Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 22

 “Thunder, lightning and a heavy downpour of rain could not avail to lower the spirits of the Victory Loan campaigners who went ‘over the top’ this morning began their big task of securing in Hamilton for the national government subscriptions to the Victory loan to the amount of $15,000,000.”

“Rousing Rally for the Loan : Physician and Four Others Died in Few Hours : Doctors and Health Board Will Confer Tonight”

Hamilton Herald.    October 29, 1918

A deputation of leading citizens had appeared before the Hamilton Board of Health asking that the ban on public gatherings be lifted just for events organized by the Victory Loan campaign.  The request was denied.

Nevertheless, the Victory Loan campaigners had made many plans, and they were determined to proceed :

“The campaign got off to a good start in spite of the depressing weather conditions. That it will be crowned with success, we have no doubt.

“Let it not be supposed that the near approach of peace will make the new war loan unnecessary. Even if the war were to end this week, the government would need the money, for it will take many months to bring over army home, and it will have to be maintained in the meantime, and in the period of reconstruction, large expenditures will have to be incurred.

“The people of Canada must furnish the money needed, and the people of Hamilton must, as usual, be well to the fore in their financial support to the national cause.”

“Rousing Rally for the Loan : Physician and Four Others Died in Few Hours : Doctors and Health Board Will Confer Tonight”

Hamilton Herald.    October 29, 1918.

One positive result of the Board of Health on the opening of schools was that it freed up many teachers, who in turn volunteered their services as Sisters of Service volunteers :

 “That Hamilton public school teachers are not behind their more leisured sisters in the matter of prompt and effective service at this crisis in combatting the Spanish influenza and taking care of the many distressed cases, may be seen from the fact that about ninety teachers have volunteered their services gratis as S.O.S. workers. Of these, thirty-five have already been requisitioned and are acting as voluntary nurses and assistants at the diet in the diet kitchen at First Methodist church and at the emergency hospitals.

“Six teachers, with cars, in charge of Miss Patton, are in daily attendance, ready to do and go wherever dispatched, whether delivering delicacies from the diet kitchen or affording some recovering patient a breath of fresh air, so necessary to convalescence. These helpful ones are Misses McKenzie, Cotter, Gamble, Patton, Lake, Lester and Mrs. Wilson.

“At the diet kitchen of the city hospital, four teachers – Mrs. McArthur, Miss Troup, Miss Steer and Miss Stellens – are on duty day and evening, while Miss Fairley, of the King Edward school, has been doing splendid service as a dietician at the Jockey club hospital. At the diet kitchen in First Methodist church , the work of the teachers has been most capable and acceptable to the I.O.D.E. committees in charge. Here Misses Morton, Harding, Robinson, E. Hendrie, Jamieson, Morrison, Henderson, Marsden, McHaffie, McKindsey, Mrs. Westland and others are working everyday.

“From the office of the Y.M.C.A., most of the S.O.S. work has been done under the direction of Miss Kate Smith, whose efficiency and special gifts as organizer and superintendent are apparent in the quiet and effective manner in which the various workers have taken up their duty at the posts assigned to them. With Miss Smith, as assistants in clerical work etc., at central office in the Y are : Misses Marie Jamieson, J. Wood, Stock, Allan, Cameron, Gamble, Hayward, Hunter, Johnson, Leadley, H. Lawson, Ross, Patterson, McCallum, Middleton, Ruse, Sutherland, Shephard, Stringer, White, Kappele, M. Lawrie, Gill, McFarlane and others. Among the S.O.S. nurses who have been working and visiting homes stricken with the ‘flu’ are Misses Hazel Roberts, Sabine, Masha McLeod, E. McLeod, Alma Harris, Buddy, Cody, Horning, May Schofield, and Mary Schofield.”²

“Teachers  Have Answered Call : Ninety Volunteer Services in ‘Flu’ Epidemic : Taking Care of Many Patients in Distress”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 30, 1918.

Schools, theaters, churches and even pool rooms were subject to the Board of Health ban on public gatherings. But the ban did not mean the end of Hallow’en activities. Many parties had been cancelled but trick-or-treaters, and pranksters, still followed the usual traditions:

^“Though Halloween is not what it used to be in the days when a mischievous spirit of destruction made its annual event a time of dread to householders, whose property became fair game for the gangs of young hoodlums who took an unholy joy in mussing things up things generally, yet the time-honored festival is never likely to fall altogether into disuse so long as the spirit of youth and adventure survives.

“War-time sorrows and necessities have put a sobering touch on the gaieties, and ‘flu’ this year still further did away with entertainments, so it was principally among the youngsters that the observance of All Hallows eve was kept alive. Tired of being, so to speak, ‘all dressed up and nowhere to go’ since the closing order, the bottled up ‘pep’ of hundreds of young people found an outlet in masquerading in many strange and original costumes and roaming the streets to the amusement of pedestrians. One of the most popular idols, it would seem, is Charlie Chaplin, many imitators of this star being seen, along with Red Cross nurses, negroes, Queens of the May, shivering in summer garb and tinsel crowns and other familiar characters. Numerous youths who had raids on the wardrobes of their feminine relatives paraded together, and took great pains to show lengths of white hosiery. ; several suspicious-looking young ‘men’ attracted quite a lot of attention, their shrinking attitude giving rise to the supposition that their masculinity was all in their attire.

