INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC CONTINUES
Conditions are Acute but Less Alarming
Prevalence of influenza and pneumonia throughout the state took the form of
an epidemic here last Saturday, when physicians of the town reported 71 cases
of the disease to the Board of Health, and since then Greenfield has faced the
most serous condition the town has known in years through the ravages of the
"grip," influenza and pneumonia. Up to yesterday noon the total number
of cases of the Spanish influenza reported since last week Thursday to the Board
of Health by local physicians, was 340, and within the period there were 16
deaths.
The death toll for the town was increased slightly, however, by persons dying
of other causes, as was the case of John Mead, who died suddenly, but after
a lingering illness not connected with the prevailing epidemic. There are others
in the list of deaths due to other causes. Early in the week the toll included
a husband and wife, who died within a short time of each other, Joseph Godelsky,
32, and his wife, 28, of 4 Chapman court. Two nurses have died in hospitals,
Miss Elsie M. Hough, a pupil nurse at Franklin Hospital and
Sister Mary Vita
Sister Mary Vita of the Springfield Mercy hospital staff died Thursday evening
in Farren hospital, Montague City, of Spanish influenza, after an illness of
five days. Sister Mary Vita went to Montague City 10 days ago to help in the
nursing there as the regular staff was not able to care for the rush of patients
brought in by the influenza epidemic.
The conditions yesterday were reported by Timothy M. Hayes of the Board of
Health to be normal, and not any worse than the prior two days, and he stated
that the Greenfield Lodge of Elks has offered use of its club house in the case
of emergency, but if new cases are cared for in the homes so that no further
demands are made upon the hospitals, additional accommodations may not be required.
Greenfield's Appeal Denied
The appeal sent out Wednesday night by the Board of Health for assistance in
fighting the epidemic of Spanish influenza was refused for the reason the hospitals
are unable to spare any of their nurses and doctors. Replies were received yesterday
from the Albany and Quincy hospitals to this effect. However, the Home Nursing
Association has succeeded in securing a dozen persons to act as nurses and they
began their duties yesterday.
Seven of the nurses in Franklin County hospital are ill with the disease. The
institution is so crowded with patients that influenza victims and convalescent
patients are being placed on cots according to statements by members of the
Board of Health.
Of Greenfield's 15 physicians, three are ill and unable to attend to their
patients. They are Dr. J. C. O'Brien, Dr. W. K. Clark and Dr. A. H. Ellis. The
others are working day and night and are sticking to their task manfully. In
Turners Falls the lack of doctors is so great than an appeal for medical men
has been sent to Boston. In Greenfield, there is not another nurse available
for duty.
By order of the Board of Health the public library and a private library were
closed this week. The schools and motion pictures are closed. The board has
also ordered clubs closed. There was an unusually large number of deaths reported
this week. | 
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