“Yesterday was as bad a day
in the epidemic as any that have yet occurred. The ambulances were employed
till three o’clock this morning carrying patients to the hospitals and
physicians and nurses are working night and day.”
Hamilton Spectator. November 27, 1918.
While the number of new influenza
cases reported to the Hamilton Board of Health was down to 46, a sharp
decrease, it was an indication that the city’s physicians were too busy to fill
out and send the proper forms.
According to C.W.
Kirkpatrick, director of publicity for the board of health and medical society,
referring to extremely busy physicians :
“They make out the reports in a bunch when they
have a few hours to spare.”
The epidemic of Spanish
influenza was rampant, again, throughout Hamilton as the month of November 1918 was
nearly over. Seven more deaths as a result of the disease were reported on
November 27, 1918, bringing the total of that number of fatalities as a result
of the disease to 336.
There was some positive news
as regards the response to advertisements placed by the Board of Health in
out-of-town newspaper calling for nurses to come to Hamilton :
“Seven nurses from Toronto
arrived in the city this morning and were taken to the nurses’ home on the
mountain
“Due to the arrival of this
aid, it has been possible for the hospital board to open 25 more beds, thus
greatly relieving the congested condition. The section opened by the board was
that part of the hospital which had been reserved for returned soldiers. It
would have been opened before had a staff been available.”1
1 “No
Abatement in Epidemic Say Doctors : Some Nurses Came From Toronto Today to
Fight Disease : Citizens Asked to Give Use of Autos, and Blood to Make Serum ”
Hamilton Herald. November 28, 1918.
That the eight week battle
with influenza had exhausted officials with the Board of Health was shown by
their impatience with, and physically forcible removal of a flu victim from his
home:
“In some manner a serious case
was brought to the attention of the M.H.O. last evening when it was reported
that the members of a north end family were seriously ill. Inspector Shain
investigated the case and found a man and woman in a house. The man was sick in
bed with a temperature of 102 3-5 degrees, and his wife did not think it
necessary to have medical attendance. She was advised that it was necessary to
have the patient taken to the hospital, but the answer was if he was going to
die, she preferred to have him die at home instead of in a hospital. Some time
later, Dr. Roberts and the inspector went to the home and forcibly removed the
patient to a hospital where he could secure the proper attention.”1
Making matters for medical
personnel within the City of Hamilton city limits was the situation in the
adjacent Barton township :
“Considerable difficulty is
being experienced by the fact that Barton township health officials have not
taken steps towards meeting or combating the epidemic. The township is making
application, medical assistance is being called from the city, and greatly
increasing the amount of work that the local doctors have to handle.”1
A very familiar sound
throughout Hamilton in late November, 1918, was the sound of patients being
driven to one of the hospitals:
“The ‘flu’ ambulances are
working almost night and day. It was after 2 o’clock this morning that the last
trips were completed and yesterday called ‘a day.’ ” 1
The
epidemic had being going on so long that the enthusiasm displayed by citizens
offering to use their own autos to deliver nurses and meals to stricken
Hamiltonians directly to homes:
“The health officials are
severely handicapped by the lack of automobiles which were formerly volunteered
by public-spirited citizens who now, it would appear, have become weary in
well-doing. The health department issued a special appeal this morning for
automobiles, pointing out that the Sisters of Service, whom the cars are
engaged in conveying to the homes the stricken by the influenza, are themselves
taking no rest, and never think of quitting.”2
2 “ No
Abatement in Influenza is the Report : Doctors too Busy to Report the Cases :
Ambulances Busy Until in the Morning :
Many Nurses Arriving From Outside Points.”
Hamilton Spectator. November 28, 1918
The newly-formed Bureau of
Information set up in the Hamilton City Hall was extremely active, not only
receiving a steady stream of telephone calls from doctors reporting new cases
and fatalities, but also fielding queries from doctors as to whether, and
where, hospital accommodation could be obtained for their patients and maybe
other matters. C.W. Kirkpatrick volunteered as publicist working with the
Bureau to provide information on the epidemic to the public in some cases, and
to the Hamilton physicians in other matters:
“The following letter was sent out today to
the members of the medical profession by the secretary of the publicity
committee :
“Dear Doctor, - an
information bureau has been established in the city hall, under the joint
auspices of the health department and medical profession for the purpose of
receiving and furnishing information in connection with the influenza epidemic.
Through this bureau you will be able to obtain, day or night, information
regarding : Nurses available, S.O.S. work and workers, hospital accommodation
available and ambulance calls.
“You merely have to call the
bureau phone R. 328, and those in charge will attend to the securing of such
assistance as you may require for patients, providing it is obtainable.
“Every morning the bureau
will telephone your office. You are asked to co-operate by having ready and
giving over the phone a list of all new influenza and pneumonia cases that came
under your notice during the preceding 24 hours (from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m.), giving
names and addresses of patients. This, however, must not interfere with your reporting
cases in the regular way on the legal forms to the health department.
“You can also assist in the
work of the bureau by reporting by mail back cases, not previously reported to
the health department as soon as possible, but do not confuse these with the
daily reports to be given over the telephone.
“The bureau was organized
and is being maintained, largely for the benefit of the medical profession and
we earnestly ask for your co-operation.”
Further publicity went out
on the same day, directed to members of the public :
“The publicity committee of
the Health association and the Hamilton Medical association today issued the
following statement in connection with the influenza epidemic :
‘The mistaken impression prevails
that Spanish influenza runs its course in about six weeks’ time, and that the
danger was over in Hamilton a couple of weeks ago when the ban was lifted. That
is not the case. Periodic ‘explosions’ or ‘outbreaks’ are to be expected. In
Glasgow, Scotland, six months after the first outbreak, the toll of the disease
was 500 one week, and something over 700 the following week.
“In Hamilton, after two
months of strenuous effort on the part of the health authorities, doctors,
professional nurses and S.O.S. workers, the disease is as high as it ever was.
“Only the individual
co-operation of everyone with the authorities will suffice to stamp out the
‘flu’. All should assist by giving heed to the suggestions and advice issued
gratuitously by the health authorities and medical men.”2
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