“Door bells in residential neighborhoods were given a great deal of exercise by gangs of busy small girls and boys, who demanded the usual ‘shell out’ of edibles. Storekeepers good-naturedly complied with many of the demands, though in some cases police intervention had to be threatened to stop the nuisance.

“Although there were no serious infractions of the law, the police received many call throughout the evening from timid citizens fearful that the pranks of the young people would develop into destructive ‘rough house’ but, on the whole, the fun was harmless and good-natured.”

“Halloween : Mischievous Spirit of Destruction Was Lacking Last Night”

Hamilton Spectator.    November 01, 1918

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 21

The members of the Hamilton Board had gathered together in yet another emergency meeting, Monday morning, October 28, 1918. An item forwarded by the mayor and the medical health officer was fully discussed.

Based on Dr. Roberts’ recommendation and the mayor’s backing of it, a decision was made not to allow variations to the public ban on public gatherings of more than 25 people.

Immediately, the supporters of the Victory Loan campaign requested that they be allowed to form a deputation and appear before the Board of Health, hoping the decision arrived at the day before would be reversed.

Permission was granted :

“The deputation included George C. Coppley, Robert Hobson, Cyrus A. Birge, T. J. Stewart and S, H. Alexander. Mr. Coppley said that in anticipation of a favorable attitude on the part of the board of health, arrangements had been made to bring Hon. T. W. McGarry and Rev. Dr. Cameron to speak at an open-air meeting next Thursday night. It was felt that it was necessary to the success of the campaign that public meetings of some character should be held. The officials had been assured by Dr. McCullough that open-air gatherings could be held without injuring the public health. The executive was also anxious to arrange for indoor meetings, if possible.”¹

¹ : Loan Delegation Concurs in Board’s Action : Influenza Death Rate in Hamilton Light”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 29, 1918.

A very difficult subject for board members – on one hand, they certainly were not unfavorably disposed towards the Victory campaign, on the other hand, public health concerns were of major importance as well.

It was a contentious meeting, to say the least. Reporters from the city’s three daily newspapers reporters were probably all sitting together, using shorthand to capture what was said. The articles resulting covered the same ground.

Here is the Herald account :

“Mr. Coppley stated that they were alarmed by the statement that no action would be taken until Thursday, and stated that it was essential to have open air meetings in order to put the loan over. Dr. McCullough, provincial health officer, had assured them that open air meetings would be permitted, he said. The restrictions in Hamilton were tighter than elsewhere.

“Norman Clark, chairman of the board, stated that in his opinion it was better to have the ban on for this week at any rate, and that the order would be enforced until such time as public health would permit the raising of it. The board, he said, would not commit itself to changing it until next week.

“Mr. Birge stated that he could not think that outdoor meetings were harmful to health, and mentioned the action of the Toronto board of health in lifting the ban.

                   TORONTO BOARD

“Dr. Roberts was strong in his answer, and stated that the gross inconsistency shown by the Toronto board of health was no reason why the local board should make an ass of itself and show such inconsistency.

“Mr. Stewart stated that as long as the board said it would take no action, the Victory loan committee would assume responsibility for the meetings.

“Messrs. Hobson and Alexander said that they did not take that stand. They did not wish to be arbitrary but wanted permission to hold meetings.

“ ‘Anyone in the city would have the same right to go ahead and run against the board’s orders if we did,’ said Mr. Alexander.

“Mr. Stewart took objection here, and said that nothing was as important as the loan which was being launched.

                   CLOSING DID GOOD

“Dr. Roberts submitted that it was pressure brought to bear by members of the board of trade and representatives of the financial and business interests in the city, that he ordered the closing of schools, theaters, etc.

“ ‘ No matter what my preconceived views were, I now feel, and know, the ban has lessened the death rate.’

“He spoke of 25 nurses at the city hospital being affected. Twenty, he said, were in bed at St. Joseph’s and ten in the emergency hospitals. The hospitals were crowded with patients, and when a nurse took sick it handicapped the workings of the institution.

                   STOOD BY ORDER

“ ‘Human life to me,’ said the doctor, ‘is more sacred than any financial problem. That the Victory loan organization must make arrangements to have noted speakers, carries no weight with me,’ continued the doctor.

“ Mr. Stewart said : ‘I have yet to hear one medical man raise an objection to outdoor meetings.’

                   NOT AN ASS

“Dr. Roberts, I am not an ass,’ here he produced a card of which he had circulated ten thousand which warned the public to avoid gatherings of any nature. ‘That,’ said the doctor, ‘is my opinion as a medical doctor.’

