East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-01-26
Smallpox, MumpS and Influenza
More Prevalent Among Chill
dren and, With Nine Teach
erS III, Action is Taken.
PEAK OF EPIDEMIC HAS
NOT YET BEEN REACHED
Common Sense Methods in
Place of General Shutdown
Will be Tried and vaCCina-
ton Order is Received.

Pendleton schools were ordered
closed for one week as IA precaution
ary measure against the spread OF
smallpox. mumps and Influenza at q
special meeting OF the school board
Sunday evening. A meeting held or
Saturday evening failed TO produce =
decision but upon recommendation of
several physicians yesterday. the board
took action last night. Children went
to the various buildings this morning
only to be returned to their homes for
n weeks vacation.
Contagious diseases are more prev
alent among children than among
adults. the report of physicians to the
school directors indicated. This con-
dition. together with the fact that
nine teachers are at present under
quarantine. FASTENED the decision OF
the board. No other local institutions
will be closed. however. Mayor John
l. Vaughan said today
Performance POSTPONED.
The Kindergarten operated I'm Field
school by Miss Beth Smith suspended
work today when the public schools
wereclosed. The Church OF the Re-
deemer announced a postponement Of
Its kermis. scheduled for Wednes-
day night In the oregon theater but
the mayor said other amusement
places were not to be molested.
Special Health Officers John HALEY
Jr.. and William Lyday continued
their work OF enforcing quarantine on
houses in which influenza patients are
reported. They have about i00 cases
under quarantine at this, tune and
probably 100 moro not quaraniined,
DR.. II. J. Knvanaugh said today.
Nineteen new cases were reported
this morning. In addition TO the in
fluenza. few cases OF mumps are re
ported. There Is no increase in the
number OF smallpox cases
The peak Of the epidemic has not
been reached as yet. DIR. Kavanaugh
said today. Cases appear to be on the
increase and St Anthony's hospital 10
crowded with patients having influ-
enza. The mayor and the physician
announced that they would hold con-
ference this afternoon, too late for
report in today's papers. however.
Common Sense Urged.
Common sense methods instead of a
offensive against the spread OF the
diseases. All persons with colds, tenn
perature or headaches are urged to
follow the simple health rules as laid
down by the Red Cross on Saturday
and to stay at home. in bed. with
proper attention. Persons who do not
feel we'll are urged to keen away from
crowds and forego appearing in places
s..I-N ut "a
disease.
While the number of cases of influ-
enza is believed quite high. the per-
centagc OF serious cases is not great.
Il is reported. There is some pneu-
monia but for the most part the dis
ease has taken milder form than
last winter. Instead of affecting the
lungs II has shown more often the
tendency to be in the intestines or
stomach.
Vaccination I5dict Received.
The school board today received no.
tice from the state board OF health
that It would insist that every child,
In any community having smallpox,
he vnccinated or be excluded from
classes until he produces certificate
of vaccination or proof that he has
had smallpox The state board IN
sists on enforcement of this ruling.
The state law gives the state board
of health authority to act and fun
power of control over all commune
cable diseases. The edict is taken 10
mean that before pendleton schools
can reopen n wholesale vaccination
campaS~n will have to be waged.
At Rieth the Influenza has not he-'
come sufficiently widespread to ne
cessitate the closing Of school GeorFe
Roberts said today. Mr.. Roberts sara
that conditions in the railroad town
nre nearly normal and that children
went to their classes today as usual
Weston has n large number OF cases
of influenza and is not having school
Reports from other towns in the coun-
ty have not come in but quite rev
cases are reported unofficially from
Hermiston.