York tribune., 1920-01-24
Flu Spreads;
l,332.Stricken.
23 Die i'm Day
Leap iii New Cases Nears Epi.
demic Stage; City Mobil-
ICES All Health Agencies
to Combat the Outbreak
Pneumonia Is Increasing
DIR. Copeland Against Use
of Vaccine; Whisky To
BE Available for Sufferers

influenza. WHICH has been sweeping
over the city in steadily increasing
volume for a week, assumed epidemic
proportions yesterday.
Dr. Royal S. Copeland, Health Com
missioner, announced last night that
the entire resources of the municpal
lty had been organized and immedi-
ately would be brought to bear to check
further lnroads Of the disease. To aid
thc Commissioner in this work the
Board of Estimate appropriated $50
OOO
In the twenty-four-hour period end
ing at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning
l'332 new cases were reported in the
live boroughs, almost twice as many
as on the preceding day. "Ihc num-
Der is growing" said DR.. Copeland.
land | would not be surprised if the
hgures tomorrow show a similar ratio
of increase"
The total number Of cases reported
since January / is 3.096.
A dozen members OF the staff of
Bellevue Hospital reported themselves
though no final diagnosis was made, it
was thought that several if not all OF
the cases might be influenza in mild
form. All of the patients were sent
to bed. One is Dr.. Mark L. Fleming,
assistant superintendent Of the institu-
ton. A nurse, an ambulance driver
and two orderlios are among the
others.
Help for Sanitary Squad
Police Commissioner Enright placed
twenty policemen at the disposal of the
Health Commissioner to assist the san
itary squad. At the latter's request
an order was issued to enforce the
code against eXpectorating, smoking
on streetcars and in the subway and
against exposing food.
Although the number Of new cases
approXimates the average in the cpl
demic of September, 1913, the deaths
are practically only one third. This
led Commissioner Copeland to state
that the visitation is not nearly so
virulent
The steps taken by the Health Com
missioner to combat the malady were:
Al Offices of the Health Department
will remain open day and night. Ar
rangements were made to furnish free
medicine and to provide physicians for
the absolutely needy. A plan of CO.
operation between the department and
social centers and charitable organiza-
tions to avoid duplication was devised.
Nurses and unframed help will be err
rolled, All bureau heads of the depart
ment were in conference for three
hours completing the details for the
fight.
THE department" said Commissioner
Copeland, "desires the name, address
and telephone number of every nurse,
trained or not, and every person who
can give full time or part time. Pay
for nurses will be Sc day, or u cents
an hour for part-time service IN
trained nurses will receive IS a day, or
80 cents an hour part-timc. The latter
should apply in person at the Health
Department and present their creden-
tials.
"Arrangements have been made to
provide for laundry service in each bor-
ough When nurse finds the house
wife i'll and the linen soiled the de-
parrment will make temporary provision
for the family and send the laundry to
be cleaned"
Concerning vaccincs, Dr. Copeland
said:
"The Bureau of Laboratories has made
an extensive study of vaccines during
the last eighteen months. l regret TO
report that the result is not promising.
They seem to have some value in pre-
venting pneumonia, but in view Of the
fact that pneumonia is a rather infrc-
qucnt complication of the disease this
year the department does not feel JUS
titled in recommending the use Of vac
cine. The department is prepared, how
ever, to supply it to any physician.
Opinion Against Vaccine
at is the consensus of opinion Of in
vcstigators, almost without exception,
that all vaccines supposed to be pre-
ventivc against influenza possess no
value"
Regarding the use of whisky in the
treatment of influenza DR.. Copeland
said he mad taken the matter up with
Continued on page eighteen