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Show Decision Will Be Made Today; Physicians Present Pre-sent Arguments; Beat-ty Beat-ty and Paul Oppose. 88 New Cases Reported; Report-ed; 8 Deaths; Whisky Ban Lifted to Combat I Malady; Ogden Better. Physicians and surgeons, theater operators op-erators and business men of other classes, with tho members of the city board of health, gathered last night at tho Dublic safety building in response to a call for a general discussion of certain cer-tain phases d'f the health situation in Salt Lake. The discussion extended over a period of four hours. No definite conclusion was reached, the health board deciding to ponder over the problems presented until 3 o'clock this afternoon. About a score of doctors attended. Consensus of opinion, it was early demonstrated, was nearly unanimously against the adoption of mask wearing, except, perhaps, in isolated instances. The purpose of the meeting was to consider questions directly relating to the universal adoption of a gauze mask, to bo worn by all persons throughout Salt Lake while the influenza epidemic is in progress. The meeting was the result re-sult of a demand made in resolutions by members of the County Medical society on November 27, urging the adoption of gauze masks as a preventive of the contagion. con-tagion. BITTERNESS CROPS OUT EARLY IN MEETING. Bitterness cropped out early in the meeting. Dr. J. F. Critchlow, leader of the antis, asserting that the resolutions of the County Medical society favoring adoption of the mask, were formulated at a "packed" meeting, and Dr. J. C. Lan-denberger, Lan-denberger, leader of the mask exponent faction, counter-charging that last night's session was packed by the antis. W. IT. Swanson, owner of the American Ameri-can theater, led the debato for the the- (Continued on Page Nine.) FLU MASK ISSUE UP TO BOARD OF HEALTH (Continued from Page One.) nter men, and was seconded by various lnembers of the theatrical bnfiineKS. Dr. T. B. Tlcattv, aerrctary of the shite board of health, exhibited a. diagram showlne tlio fluctuations of the Influenza epidemic ianro its Inception. in an explanatory addrees in connection with the chart he said that deaths occurring Friday could In no wav be an Index of the general health condition of that day, as the morbidity mor-bidity of Influenza covers a period of from seven to eight days, that is, the deaths of vesterdav being from eon-' eon-' taglon contracted a week or more ago. In this statement Dr. neatly wan seconded sec-onded In a short report by Dr. Samuel G. l'uul of the city health board. WORK OF HEALTH BODIES IS PRAISED. Speaking for the business men's committee com-mittee J. P. Oiscv, chairman, statod that investigations made by that committee com-mittee corroborated the statements of the health officers, and added, when the . cordiality of the state and city health M bodies toward each other was brought f into question, that further investigations demonstrated that those bodies wcro operating op-erating hand In glove for the early and effectual eradication of the epidemic. During the discussion Dr. V. V. Met, I-llcmUlv I-llcmUlv and Dr. Clarence 10. lvlw.irds, both Of the United Slates army, but do-" do-" ' ta bed from federal service in order to V assist local stato health authorities in the battle against influenza, and sent here from tho Pacific coast, where they have operated In a similar cause for several weeks, expressed opinions against the wearing of "flu" masks. They obtained staunch support from Dr. V. IT. Harrison, Harri-son, a federal health official, who is operating op-erating in connection with Dr. licatly in the stato health work. All of these outside surgeons declared that the mask possesses no virtue as a ro)hvlilotlc measure, except, perhaps, in tho most minor form. They Introduced experiences which tended to prove that the "flu" germ is a "moist" bacteria, and since the inhalation and expulsion of breath through a gauze lold creates moisture these moist areas are. consequently, conse-quently, particularly fertile breeding and propagation fields for the germ. This theory was supported by practleal-lv practleal-lv everv other medical man present, Pr. Critcbiow being particularly em Piia 1 ic in denying tile efficacy of the mask, tubers pointed cut that In cold weather the wearing wear-ing of a mask has the effect of driving the germ to the eves, entering the human system sys-tem through tho lachrymal canal. Mr. Swanson told of danger he had encountered encoun-tered through (he clouding of bis spectacle glasses from moisture gathered on a mask he woie as a forced expedient while he was in Denver recently. Theater Men's Argument. The main argument presented by the theater men was adverse to the operation of certain stores which, they claimed, v, ere still conducted without regard to ...worv-anco ...worv-anco of rules issued by the lieall.i department de-partment tor the prevention of mass