New-York tribune., 1920-01-20
Influenza Toll
Grows; Chicago
Experts Confer
10000 Nurses Needed to
Combat Epidemic, as
l,789 More Cases Are Re-
ported; Deaths Increase
Not So Serious as in 1913
Health Commissioner Seeks
Vaccine and Strives to
Keep Street Cars Heated
Special Correspondence


CHICAGO. Jan. 19.-The Chicago
Health Department was swamped with
appeals for nurses to- day to combat
The spread Of influenza and pneumonia
The pneumonia cases increased at an
alarming rate. The city needs at least
10000 nurses to handle the situation
properly. officials said in the last
fortyeight hours 1889 cases Of infu-
cnza we're reported to the Health De-
partment. while the number of pneu-
monia sufferers leaped to 307. There
were fifty deaths from pneumonia and
sixteen from influenza.
Meanwhile the ipally-trained
nurses went "over the top" and from
now on will wage d concerted fight in
every section of the city. One hundred
and nineteen nurses who pledged them
selves to go into homes when assigned
by the Health Commissioner received
i'orc assignments than they could care
'or. They augmented force of 200
which had been sent out last week.
There were 500 others who were at
,helr posts awaiting assignments
Arrangements were made by Health
'onm' 'ssioner Robertson to refer all
appeals for nurses to the Health De
were tabulated and scattered in differ
rent sections of the city. There they
were delivered to head nurses, who in
turn took them to designated drug
stores in their respective territories,
where the visiting nurses were waiting.
Experts Hold Conference
dozen of the most prominent
psychologists and pathologists in the
city gather red III a conference in DR..
Robertson's Office this afternoon to
discuss the possibility of using vari-
GUS vaccines to combat the influenza,
but no definite course of action was
decided upon.
Some of the physicians present ad-
Focated the use of vaccine in the fight
on influenza. but others termed vac
clnes "Worthless' and no recommends
'lon was made. Before the meeting
adjourned a resolution was passed cali
ing upon bacterologica! laboratories
10 seek an ant-infuenZa vaccine
DR.. Robertson kept careful check
on complaints cf cold or unheatcd
elevated and surface cars o-day. fol-
lowing the action of the nurses. CON
ference in criticizing both heating and
sanitary conditions which they blamed
for much of the spread Of the disease
In addition, the commissioner gave
which warned against hand shaking.
lack of handkerchiefs. late hours and
attendance at overcrowded, overheated
places of pubic assembly.
eff you want to recognize anybody,
salute suggested the doctor.
Less Serious Than Year Ago
The epidemic is much less serious
than that of year ago, according to
figures gathered by DR.. Drake, State
Director of Public Health From Sep
tember % to December 81. 1918. new
cases averaged 2.045 daily, while during
the last seven days an average of only
4n2 has been maintained throughout
Illinois
Commander R. f. Zogbaum jr., e.
ecutlve officer at Great Lakes, who has
been keeping in close touch with the
medical departments fight on influenza
was compelled to take to his bed to-
day. but his aides denied he had the
malady.
Just severe cold" they said. Thexe
we're less than 100 new admissions to
the station hospital. considerably less
han Yesterday and regarded as a good
indication that the backbone Of the
epidemic is broken.