Influenza Quarantine
by Council Last Night. . . Schools, Churches, Amusement Places, Public
Gatherings Banned Until Emergency Passes. . . Quarantine Will Remain in Force
Until Council Repeals Ordinance
Seizing the bull Tempus by the forelocks or horns, city
council last night ordered influenza cases in Hickory quarantined and closed up
all amusement places, schools, churches and Sunday schools, and places of
public gathering until such time as the physicians of Hickory shall deem it
safe to lift the ban. This action was taken after Dr. H.C. Menzies, city
physician, and other doctors had expressed the opinion that by closing now the
epidemic probably would be halted or at least prevented from doing major
damage. Quarantine goes on at 6 o’clock tonight.
Mayor Elliott called council together in special session on
request of the physicians, and they were given the floor. Drs. Menzies, C.L.
Hunsucker, T.F. Stevenson, T.C. Blackburn, K.A. Price, and J.H. Shuford all
agreed that prompt putting on the lid now might prevent much sickness and
several deaths. It was brought out that not more than 25 cases of the disease
have appeared in Hickory thus far and most of these are in the suburbs. None
are virulent. The ordinance governing the quarantine appears as an
advertisement elsewhere in today’s Record.
Called upon to express his views, Dr. Menzies said that if it
is the desire of the city to keep down an epidemic, action after it is actually
upon us is useless, in which case he would advise keeping everything wide open.
We may now be able to prevent it from reaching an epidemic state, he said, as
there had been only 20 or 25 cases reported within the week. Without restrictions
the number may be 100 or more in another week and then the flu would spread
everywhere. He did not believe this epidemic is as severe as that which visited
Hickory in the winter of 1918, though in New York more cases have developed in
the same length of time. One who has had the influenza is not immune, but he is
not nearly so susceptible to the disease. If we do anything, he said, we should
not wait.
Heartily endorsing what Dr. Menzies had said. Dr. Hunsucker
said that in the last three or four days he had had one to two cases; from 4 to
6 o’clock yesterday, he had six new ones. The disease is scattered and he had
several cases at Oxford Ford, at Brookford and other places. With no restrictions,
the flu would have a greater chance for spreading.
Dr. Blackburn said he had noted six marked cases and he
thought the best thing to do is to close up everything now.
Dr. Stevenson directed a question as to the source of the
disease here, whether it was local or brought to Hickory by outsiders. Dr.
Menzies replied that the first cases came from out of town and the next case he
knew was of a school teacher, whereupon Dr. Hunsucker sold of a school near
Oxford Ford where many children had it. Dr. Stevenson expressed the belief that
the disease cannot be controlled thoroughlyi without closing stores also,
though the disease can be minimized by quarantining the disease and closing the
schools, churches. Etc. We did not get much out of the quarantine before, but
that was due to the progress the disease had made. Every place closed, Dr.
Stevenson agreed, would shut off a few cases, and would be that much of an aid.
Dr. Price, in saying that he did not believe the occasion
was serious enough to take alarm, nevertheless urged restrictions. He did not
believe this was comparable with the former epidemic in violence.
Dr. Shuford said he was not acquainted with the situation
well enough to express an opinion, but went on to give the results of
congregating on the spread of the disease. If, in the opinion of the
physicians, there is sufficient number of virulent cases, then the way to stop
the spread is to stop congregating. He favored closing as many public places as
possible.
Dr. Menzies, referring to points brought out by the other
doctors, said the disease becomes milder and as warm weather approaches, dies
out. He thought every day the disease was delayed was so much gained, and
declared that if we had 200 or 300 cases, there will be no use of quarantine.
The pneumonia period is worse in January, February, and March, and he thought
there would be little danger in March if the disease were checked now. He
suggested the quarantine not be made definite, but that council extend it or
lift it in the discretion of the board.
Sanitary drinking cups at fountains were urged by
physicians.
Children are urged to keep off the streets and people
generally are requested not to congregate in stores or other places.
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