“It was decided that permission would not be granted, but that the board would daily consider the meeting, and life the ban at the earliest possible moment when public health would permit it.

                   TOTAL DEATHS TO DATE

“The board of health this morning gave out figures as to number of deaths from influenza and pneumonia since October 1, when the epidemic was first recognized as holding sway in Hamilton. There have been 74 deaths from the ‘flu’ and 24 from pneumonia. Dr. Roberts, medical officer of health, stated that the majority of the pneumonia deaths were undoubtedly indirectly attributable to influenza. The figures include deaths reported to Friday last.

“Dr. Roberts further maintains that there have been 19,000 cases of ‘flu’ in Hamilton, and probably many more in which those affected did not become at all serious and were not reported. It was on October 3 that the first death from ‘flu’ was reported. On October 4, a death occurred of pneumonia. The day on which the largest number of deaths was reported of ‘flu’ was October 19 when ten deaths were recorded

“In that number of deaths up to Friday last totaled but 98 at most, the health authorities contend that the epidemic has not had nearly as serious results as in other cities.””

What that, everyone took a deep breath, gathered their papers and walked out of the City Hall.

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 20

They were referred to generically as ‘distress cases’ and there certainly were an overwhelming number of ‘distress cases’ in Hamilton as the month of October, 1918 was drawing to a close.

Behind the statistics, each number representing a human tragedy. It was impossible for the City of Hamilton’s Relief Officer to attend to every reported case of distress in the city caused by the flu :

“Through lack of nurses, there has been much real suffering in the city, not only with sick persons, but with nurses and attendants that are on active service for the board of health. Yesterday noon, Relief Officer McMenemy was called into a house in the rear of 103 Caroline street north, where a nurse and two little colored children, who were ill, had been without hot food for over 24 hours. The officer sent in a hurry call to the I.O.D.E. diet kitchen, and hot soup, etc., were soon received. As the nurse was played out through long service, the officer arranged for the removal of the children to St. Joseph’s hospital, the mother superior very kindly offering to make room in the already crowded institution. The children were removed in the ambulance. In this house, the nurse closed up the house and adults were removed early last week. The man, whose name is Jones, is in the hospital now, and the woman died in the emergency hospital. Till they were removed, they were cared for by members of the Jewish mission on Hess street. A nurse was placed in charge of the children when the adults were taken away. The little colored children are about a year old and nothing is known by the relief officer as to their parents, although he was told that one was a child of the woman who died.”¹

¹“Hospitals Are Crowded With Flu Patients : And There is a Crying Need for More Nurses : Many Cases of Distress Reported to Authorities : 17 Deaths Registered Here Since Saturday.”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 28, 1918.

Two days after the above-quoted article appeared in the Spectator, an article appeared in the same newspaper concerning the City Relief Officer:

 “These are troublesome times for Relief Officer McMenemy, whose duties have greatly increased through the influenza epidemic. He has been working night and day lately, co-operating with the board of health, Sisters of Service and other local organizations which are working to relieve distress. To add to his troubles, a letter appeared in last night’s Spectator, signed by a subscriber, which accused his department of feeding a poor widow and children on oatmeal last winter. Mr. McMenemy expressed regret that the writer hadn’t taken steps to ascertain the facts before rushing into print with misleading statements. He says that the department doesn’t hand out or issue orders for oatmeal for any citizens in need of assistance, as the rule is to give an order good on any grocery in the city for $2 worth of provisions. These orders are issued by him as frequently as the needs of the case warrant, and as many as four orders a week have been issued to homes where the family was large.

“The order to the grocer reads as follows:

‘Nothing must be given on this order except the following articles : Flour, potatoes, sugar, bread, tea, meat, fish, peas, oil, matches, baking powder, salt molasses, cabbage, turnips.’

“To collect on the order, the grocer must sign this certificate:

‘I hereby certify that no liquor, tobacco, nor anything except the quantities of goods stated in the above list of articles has been furnished on this order.”²

² An Explanation : Relief Officer Tells How Orders Are Issued in Distress Cases”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 30, 1918.

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 19

In light of the charges made regarding the oversight of the Sisters of Service volunteer, a response was requested and the Herald fully covered the response:

 “There seems to be some misunderstanding of the work of the S.O.S. and the sort of ladies who would like to assist in this good work. There is an impression that the conditions under which they will asked to work are inimical to their health and safety, and that the work should be done by regular inspectors of the board of health.

“It is because the facilities of normal times are entirely inadequate to cope with an emergency such as the unprecedented epidemic of the ‘flu’ that the S.O.S. came into being.

                   UNDER QUALIFIED NURSES

“The headquarters of S.O.S. organization are at the Y.W.C.A. building, West Main street. The city is divided into districts and each district is under the charge of a qualified nurse. When a call is received these emergency call nurses go into the homes, make an investigation and render such temporary help as seems necessary. They arrange to supply S.O.S. nurses where they are most needed.

