Worcester Doctors Report Grip Epidemic Is Subsiding

• At a special meeting this afternoon, the Worcester board of health will meet to discuss whether or not to lift the health policy bans in effect for influenza• There have been several public protests against the lifting of the ban by clergymen, physicians, parents of school children, and others pressing for at least another week of the ban• The Worcester interdenominational ministers association registered a protest led by Rev. Dr. Lewis G. Morris of All Saints, Rev. Leopold Al Nies of Trinity, and Rev. Benjamin F. Wyland of Union church• The protest of ministers was voted on unanimously to protect the public health and demand the ban be extended another week• In the minister's meeting of 30, they compared notes and reports from each congregation and then called industrial plants to determine the degree of improvement; numbers indicate in some parts of the city, the disease is on the increase• Acting in accord with the best knowledge received, the minister's decided the time has not yet come to allow public assemblages, while some speakers declared risk of life among children was tremendous• Physicians request that the ban be extended another week so that the epidemic may be fully stamped outDr. E.H. Trowbridge, chairman, says he is unsure what action the board will take but that public health sentiment will be paramount• Several parents expressed that if schools were reopened, they would not send their children to school • Superintendent Dr. Charles A. Drew indicated he hoped the board would go slow on the reopening, saying “There is still quite a large number of cases”• There were three deaths at City hospital yesterday, 2 from influenza and 1 from pneumonia; there was one death at Greendale emergency hospital last night of pneumonia • There were six cases of influenza admitted to Greendale and three cases of influenza admitted to City hospital yesterday • There were 71 cases admitted to Memorial hospital with five admitted and five discharged • Belmont is caring for 41 cases of influenza and one new case admitted and one discharged• There were 91 cases of influenza reported at the board of health yesterday and from Oct. 6 to Oct. 16 there have been 283 deaths recorded• It was suggested the board of health should placard every house where influenza and other diseases exist to notify the public of contagion• It was also suggested to the board of health that schools, churches, theatres, and saloons should remain closed at least another week• Many in attendance feel that the public has not been made aware how serious and far-reaching the epidemic has been and still is in Worcester• In fact, it is said there was not a dissenting vote yesterday among those in attendance to ban schools, churches, theatres, and saloons another week• Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Wyland says, “This is no time to gamble with human life” and “The influenza has not let up sufficiently to warrant the opening of schools, churches, saloons, or any other places of amusement, and it seems to me the only thing for public health is to keep the ban on for at least another week”• He continues, “Conditions thruout [sic] the city, west side as well as east side, are far worse than we have been told.”• Mrs. Durkee, director of canteen work at the Y.W.C.A. concurs, saying, “There is no doubt that a large number of convalescents who have been deprived of this form (moving picture houses) of amusement for so long will rush there”• Mrs. Francis H. Dewey expressed her belief that the schools should remain closed• Charles E. Hildreth who has been helping the district nurses and seen conditions throughout the city believes that a reopening will be too chancy, as it would be “one week too early” and “we cannot be too careful”• Mrs. Lincoln N. Kinnicutt of the House of the Allies says, “There are new cases of it (influenza) on many sides” and “I think it is running a great risk to open up too soon”• Miss Harriet E. Clark, president of the district nursing society, says “An extra week of closing may save the city endless sickness and distress”• Businessman Benjamin B. Snow of Barrett & Snow says, “Far better to wait a while” and “It will be an awful mistake to open up things”• John A. Denholm of the Rotary Club says, “As long as the need for (canteens) continues so urgent, it is a proof that the epidemic is still rampant”• Louis R. Gelinas of the Worcester war chest activities committee concurs, “There is a good chance that the disease will spread”Newspaper article1