The 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic-Influenza at Mare Island

From: The Oakland Tribune, 27 September 1918, Page 1, Column 2

MARE ISLAND NOW TARGET OF INFLUENZA

Spanish influenza is reported from Mare Island, the first case having been a recruit who was taken ill shortly after his arrival from Oklahoma. The recruit has been rushed from the camp to the naval hospital and every effort is being made to prevent the spread of the diesease through the camp. Orders halting the sending of recruits to the station until the danger of epidemic is past are being contemplated.

The fight against Spanish influenza is being continued in San Francisco by the civil and military medical authorities. So far no cases have been reported to the health authorities on this side of the bay, but a close watch is being kept at the school of military aeronautics at the University of California. Cadets ahve been ordered at the university to use a throat and mouth spray as a preventative measure, the orders having been posted today by Captain B. F. Sandow, head of the medical staff.

VACCINE IS RUSHED

Vaccine to combat the spread of the disease in the bay region is being rushed from the Rochefeller Institute in New York, according to an announcement made today by Dr. William C. Hassler, health officer of San Francisco, who is cooperating with the military medical corps in fighting the disease in San Francisco. The first to be received will be sent to Mare Island and Yerba Buena Island, to be used among the sailors in seeking to immunize them against infection. Additional supplies will be used by the army medical corps and by San Francisco physicians.

Three additional cases of the Spanish influenza were yesterday reported to the San Francisco authorities. They were: Joseph Anselmo, 1010 Le Conte street; Miss Ruth Lucich of Reno, reported from St. Luke's hospital, and Walter Rock, 13 years old, 1145 Vallejoy street. These, with the cases formerly reported, indicated that the disease is widely distributed through San Francisco and that other cases in widely separated districts may develop.

GARGLE IS RECOMMENDED

Many requests are being made upon the health department for medical preventatives. In this regard Dr. Hassler authorized the following statement:

"Dubell's solution as a gargle is recognized as the best known preventative and has been used in the foreign countries as well as in the New England states where the disease has secured a strong foothold. In addition to using the gargle, many medical authorities who had made a study of the disease abroad recommend the use of boracic powder by snuffing through the nostrils.

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Seaman Paul J. Cullen, U. S. Naval Reserves, is the first Oakland man to fall a victim to Spanish Influenza. Telegrams have reached his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Cullen, 902 Poplar street, that he died on Monday in New York from the epidemic which is sweeping the country. A requiem mass will be said for Cullen in St. Patrick's church, Tenth and Peralta streets, where he was formerly an altar boy, at 9 o'clock on Monday morning.

Cullen enlisted with the Naval Reserves eight months ago. Three weeks ago he wrote of the great enjoyment of his work on the Atlantic coast, and told of his splendid health. Formerly he was employed as a clerk with the Standard Oil Company. He was 22 years of age.

Since his enlistment he has made two round trips to France. He was attached to the U. S. S. Lake Harris. A brother, James V. Cullen, is with the American colors in France.