                   FREQUENT VISITS

“The S.O.S. nurses are then sent into these homes, if conditions warrant, as quickly as they can be supplied. They are followed up once or twice daily as required, by an inspecting or advising nurse, who sees that they get proper food and supplies and that they understand the orders given by the physician and also assist, where necessary to carry out these orders. It will be seen that in no case are the sisters left in a position of the least uncertainty. The inspecting nurses give all information required and make frequent visits in order that any emergency may be met promptly.

“The diet kitchen work is being done by the Daughters of the Empire, and under the direction of Mrs. Crerar, they are rendering a service of inestimable value. Food is prepared and delivered at home where the conditions do not permit of its preparation in the house.

                   OVER PEAK

“While the virulence of the epidemic has passed the ‘peak,’ there is more distress than at any time since it started. In other words, the disease is now of a less dangerous character and there will be fewer deaths, but there are more cases of the milder type, and whole families are stricken with it. The need for help is more urgent than ever and the prospects are not favorable for better conditions for several weeks.”

“Every Care Taken to Guard S.O.S. Nurses : All Volunteers Work Under Direction of Qualified Nurses : To See That They Are Well Looked After and Get Proper Food”

Hamilton Herald.    October 29, 1918.

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 18

As Dr. Roberts was entering the City Hall first thing Monday morning, October 28, 1918, and was being barraged with questions, he, and Mayor Booker, had some important news that they insisted would be presented to the Board of Health members first.

The whole matter began with a telegram which the mayor had received from Ottawa:

“ ‘Shall greatly appreciate anything you may be able to do, consistently with safeguarding public health, towards facilitating the holding of open-air meetings by the Victory Loan organization for the City of Hamilton. The campaign starts next week, and it is most desirable that everything possible should be done to overcome the serious handicap of the prohibition of public meetings. The loan, of the most vital national importance will, I know, have your strongest support and assist in every legitimate way. Shall be glad if you will consult with the medical health officer and Victory representatives.

                             (Signed)              W.T. WHITE,

                                                          ‘Minister of Finance”

“The wire was received by Mayor Booker and turned over to Dr. Roberts. The health officials will consult with the Victory Loan people and do anything possible to assist in the campaign. ‘Public health will be the first consideration,’ said Dr. Roberts when asked what action would be taken.”

“Seventeen Deaths By Influenza Over Weekend : This is About Average Maintained During Last Week : Many Nurses Are Ill and Hospital Staff is Hard Worked”

Hamilton Herald.    October 28, 1918.

 “No relaxation of the restrictions enforced to fight the Spanish influenza, even to permit the holding of patriotic meetings in the open in support of the Victory loan , during the present week at least, was the policy of the board of health, as declared to a deputation of Victory loan officials this morning. The board was unanimously agreed that any slackening of the regulations would only give the public the impression that the danger had passed and the rules were obsolete. The loan officials expressed themselves as satisfied that the best interests of the well-being of the community and as content to allow things to remain as they are for the present.

The deputation included George C. Coppley, Robert Hobson, Cyrus A. Birge, T. J. Stewart and S, H. Alexander. Mr. Coppley said that in anticipation of a favorable attitude on the part of the board of health, arrangements had been made to bring Hon. T. W. McGarry and Rev. Dr. Cameron to speak at an open-air meeting next Thursday night. It was felt that it was necessary to the success of the campaign that public meetings of some character should be held. The officials had been assured by Dr. McCullough that open-air gatherings could be held without injuring the public health. The executive was also anxious to arrange for indoor meetings, if possible.

“Norman Clark, chairman of the board of health, said that nothing could done this week in any case. If the prohibition of public meetings would assist in the preventing of the disease, the order was going to be enforced to the limit. The board had no wish to appear arbitrary in the matter, but had only acted upon the representations of the influential section of the community.

“Cyrus Birge said that the interests of the campaign demanded that public meetings should be held, and pointed out that in Toronto public meetings were being held daily. Dr. Roberts, in reply, charged the officials of the city of Toronto with gross inconsistency in the measures they had taken.

“Mayor Booker took the position that human life was at stake and that Dr. Roberts being the medical officer of the city, the responsibility rested upon his shoulders.

“Dr. Roberts pointed out that at first he had been opposed to dislocating the city’s affairs by the closing order, but he had acted upon the representations of eminent physicians, who said that if some strong measures were no taken, the city would be face to face with an appalling death rate.

“ ‘And now I believe that the order has done good,’ said the health officer. ‘It has impressed the people with the fact  that that they are face to face with a serious situation.’

“T. J. Stewart suggested that the board of health allow the open air meetings to be held, the Victory loan officials to take all responsibility. This suggestion met with no favor.

“ ‘I put human life in front of finance every time,’ declared Dr. Roberts. ‘If the board decides to permit these open meetings, I will demand that the whole proclamation be lifted at once, so that we may cease to appear ridiculous in the eyes of the public. It has been proven that this is a contact disease, and the people can catch it as much in a crowd in the open sir as if they were in a theater.

