Big Drop Shown in Influenza Deaths

• Total influenza deaths from 9/14 to 10/5; 1861• Total pneumonia deaths from 9/14 to 10/5; 508• Influenza deaths 10/5; 117• Pneumonia deaths 10/5; 32• Boston health Commissioner William C. Woodward has not reached a decision on recommendation of Emergency Committee to curtail hours of retail stores to relieve congestion• State Health Commissioner Eugene R. Kelley reports epidemic now being held in check• St. John’s Seminary opened as hospital; every seminarian volunteers to work in any capacity• Only 2 Army and Navy deaths in Greater Boston• Thirty Indiana doctors report to Federal Health Director in Boston• Massachusetts to spend $50,000 on tent hospitals and shacks. Shacks are directed by Governor McCall and erected by the State Guard• The Boston Emergency Committee enacted a new policy yesterday, asking retail stores not to open before 9 a.m. and to close at 4 p.m. to reduce subway congestion• State epidemiologist D.W. Carey announced that statewide there are 5570 new cases and 151 deaths• Outdoor treatment is to supplant all other hospitalization methods in grippe cases hereafter, State Health Commissioner Kelley predicts• Dr. Endicott and Mrs. Thayer of the State Committee urge the closing of liquor bars, soda fountains, pool, billiard and auction rooms and bowling alleys throughout the state, as has been done in Boston• Nurses are still a pressing need and none of them promised have yet arrived in Massachusetts• Smallest number of deaths in Boston since September 29. Burial permits issued for 117 influenza and 32 pneumonia victims• Red Cross officials in Washington claim that the appeals from Massachusetts for nurses at “exorbitant prices” would tend to disrupt the mobilization of Red Cross nurses, according to Dr. John G. Hitchcock, chief of the Department of Communicable Diseases• Hitchcock said that “the Massachusetts plight is so serious that we could not stand on ceremony concerning compensation and that it was up to the Red Cross to obtain nurses for us or have martial law declared in the State.” • State Commissioner Kelley said he cannot understand why the Public health Service has failed to give any heed to W.F. Draper’s oft-repeated appeals for nurses• Colonel William A. Brooks, Surgeon General of the State Guard believes that outdoor treatment is most effective and that the fewer hospital admissions the fewer deaths will result• Only three new cases and one death among the Northeastern Army Department and 24 new cases and one death in the First Naval District• Mayor Andrew J. Peters listened to allegations that conditions in the North End are so numerous that they are not being given proper attention• The North End is experiencing a shortage of coffins• Officials have been urged to prohibit public funerals, enforce improved collection of garbage and the flushing of North End streets• Health Commissioner William C. Woodward said that inspectors have reported to him that conditions in the North End are not as bad as they have been describedNewspaper article1,