City Continues Vigorous Efforts To Stamp Out Epidemic Influenza

As the number of flu cases in the city is about 5000 and hospitals struggle to accommodate them,the city has decided to open the City Hospital, provided enough nurses can be found. 'Dr. D. M. Totman, cityhealth officer, was unable to state last night where the nurses would be obtained.' Mayor Stone has asked theNew York State Railways to ensure street cars are not overcrowded. The company maintains that the number ofpassengers has, on the contrary, dwindled due to the epidemic. 'The United States Employment Service agreedto furnish a large number of women to go into these homes, help with general housework and do cooking for thesick.' This plan was initiated by Almus Olver, secretary of the Associated Churches and Charities. The Board ofHealth discussed a plan to quarantine homes affected by the epidemic. In this regard, Dr. Totman stated: "At thepresent time, neighbors are rendering great assistance in caring for the sick. To placard homes while the sickare still confined there would cut off this valuable aid. The suggestion was made, therefore, to establish thequarantine after the patient had been removed to a hospital. This would have the effect of discouraging visitorsand the assemblage of crowds." Dr. Totman also clarified that small meetings are also affected by the ban. Newquestionnaires will be sent to physicians tomorrow asking for new cases only to find out the state of theepidemic. At the present time Mayor Stone does not believe that closing orders need to be extended to stores,offices, and factories but he won't be lifting the current ban on amusement places either. In the city conditionsamong the poor are particularly bad with many cases of entire families suffering without receiving help. Theshortage of nurses makes caring for these families almost impossible. The decision to open the City Hospital toaccommodate 150 flu patients resulted from a meeting between Mayor Stone, Dr. Nicholson, and Dr. F. W.Sears, district sanitary inspector. Nurses from out of town are being brought in and school nurses may be calledupon to help at the hospital. So far, citizens are cooperating fully with the closing orders and the police isensuring that no crowds form anywhere. Flu cases are spread all over the city. 'The highest number reported byone physician was 185 cases, being treated by Dr. F. S. Fay, No. 4602 South Salina street.' Various church andother public meetings have been cancelled (list included).Newspaper article6, 1