“ ‘The riff raff will damn us whatever we do, but I believe that all good people are behind us,’ Dr. Roberts said.

“The Victory loan officials finally came to the conclusion that in asking the board to consider the matter daily and allow the restrictions to be lifted as soon as was compatible with the maintenance of the public health, they were going as far as they should.”¹

¹“Board of Health Refuse to Relax Its Restrictions : No Public Meetings Possible This Week : Loan Delegation Concurs in Board’s Action : Influenza Death Rate in Hamilton Light”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 29, 1918.

The Herald report of the same meeting covered the same material as that presented in the Spectator except for one little, but humorous observation. While the Spectator only said that the Mayor professed his full support for Dr. Roberts and the Board of Health, the Herald report contained the following:

“Mayor Booker announced he was behind Dr. Roberts. ‘If he said that meetings could be held, they would be; if he said ‘no’ they could not be’ and left the meeting.”

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 17

 “Sunday, October 27, 1918, will go down in the history of Hamilton as the day on which no public services were held in any of the churches. The interdict which has been laid upon the city by the board of health was felt for the first time, and thousands of devout citizens like the psalmist of old, ‘fainted for the courts of the Lord.’ It was the day when many an old resident missed church for the first time in life. Only services of private devotion were held, while in the Roman Catholic places, masses were celebrated within locked chapel doors. The weather being of the best, the day was generally spent out in the open, with the ban on Sunday motoring raised, the streets were busy.

“ ‘It didn’t seem like a Sunday at all,’ was the thought that was expressed by young and old alike.”¹

¹ “Seventeen Deaths By Influenza Over Weekend : This is About Average Maintained During Last Week : Many Nurses Are Ill and Hospital Staff is Hard Worked”

Hamilton Herald.    October 28, 1918.

On Monday morning, October 29, 1918, it was Medical Health Officer Dr. Roberts who, again, was the focus for questions from members of the city press:

“ ‘The situation has not improved, judging from the number of applications for admission to the hospitals,’ was the statement of Dr. Roberts, M.H.O., this morning.

“Unless more volunteer nurses are forthcoming, patients must go without attention, health officials declare. At the general hospital, 25 nurses are sick from influenza. One graduate nurse and two probationers are caring for 30 patients. The resources of the physicians are taxed to the limit. Every institution is now packed to the limit and as fast as a patient is discharged, there is another to take the unoccupied bed.”²

²“Hospitals Are Crowded With Flu Patients : And There is a Crying Need for More Nurses : Many Cases of Distress Reported to Authorities : 17 Deaths Registered Here Since Saturday.”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 28, 1918.

While the need for more nurses and caregivers was only too obvious, and while the call for volunteers was sincere, a sensational article in the Herald which could well have made many prospective volunteers consider their next steps carefully:

 “During the course of the past few days, a Herald man visited some of the houses where volunteer were stationed. The conditions under which the brave women were fighting the influenza were appalling and well-nigh unbelievable. At one place, a dirty, little one story frame house, the front parlor was occupied by a half ton of coke and various other articles. The other small front was occupied by four persons – a man sixty years of age, a woman of 22 years, and their two children. Besides the ‘flu’ another more dreadful disease was only too evident. The adults were not married and the place, one of two or three such houses, had long borne a disgusting reputation, according to statements made by neighbors. One nurse, without help, had to wash the diseased people, and scrub up the whole filthy place, a negro ordering her about, meanwhile. The mother has died, the father is dying and the two children, whose little bodies, in addition to being racked by ‘flu’ are suffering from another disease.

 “In the house, one nurse stayed on duty, alone, for 38 hours and had to go 24 hours without food. After defending herself against several foreigners who did not know that the proprietor of the place was dying and who tried to enter the place late at night, the nurse was forced to call the police for protection.

“ ‘They’re short of nurses,’ she said, ‘and yet they leave a nurse and two little kiddies in a place like this instead of taking the children to the hospital and releasing the nurse for other duty.’

                  

“ ‘When,’ the nurse added, ‘I asked the board of health for food because I could not leave my patients, my request was referred to the relief department. Yesterday, through the efforts of Relief Officer McMenemy, the children were admitted to St. Joseph’s hospital. And when Dr. Roberts, four or five days ago, was asked to come and investigate the house the house in which he sent me a volunteer nurse, he came, with Inspector Shain, put his head inside and hastily withdrew to the alley, where he called me and told me ‘it wasn’t so bad.’ On being told that it was too much to ask a nurse to clean up such a place, Dr. Roberts told me that it was troo much to ask a nurse to clean up such a place, Dr. Roberts told me that if I couldn’t do the work, the department could quite easily get someone who could.’

 “At another house in the west end, to which a nurse was sent, the same filthy conditions prevailed. The nurse was left alone with a man, his wife and two children. The wife died of the ‘flu’ and the others were dying. Just about an hour before the man died, he became delirious, and, in a very angry mood, got out of bed. The nurse rushed to the door and asked the people who were clustered outside to hold the two children while she tackled the man. No one would raise a finger to help and, while the people looked on, the nurse had to shield the children and handle a 200-pound man alone.

