On October 17 two medical students, Messrs. J. A. Post and W. R. Stewart, of the University of Buffalo, reported to the County Medical Inspector at Wilkes-Barré to help out with the work of the 5th District. Mr. Stewart was assigned to assist Dr. Corrigan at the Wanamie Hospital, and Mr. Post was assigned to the Exeter, and subsequently to the Plains, Emergency Hospital.
The same day the following-named Army Surgeons arrived at Wilkes-Barré and were assigned to the Hazleton District: Captains Davenport and Danfort to work at Jeddo; Captain Brown at Cranberry; Captain Wroth at Lattimer and Major Wyer in Hazleton. On October 19, however, all these Surgeons were ordered to return to Camp Crane, Allentown.
On October 18 a largely-attended meeting of the General Committee was held, with General Dougherty, Chairman, presiding. The latter outlined the objects and purposes in view with respect to the emergency hospitals which had been established, stating that only patients who could not receive proper attention at their homes should be sent to the hospitals. He also set forth the fact that there was a very great shortage of doctors and nurses in this District, and called upon Miss Nellie G. Loftus, the State nurse in charge of the nurses in this section, to make a statement as to conditions here. This she did, setting forth that there were thirty graduate nurses in the 5th District, five or six of whom were not in active service on account of illness. There were also eleven practical nurses in the District, but at least fifty more graduate nurses could, and should, be placed in service immediately.
Mr. W. C. Shepherd then made the following motion, which was adopted:
“It is the sense of this meeting that all patriotic citizens will, in every case where possible so to do, release nurses from their private employ for the general good of the community. It is their patriotic duty to do this during the present grave emergency.”
Mr. Percy A. Brown, Chairman of the Coöperation Committee, stated that the territory in Luzerne County had been divided into forty sub-districts, and that he had arranged to have an organization in each sub-district. Thirty-two of the forty organizations had already reported to him. He suggested that leaflets, containing brief and simple rules for avoiding influenza and for the care of the sick, be printed in several foreign languages, and widely distributed.[[3]]
[3]. In pursuance of this suggestion a six-page leaflet was subsequently prepared and printed in English, Italian and three other languages, and was well distributed throughout the District.
Mr. Brown also suggested that a fund be created from which money could be drawn to be used in paying some one in each sub-district to look after and report upon the sanitary and health conditions in that particular locality.
Anthony C. Campbell, Esq., Fuel Administrator for this section of the State, stated that he had received reports from various large coal-mining companies, which had enabled him to prepare a statement showing that from 28,000 to 30,000 tons of coal had been lost to the industry on account of the influenza.
On motion of Mr. W. C. Shepherd it was voted that all communities in this District be requested to organize committees on the plan endorsed or recommended by the State Board of Health. In pursuance of this motion Chairman Dougherty appointed Wm. C. Shepherd, Dr. Charles H. Miner, Dr. S. P. Mengel, Dr. E. L. Meyers, A. C. Campbell and Percy A. Brown a committee (“Ways and Means Committee”) to prepare a draft of the plan to be used for the guidance of the several communities in this matter.