Evening star., 1928-12-15
INFLUENZA CLOSES
GEORGETOWN PREP
Dozen Cases Cause Head
master to Send Boys Home
III for the Holidays.

With a dozen mild cases of influenza
reported in the school, authorities of
Georgetown Prep School yesterday
closed down the school for the Christ
mas HOLIDAYS several days earlier than
had been intended. The 1l0 boys
boarded at the school were sent to
their homes and will not return until
after the New Year, Father Thomas
Emmet headmaster, announced today.
There we're no really serious cases
of influenza here but the fact that
there were so many within the school
made 1t necessary, to avert an cpl
den1ic, to close the school early for The
Christmas holidays" Father Ammet
stated. The Christmas holidays were
not to begin until next week.
I'VE would not have closed the school.
however, if the Christmas holidays had
not been so close. We had the situation
completely under control at all times,
and none of the boys was confined to
the infirnary for more than three days
Death Toll Rises.
One additional death reported today
brought the December toll from influ-
enza in the District to 10, Dr.. William
c. Fowler, District health officer, an
nounced. Five new cases of the disease
were reported, making total of 81 for
December.
In letters sent out today to the
1900 physicians of the city. DR.. Fowler
is asking for more complete reports on
influenza cases in the District and ask
ing their cooperation in checking the
spread of the disease Dr.. Fowler also
has checked on the nursing facilities of
the town and now has large corps of
nurses which can be pressed into public
service if the occasion arises.
Expect Malady Here.
I'VE arm going to get some of this
epidemic, which is sweeping the coun-
try" DR. Fowler declared. II have
known that for some time he con-
tinued, but have seen no reason to,
get panicky about it. Getting panicky
is not going to do anybody any good
and it might do lot of harm. My
chief advice to all well persons is for
them to avoid persons affected with in
fluenza. or even those who have colds,
and for all persons to build up their
personal health so that they Will have
better resistance powers"
Dr. Fowler's circular letter to the
doctors, he explained. is primarily to
get for the Health Department as near
ly complete figures as possible so that
the department can be apprlSed at al
times of the amount of the disease in
the District.
Unreported Cases.
Some doctors. he says, may have
neglected to report cases and in
many cases where no physician has
been called and the attack is mild. no
report has been made. The figures in
deaths. however, are undeniable.
The United States Public Health Serv-
ice figures that about one case in every
FIVE of influenza is reported to the au-
thorities. All deaths must be reported
DR.. Fowler does not expect influenza
at any time to become as prevalent here
as it was in the Winter of 1917-1S, nor
does he think that the present influenza
is as dangerous. in form, as was the dis
ease which took a huge toll of lives in
the war period. He does think, how
ever. that there is every reason for every
healthy person to observe the practical
rules of hygiene to avoid any infection
The 10 deaths reported so far this
month from influenza show that the
disease is slightly more prevalent this
year than it was last year. Only five
deaths were reported for the entire
month of December last year, Decem-
Der, 1927, DR.. Fowler says. was about
a normal month for the disease.