“Several other cases on which nurses had been left without relief for 30 and 36 hours at a stretch were reported by the nurses to the board of health, with a request that they be relieved. One nurse said that the answer she got was : ‘You’ve got to stay there whether you want to or not. WE haven’t anybody else to send.’

“And yet one more nurse was ordered, shortly before midnight, to leave three or four dying people alone and go to another address. Dr. Carr begged her to stay at her post, but the board of health had ordained otherwise and the people were left to their fate.

“And, regarding the board’s failure to investigate conditions properly, it was stated by nurse that two fruit stores were continuing to do business, the proprietor of each flitting from the room where his wife and children were dying of the ‘flu to the store where the fruit was offered for sale. Dozens of people suffering from the disease were sending their laundry to public laundries, too.

“ ‘And only three weeks ago I saw a long article in a Sunday school paper with this caption, ‘Hamilton Has No Slums. Thank God,’ ” remarked a nurse. ‘Why, if the board of health would only open its eyes and investigate, it would find that conditions here are far worse than in New York or London, England.

“The volunteers, too, claim that they are left alone in places where the dying people’s own relatives won’t come, and where no one will come near enough to help them. At one place a nurse, after cleaning up a filthy home, had to soak two girls of about 15 years of age in olive oil for three hours before it was possible to remove the dirt from them.

“And for all this, volunteer nurses received $15 per week. No matter whether they have done practical nurses for five or fifteen years, this is their salary. Trained nurses receive $20 to $25 a week. In addition, nurses’ uniforms must be changed every day. Their laundry costs more than five dollars a week and they have to supply their own meals generally their own masks and disinfectants, and pay $1for each injection of serum they receive, just like any other individual.

“ ‘If I die from want of serum and other things, it will be the board of health’s fault,’ one nurse told a member of that body.

“ ‘You’re paid for that,’ was the answer  she received.”²

² “Twelve More Deaths Here Due to Influenza : They Charge the Board of Health With Neglecting Them : Some Terrible Places : Houses in Which Some Have Worked Are Breeding Places of Disease”

Hamilton Herald.    October 28, 1918.

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 16

There had been some encouraging new on the epidemic front  during the latter part of the previous week, but when Monday, October 28, 1918 arrived the grim effects of it were still very present :

 “Over the weekend 17 deaths have been reported in the city while the number of new cases recorded was 39. The hospitals are still crowded, and the number of applications for admission are about the same as the daily average last week.”¹

¹ “Seventeen Deaths By Influenza Over Weekend : This is About Average Maintained During Last Week : Many Nurses Are Ill and Hospital Staff is Hard Worked”

Hamilton Herald.    October 28, 1918.

The hospital set up by the Canadian Patriotic Fund for the families of soldiers serving overseas in the former Martin home, Ballianhinch  received the following mention in the Herald issued on the 28^th:

“Reports from the patriotic fund’s relief hospital today shows all patients doing as well as can be expected. It has not been found possible to extend the accommodations. Twenty-seven have been treated to date, but it is hoped that during the day or tomorrow that two beds may be available.

 “The following letter from a young gentleman of the southwest is much appreciated by the committee in charge:

‘Dear Mr. Lovering – When mother told me you were opening a hospital for the ‘flu’ I said I would like to help you a little, so I am sending you a small check.’

“The check in question is being used to supply little comforts for the children in the hospital.”¹

Activity at the Diet Kitchen operating in the basement of the First Methodist Church was intense over the weekend:

 “The I.O.D.E. sisters of service were actively engaged in the work of the diet kitchen all day Sunday. Ninety-five baskets were sent out to the homes of influenza patients and diets thereby provided for four hundred and three persons.

“During the week 396 baskets were prepared and sent out. During the same period 1625 diets were provided for afflicted persons.

“The ladies having the work in charge are highly gratified by the increasing interest of a practical kind being manifested by a number of public-spirited citizens.

“Additional offers of home-made delicacies and the provision of motors to transport baskets to the patients will be welcomed by the committee doing its bit in the First Methodist church.”¹

The Herald drew attention to the serum which had been produced at the City Hospital by Dr. Jaffray :

“An urgent request is being sent out to all who have recovered from Spanish influenza to help fight against this epidemic by donating a small quantity of their blood.

“Quite a number have already offered themselves for this service; but more are required that the supply of the serum may be augmented.”

The Spectator that same day also addressed the need for blood donors as well:

 “Hamilton has every reason to be proud that a local doctor – Dr. W. R. Jaffray, bacteriologist at the city hospital – has brought such distinction on the city by his successful researches in connection with the Spanish influenza. He is the discoverer of a vaccine which has proved a most effective preventive of the disease, and of a serum which has been used with remarkable success in the treatment of actual sufferers.

