The Washington herald., 1920-01-27
YOTES5OO,OOO
T0FIGHT FLU
Senators Take Action After
Listening to Appeal from
Secretary Glass.
CUT FROM A MILLION
Situation in Washington Be-
heved Under Control of
: Health Authorities.
CUT FROM A MILLION

An appropriation of 100000 to
combat the influenza epidemic and
TO enable research scientists to dis
cover the germ responsible for the
disease was voted yesterday by the
Senate. The funds are to be ex-
pehded under the direction of the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice
A letter from Secretary Glass
was read during the debate. in
which IL was stated that funds
were urgently needed for investi-
eating the cause, mode of trans
mission and means to prevent the
disease. The available funds of
the Health Service are exhausted,
Secretary Glass pointed out. be-
cspse of large expenditures incl
dent to controlling the bubonic
plague in New Orleans.
Senator France called up the bill
immediately after the Senate con-
vened. Originally the bill called
for the appropriation of $1,000
zoe. but Senator King, of Utah.
said he would object to its con-
sidsration unless the appropria-
tion were cut in half. Senator
France reluctantly consented to
this reduction.
North CaroIina's Remedy.
Senator Overman. of North Caro-
lima, said that in his State a
remedy for the disease has been
found.
Il am informed" he said. that
common baking soda will cure 1t,
that many cures have been made
with it. and that as a result of
using this specific they no longer
have any deaths in that region on
account cf this disease. i suppose
they use a little 'moonshine' with
it,
The influenza epidemic has spread
to Michigan, Minnesota and North
Dakota, the United States Public
Health Service announced. Two
thousand cases were reported by
Michigan, $50 by Minnesota and
i05. by North Dakota.
Kansas City reported thirty-six
deaths
Telegraph for Whiskey.
The disease is reported as scat
tered" in California, Florida, Geor-
Sia, Idaho. Mississippi. Ohio, Texas,
Wisconsin and Wyoming.
New York city with nearly 5000
new cases. headed the list of cities
where epidemic is strongest.
Macon, Ca, telegraphed the Pub
lie Health Service Tor whisky,
stating that the disease "is spread
ing rapidly, The Public Health
Service replied it had no whisky
nor authority to arrange for ship
inent.
Slight Increase Here.
Despite a slight increase in num-
Der of deaths from influenza during
tho last two days, the District
Health Department. felt no alarm
last night at the situation.
1t has been decided that the epi-
demic has not taken on a form seri-
ous enough to warrant closing the
schools or places of public assem-
bly.
Or. william c. Fowler, District
health officer, expects to see a gen.
eral decline in the influenza wave
shortly. as he believes the situation
has about reached a peak.
More than 100 cases of the dis
ease are under tregtment at Walter
Reed Hospital. All patients have
executive officer of the institution.
IS not contemplating placing a
quarantine at this time.
Eight Nurses Respond to Call
Answering the appeal of the In
structiye Visiting Nurse Society for
transportation to and from homes
Of influenza patients, the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce ar
ranged yesterday afternoon to pro-
vide free taxi service for the
nurses until the present emergency
is over.
The chamber notified the So
ciety that automobiles should be
hired as needed and that all ex-
Penses would be borne by the
chamber, until 5000 appropriated
for the purpose is exhausted.
Miss A. c. Bagiey, superintendent