assemblages. as-semblages. The point of this argument was directed against a. store where it was staled, immense crowds gathered at all y hours of the day to trade. Cliiot J. lar-ley lar-ley White of the i.olicc department ex-f ex-f plained that measures had been taken to V prevent crowding at thW store, and that a police oflicer is now on duty to ire- vet, I thronging the place. He explained also the svstem adopted in this regulation, saving that a slated number ol persons were permitted In tho place at one time, and until one or more can.e out others were not permitted to eel' r. Mr. Swanson opposed tiny proposition that recommended tile wearing of health masks in theaters, saying that business could nut be successfully conducted that way. Throughout the meeting the question of liberal use of vaccine was recommended recom-mended by all the physicians. In addition addi-tion to this, both local and outside surgeons sur-geons were heartily in favor of isolation of patients, some recommending tiiis measure even to the extent of reopening the Ued Cross Judge Mercy hospital for the reception of each and every person suffering from the ailment. Isolation Is Commended. "Complete isolation is the only really effective measure, and I am heartily in favor of adopting this system in connection connec-tion with the vaccination measure." said Dr. Harrison. Others echoed the recommendation. recom-mendation. Dr. Critcbiow explained that after he had received the notice of last night's meeting, he called upon a number of doctors doc-tors for an expression of opinion and was given tile proxies of at least twenty-five twenty-five to speak against the adoption ol the influenza mask resolution. At this afternoon's meeting of the city board of health that body will take such action as the session of last night seems to warrant, and this action will bo referred re-ferred to the city commissioners. EIGHTY-EIGHT NEW CASES OF DISEASE IN CITY; 8 DEATHS Eighty-eight new cases and eight deaths from influenza were reported to the city health officers .yesterday. Those who succumbed to pneumonia complications incident to aggravated cases of the malady were Clarinda Inge-bretsen, Inge-bretsen, aged 18 years: Beryl Davis, who came from Spanish Fork to nurse her sister, Mrs. Farrell Reese, who died several sev-eral days ago; Kthel Craig, 2Z; Esther Delenf.on. 7; Tillie E. Thompson, 27; Frederick Dover, 25; Elsie M. Miller, 34, and Von M. Cushlng, 10. The reports from the state outside of Salt Lake yesterday continued to indicate indi-cate general improvement. One death, that of Wallace J. Potter, 34 years old, was listed from Farmington, and one from Pleasant Grove, where Joseph W. Thorne died at the age of 41, following an attack of influenza-pneumonia. One of the most encouraging features of the report was the fact that Ogden, where the epidemic has been raging with remarkable persistence for weeks, has been holding her own for several days past, only fifty-seven new cases and four deaths being registered yesterday. This indicated a small hut- continued improvement im-provement over the preceding das'. Dr. Clarence E. Edwards, of the United States public health service, who has been handling the situation in the vicinity of Thistle, returned to Salt Lake last night upon the successful termination termina-tion of his work at that place, ie reported re-ported to Dr. T. B. Beatty of the state board of health, under whose supervision he is combating the epidemic, that Thisr tie is free from influenza, and that but one death occurred wh ile he was there. Dr. Ed wards will be assigned to other territory shortly, after he has a few days' rest in Salt Lake. .Felix Behr, a German enemy alien interned in-terned at tiie Fort Douglas prison camp, died at tho prison hospital yesterday afternoon af-ternoon from influenza-pneuinonia. This is the second death among the prisoners of war caused by influenza since tho epidemic made Its appearance in tho war camp, the first death being that of Dr. Maximilian Kampmann. Behr will be buried at the post cemetery this afternoon. af-ternoon. There are three other prisoners whose condition is 'reported serious, hut the other cases are apparently on the road to recovery- No new cases of the disease dis-ease developed in the compound yesterday, yester-day, and in view of the fact that there has not been a ne"w case since Monday, it is believed that the epidemic has been checked, so far as the prisoners are concerned. con-cerned. No case has appeared among the prison guayd men and there has not been a case among the hospital detachment detach-ment men who have had the care of the afflicted prisoners. The Student Army Training corps at the University of Utah appears to be hard hit by the epidemic, fifteen new cases among its members having been admitted to the Fort Douglas isolation hospital yesterday. This makes a total of forty new cases sent to the post hospital hos-pital from this