“The medical profession of Hamilton is appealing to recovered influenza patients to supply a small quantity of their blood from which to make the serum. The amount drawn off is too small to injuriously affect the health of the patient in any way, and the serum thus obtained may be the means of saving a life. There should be many in the city, who, out of gratitude for their own recovery, would be willing to thus serve their afflicted fellows. No charge is made for the serum to the patients receiving it, and scrupulous impartiality is observed in its administration. Dr. Jaffray’s beneficent work for humanity should not be hampered through lack of necessary material.”²

²  “Influenza Serum.”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 28, 1918.

Spanish Influenza - Hamilton Ontario 1918 Part 15

 “Today from some angles, the present epidemic seems to be on the downward path, and close to the end of its run. Six new deaths have taken place since yesterday, thus showing an increase in the mortality among those already infected. Only eight new cases were reported to the board of health this morning.

“It is apparent that there is a large number of cases that have not been reported to the health department. However, it is thought that the number not reported is not alarming, and the conditions are improving daily.”

Hamilton Herald     October 26, 1918

Yet another encouraging headline appeared in a newspaper headline on October 26, 1918 in that day’s edition of the Herald. While that paper’s reporter acknowledged that the number of new cases, and deaths, might be lower than the full picture, the Spectator reporter was more precise :

 “The weekly report of the board of health showed 253 cases of influenza as reported to the board. Just how unreliable these figures are, however, was well-illustrated when Dr. Awrey, after the report have been made out, walked into the board of health office and submitted a stack of 106 reports of influenza cases. Most of them were not new cases, for the physician, like most others engaged in fighting the ‘flu’ have been too busy to report the cases daily. Consequently, there will be no accurate estimate made of the number of cases which have occurred in the city until the epidemic dies down.

“Dying Out : Fewer Cases of Influenza Reported Here Today”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1918.

Following the bishop’s example, a member of the Anglican clergy expressed openly his displeasure regarding the ban which would close their churches the following Sunday:

 “To the Editor : It has been sagely observed that ‘the law is an ass,’ if ever we doubted the justice of this dictum we have only to consider the Gilbertian situation created by two announcements in this evening’s papers. The board of health abides by its decision to close the churches next Sunday in accordance with the terms of the proclamation. The proclamation provides that nothing in its terms shall interfere with meetings essential to the successful prosecution of the war. Now the minister of finance requests the clergy to give the Victory loan a sendoff on Sunday. Therefore, every church in Hamilton may open on Sunday and packed to the doors for a Victory loan meeting, but no church may open for the worship of Almighty God.

“Perhaps the board recognizing this ludicrous, not to say sacrilegious, provision of the proclamation will relent even at the eleventh hour.

                                                Faithfully yours,

                                           WM. P. ROBERTSON,

                   The Church of St. Thomas,

                   October 24, 1918.¹

¹“Closing of Churches”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 25, 1918.

In another example of differing approaches to the Spanish Influenza epidemic, the city’s doctors, collectively issued their own statement on how citizens should respond to the emergency:

 “The Medical Society of Hamilton authorizes the following statement:

“The people of Hamilton are to be congratulated on the care they have taken to prevent the spread of influenza. The warnings issued by the local board of health and others have been heeded, and the advice given is generally followed.

“The result is that the epidemic is not now as severe as it would otherwise have been, and the cases treated are less virulent.

“There should not, however, be any relaxation of the efforts to control the disease, nor any false feeling of security. Several types are still frequent.

“The history of the epidemic proves that, right up until the last, there is danger of fresh outbreak. We must stamp out the disease.

“There are still many people in Hamilton, who, through carelessness or ignorance, disregard all warnings. These people not only imperil themselves; they are a menace to the community, and infect others several days before they themselves develop acute symptoms of the disease.

“Constant care is still necessary, as is the avoidance of those who are careless. Do not associate with people who are negligent. Eternal vigilance is the price of safety.

“Cleanliness, plain food and early hours are as important now as at any stage of the epidemic.

“Nurses, and others in attendance on the sick, in addition to masks, should wear dresses that may be washed and sterilized.

“Various vaccines have been offered as preventive agents. It should be understood that these are preventive only, and are of no value after the disease has been contracted. They are all similar in action. They are not even an absolute preventive, but have been found to be a definite factor in modifying the severity of the disease.”

     “The members of the society earnestly request the people of Hamilton to assist the S.O.S. (Sisters of Service) to the greatest possible extent. There is great distress in many homes and help is urgently needed.”²

²“Keep On Fighting Influenza”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1918

The Dean of Christ Church Cathedral was another source of promotion for the S.O.S. and he made an inspection appearance at the YWCA to see how the program was rolling out, and to encourage the volunteers:

“Several women who are anxious to do their part in combatting the ravages of the ‘flu’ applied last evening at the headquarters of the volunteer emergency health auxiliary welcomed by the workers there.

