Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-03
PUBLIC TO RECEIVE
 DAILY REPORTS ON
 NEW CASES OF 'FLU'
Dr. Garrison Advises That Withholding Them is In-
 advisable
16 NEW CASES IN
 THE CITY YESTERDAY
Frankness With People Best, State Health Director Advises-No Danger Here at
 Present

The people of Pine Bluff will know rom day to day just how many cases of influenza have been reported ov physicians to the city and county health authorities.
 Suggestions made at q meetinc Saturday that news of influenza de. velopments here be suppressed in order to keep the public from being alarmed will not prevail.
 This much was assured yesterday when Dr. E. o. McMullen, county heaith officer, after conference with Dr. C. w. Garrison, state health officer at Little Rock, announced that reports would be given out daily when requested by the newspapers. pr. McMullen communicated Dr.. Garrison's instructions to Dr. Fred C. Rowell. city physician.
 Dr. McMullen declared last night that he had received no reports of influenza in his urisdctionAthc county outside of the city limits of Pine Bluff pr. Powell reported that 16 new cases were reported yes- terday and eight new cases Sunday This represents total of 56 cases that have been reported since the outbreak first became severe in Ar. kansas.
 Both physicians also were told yesterday by Dr. Garrison to request physicians to file their reports promptly. Each of the two local officers likewise stated that there is nothing in the present situation to cause concern. These statements were borne out by reports from the bedsides of numerous persons who have been i'll that general ' inn provement had been noted.
 Dr. Garrison's action was taken following a request made of him by The Graphic that he rule on whether the statistics could be legally with held, or whether such action, if le- gal, was advisable.
 Garrison's Statement
 Dr. Garrison's view of the matte, as stated by him at Little Rock last night, is as follows:
 My attention has been called to- publication in one of the Pine Bluff papers in which it is stated that a conference with some of the promin- ent citizens of the city. the county health officer, Dr.. E. c. McMullen and the city health officer, pr. Fl C. Powell, it was decided that it would be good policy to withhold from the public the daily reports of the number of cases of influenza occurring within the county and city
 q communicated with Dr. McMul- len and he advised me that their action had been misconstrued or mis- quoted and agreed to send reports in to this office in accordance with the law, and further agreed to give out such information as comes to hie official attention.
 "I would regard it as quite disas- trous to attempt to conceal the facts in matter of this Bind, as believe the public should have full knowledge of conditions. l have full confidence in the intelligent citizen ship of this state to cooperate heart ilv in all sane and just restrictions I could cite to number of instances where cities within the state Have a-t| tempted to withhold from the public, and the state health authorities as well, information revealing the pre- valencc of epidemic disease, and in every instance it has resulted 
 Public sentiment now demands that contagious diseases be proper ly isolated, and is fast coming to realize the responsibility the individ- ual holds to the community at| large"
 Dr. McMullen, in statement yes. terday, emphasized, the following points in regard to the local situa- tion:
 "There is nothing to be concerned over at present. Undue excitement over the matter should be kept down. The seeming attempt at secrecy is merely an effort to keep down ex- citement. Physicians will be re- uuested to report cases promptly. These reports will be published and also forwarded to the state health officer. All the instructions neces- sary are: Call your physician and do as he tells you.'"