organization in the last two days, twenty-five cases having been sent there Thanksgiving . nay. There were no deaths at the post yesterday, but several new cases of pneumonia have? developed, and the patients are said to be in serious condition. Among those stricken by the scourge vesterday at the university was Colonel Edmund S. Wright, commandant of the training camp. He was removed to the Holy Cross hospital last night, where he was said to be resting easily. WHITE TO PARCEL CONTRABAND . LIQUOR TO VICTIMS OF FLU Decision io distribute the 3276 gallons of confiscated whisky, recently ordered destrnvod by .indues of the district court, among the hospitals of the state to combat com-bat the epidemic of influenza was reached yesterday by Commissioner of Public Pafetv Karl A. Scheid and Chief of Police J. Parley White, after consulting consult-ing with Governor Bamberger, membors of tho stato board of health and members mem-bers of the medical profession In the citv. Chief White outlined the plan whereby hospitals can secure liquor for treatment of in 11 uen za cases that come to them free of charge to the patients. Those afflicted with the disease who do not entcr a hospital can procure a limited amount from the emergency hospital upon the cortilHation of a physician that they actually have the disease. There will be no charge In any case for the whisk v. Both Commissioner Scheid and Chief White declared themselves gratiiied over the view of the matter taken by the governor and members of the medical fraternltv, in countenancing the distribution distri-bution of the lUpinr as an emergency measure, Chief White asserted that he personally would assume all responsibility of a possible violation of the law and distribute the liquor immediately, in view of the present public necessity. Governor Bamberger pave out the following fol-lowing statement of his attitude hi the matter: t . a 'It is not within my power to ahro-gate ahro-gate or make any change in the ordr of tho courl as to the disposition of intoxicating in-toxicating lUiuors. The law leaves no room for question In this respect. However How-ever in an emergency such as appenrs to exit at this time. I am willing to .In in eminent members of the medical profession profes-sion in anv effort to save human life in the event that 1 am convinced such action ac-tion is not a flagrant vklution of the intent or the lnw. "Eminent members of the medical pro-fesl'Ui pro-fesl'Ui in this city have pone on record to "the oiTot-t that the use of a!cnhn! is bencilcial In the treatment of Inlluenz.i, and 1 have the utmost confirlence in their sinceritv. In view nf this and the seriousness of the epidemic in Utah, at this time. I should reciet very much to learn of the wanton dmi met ton of liquor now in the custody of the Salt Lake police po-lice d'-pai'tnu'Tit. "When Commissioner Sche'.d ami Chief cf Police White calied upon mo wl;y 1 outlined niv position in the matter. They asked if fiere was any wav whereby I miii'U authorize the Salt Lake police department de-partment to turn the liquor over to hospitals hos-pitals for u-m? in combating Influenza. U- prn'i'ss of law 1 know of no manner in' which this could be accomplished, but I assured them that i!" such a 'tiii sho'-M he taken an.i the liquor distributed nnlv in cases where, actual necessity existed I would enter no objection. The p';-.,! for d;s:i'lbution outlined, and which I approved, ap-proved, is tli;;t the liquor tww in the custodv of thf Salt Lake police dep-i;-;-men: be distribute! among the hospitals of th'e stale, wiving each Its proportion in lecnnlaiu-e with its imponance. f-'mni tiie hospit:iN tlo1 liquor i to be d i-pensed i-pensed only in the treatment of influenza influ-enza c:ises a:ul on the pr.-M rip i inn of rep i Li able phvsi.'i.uis duly approved " thc Toard of health of that i-ity or town. The lai stipulation I believe necessary to avoid abuse of this emergency ar- rangement. The local boards of health must know whether or not the person in whose favor the prescription Is issued is afflicted with influenza before It will be warranted in indorsing the prescription. "X wish U distinctly understood that 1 am not willing to couiHenance the distribution dis-tribution of alcoholic liquors In any manner man-ner other than provided by law except in this instance, and that the distribution must cease automatically with the termination ter-mination of the Influenza epidemic." This new departure In the fight on the epidemic is taken because it is a well-established well-established fact, according to Dr. T. O. Duckworth, that alcohol is invaluable in the treatment of influenza and pneumonia. pneumo-nia. Dr. Duckworth has secured the consent con-sent of the ministers, physicians, state and city authorities ' to a plan whereby all confiscated lio.uors now held by the police and sheriff wilt be distributed to the several hospitals of the city and state under proper supervision. |