“The call for nurses is an exceedingly urgent one, and many more sisters of service are needed. There is now open to women an opportunity such as they never have had before to render their city a service that will be instrumental in stamping out an epidemic that is the most virulent of any that has attacked Hamilton for many years, and a prompt response from healthy women, willing to give their time and help in assisting the health authorities and the physicians, will result in the saving of lives, and the stamping out of the deadly Spanish influenza.

“Very Rev. Dean Owen was one of the public-spirited citizens who was helping at the headquarters last evening, and was deeply impressed with the critical necessity of getting help for the sufferers. As his work was answering the telephone, he received many pathetic appeals, and heard several heart-rending tales.

“ ‘The need for nurses is more pressing than I think the general public yet realizes,’ said the dean. ‘Nurses, nurses, and again more nurses, is the need of the hour. A number applied and were accepted tonight, but if the women of Hamilton, who are noted for their hearty response to calls for service, really knew the situation in many a home today, the ranks of the sisters of service would be swelled to a small army of mercy.’

“A large number of calls were sent in last evening to the Y.W.C.A. for volunteer help, many families being absolutely desperate. What with the lack of domestic help, full hospitals and the discouraging shortage of trained nurses, unless the women of the city take it in hand, bids fair to become very serious.

“One sad case was taken care of by sending the ambulance to take to the hospital a mother, who was stricken with the disease, and raving in delirium, alone in the house with two small and uncared-for children.

“Instances of unfortunate sufferers might be related by the dozen; but it is sufficient to state that those in touch with the situation are appealing for help. There are many women who, with the training they will receive at the daily lectures by physicians and the daily demonstrations by a competent trained nurse, would be prepared to look after cases where no other is available.

“Help at the headquarters may be needed, and, ultimately, money; but at the present time, it is nurses that are the main need.

“This is work that must be done at once. Let it not be said to their shame that the women of Hamilton failed to answer the call to service in the time of their city’s great need.”³

³“Need of Nurses Is Most Urgent : Very Rev. Dean Owen Impressed With Situation : Several Women Offered Services Last Evening”

Hamilton Spectator.   October 26, 1918.

For October 26, 1918, the Herald carried the following updates on various influenza-related matters:

 “Officials throughout the province, however, are confident that the worst has now been reached, if not passed. Eight new cases were reported to the local board today, and a total of 18 deaths were registered. The mortality, it is stated, has been heightened by the damp, mild weather.

 “Whether or not the theaters, bowling alleys, pool rooms and other concerns affected by the closing order, shall receive compensation, is a question that may be discussed by the board of control when the epidemic has abated. The Winnipeg authorities have decided upon a rebate of license taxes of six months, and they are also contributing to the employees’ fund for employees who have been thrown out of work by the closing order. Mayor Booker said that he would not advocate such a move, but Controller Jutten said this morning that the matter would have to be considered later.

“In order that those who are depending upon the I.O.D.E. diet kitchen for their food for the influenza patients, the kitchen will be open all day Sunday, and a full staff of workers will be in attendance at the First Methodist church kitchen.

“Doctors and nurses are reminded that those in charge of the kitchen will gladly respond to any calls that made to supply soups, jellies, custards, etc. to those who are unable to provide for themselves.’

“Dr. Jaffray, in charge of the city laboratories, refused to make any statement this morning on the progress he has made in preparing serum for the cure of influenza.

“The medical health officer’s report for the week shows : Chickenpox at 4, scarlet fever at 3 and influenza at 252. The number of new cases of ‘flu’ this week is than half of last week’s report. This again points to the belief that the crest of the epidemic has been mounted, if not passed.

“In investigating many of the cases that apply for help at the health officer’s office, a Herald representative learned that Hamilton has a slum, but it is not located in one district. In the center part of the city, where a nurse had been in attendance, it was found that a young man, with over twenty empty whisky bottles in his room, ate, slept and lived in one room. The filth that was confined into the space occupied by him is indescribable. For some time, infected with the ‘flu’ he had lain in bed with a collar, sweater and a pair of socks on. The trousers were missing. Other cases which have needed attention have brought to light incidents that are astonishing.”

“The diet kitchen, under the auspices of the Daughters of the Empire at First Methodist church will be kept open all day Sunday in order that the ladies may provide for the sick and needy during the time of the trial.

“The relief committee of the Canadian Patriotic fund has been exceptionally fortunate in connection with the hospital at ‘Ballinahinch’ in having the services of a number of graduate nurses and V.A.D.’s, many of whom, at great inconvenience to themselves, having given constantly of their time since the opening of the hospital on Sunday last. Mr. Lovering and his committee are appreciative of this voluntary and extremely patriotic service in the present emergency, which has made possible an up-to-date hospital and the undoubted saving of a number of lives amongst the dependents of overseas men.

 “Mr. Lovering and his committee desire to thank very sincerely all who have by their interest encouraged them in the opening of this relief hospital.”⁴

⁴“Eleven More Deaths From Spanish ‘Flu’ : Cases Reported This Week Less Than Half of previous week : Only 253 Cases Were Reported this week.”

Hamilton Herald     October 26, 1918