1918-10-05

“With five deaths in two days, including Dr. C. W. Graham, who expired early this morning after a short illness, 180 cases at the military hospital, and many unrecorded cases in private homes, the outbreak of Spanish influenza had assumed rather serious proportions in Hamilton today. Drastic measures are contemplated to fight the disease.

Hamilton Spectator.    October 05, 1918.

Less than a week after the first appearance of Spanish influenza had been confirmed, not only had the deadly virus spread across the city, but fatalities resulting from the outbreak had occurred.

There were three hospitals in operation in Hamilton in October, 1918 :

“In the military hospital, on King street east, 180 cases of the disease have been reported, with one death. In the armament school, there also are a large number of cases. Quarantine methods have been adopted in both these buildings, and hopes of counteracting the disease are being held by the officials of these places.

“Dr. Langrill, of the city hospital, stated that drastic measures would have to be taken in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The time to act is now, stated the doctor, before the malady gets its hold on the city. The only safeguard that citizens can take at the present is to avoid all public gatherings.

“In the city hospital at present there are only two cases, and one death, while in St. Joseph’s hospital, the number of cases has not been given out. In Hamilton, it is estimated that there  are over 400 cases, the majority of these being among the soldiers at the military hospital and the armament school.”¹

¹ “Spanish Influenza Epidemic is Serious : Physician and Four Others Died in Few Hours : Doctors and Health Board Will Confer Tonight”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 05, 1918.

An emergency meeting of the Hamilton Board of Health was called for the morning of October 5, 1918. The main item of discussion was what steps could be immediately taken to try to control the epidemic. Particularly, the board wanted to assess the advisability of closing school, and possibly even theaters, department stores and the prohibiting large public gatherings of any kind. Local doctors were strongly in favor of those items.

At the meeting, Dr. Roberts, the medical health officer of the city, informed members that he had been in consultation with the provincial health officer, Dr. McClenahan,  as regards the advisability of the closing orders :

“Dr. McClenahan said the first line of attack was to advise the public to avoid contact with persons who are affected. He said in epidemics he didn’t favor closing of schools, as a closer tab could be kept on school children.

“The provincial health officer advised against an order to close schools at the present time, and urged the board here to counsel the public against crowds and to keep away as much as possible from probable sources of infection.”¹

There was a distinct divergence of opinion between local doctors and the provincial health officer, whose opinion the Hamilton medical health officer shared.

Discussion at the emergency meeting featured an attempt by Hamilton Mayor Booker to bridge the divide:

 “Mayor Booker said if the medical health officer advised the closing of schools and theaters, he would vote for that measure, irrespective of the opinion of the provincial health officer.

“Controller Jutten didn’t favor that move, but the mayor had confidence in Drs. Roberts and McClenahan.

“The chairman announced that the board had been invited to attend the medical society meeting tonight, and the mayor modified his stand and offered a resolution that the board take whatever action the medical society and the medical officer advised.”¹

Sadly the article contained the following, a report whose content would be repeated again and again during the following weeks and months: 

“The first deaths recorded in Hamilton were:

                   FIRST DEATH

“The first death in Hamilton due to an attack of Spanish influenza occurred on Thursday, when Mrs. Harriet Warchopfsky, wife of Samuel Warchopfsky, succumbed to the disease at her home, 618 King street west.

“Last Saturday, Mrs. Warchopfsky caught a cold, but was not seriously ill until Wednesday afternoon, when it was necessary for her to go to bed. On Thursday afternoon, she breathed her last, although the family physician who had been attending her for several days, did all that was in his power to save her.

“Deceased was born in Hamilton 25 years ago and was a daughter of Pte. Morris and Mrs. Harris, 12 Hunt street. She had resided all her life, with the exception of a few years in the United States. Her husband, mother and son, Cyril, aged 5 years, of this city, and her father, who went overseas with the 86^th battalion, survive. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from her mother’s residence to Anshe Sholom cemetery for internment.

                   DR. CLARENCE W. GRAHAM

          “Dr. Clarence W. Graham, 55, of Kensington avenue, one of Hamilton’s prominent practicing physicians and surgeons, died at the city hospital at 3 o’clock this morning after an illness of only one day. He had contracted the disease while attending to a patient.. Dr. Graham was born in Goderich, and had come to this city about seven years ago. He graduated from Toronto university in 1908, and went to New York, and since 1911 had practiced in Hamilton with marked success. Deceased was a member of the Masonic order at Stoney Creek. He was single and is survive by his parents, who reside in Goderich. A funeral service will be conducted at his home Sunday evening at 8:30. The remains will be sent to Goderich for internment.

                             OTHER DEATHS

“Dr. Pierce, of Brantford, who is well-known in Hamilton, died this morning as a result of the disease. Many cases are also reported in that city. Bert Miller, of Dundas, was also a victim of the disease, his death occurring after a few hours’ illness.

                             NURSE A VICTIM

          “Miss Marie Rose Bulham, aged 22 years, a nurse in St. Joseph’s hospital, who also contracted the disease from a patient, died after a week’s illness. She was a native of Mildmay, and the remains will be sent there for internment

                             CORP. A.A. DOBSON

          “Corp. Algernon Richard Dobson, whose home is in Hartford, Conn., died at the military hospital last night after several days’ illness. He was a member of the R.A.F. school. He was born in Hamilton, but had resided in the United States for several years. The funeral arrangements have not been completed.