Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1918 — “FLU” RAGING AT CAMP DODGE [ARTICLE]

“FLU” RAGING AT CAMP DODGE

The following letter has been received from Dr. Washburn: Base Hospital, Camp Dodge, lowa. October 8, 1918. Dear friend:— - It has only been a few days since I came to this camp, but existence has been so strenuous that it seems like several \weeks. I reported to the chief surgeon and was sdfct with every other medical man that could be found to the base hospital to help fight the influenza epidemic that is raging, il first went on duty at 7 p. m. last Friday and was busy until 2 a. m. examining and classifying the cases. I personally examined 118 cases that first night. Since then it has been the same story day and night until today <1 took permanent charge of a building with fifty patients. We found four pneumonia patients this evening and sent them over to the pneumonia ward. There are 5,000 influenza cases in this base "hospital and there are not enough doctors or nurses to handle tljem properly. After the influenza has existed for four or five days in a man he runs a great risk of pneumonia, and that is what kills. It is pretty sad to see these big, robust fellows having to give up their lives from such( a pestilence. They would all prefer to die fighting the enemy instead, I am sure. We hope to see the epidemic on the wane soon sc we can get some rest and go back to our special work that we have been reserved for. Eye specialists, X-ray men, surgeons, throat specialists and all branches of the profession are treating influenza now and working harder than they ever did in their lives before. At least, lam sure that I was never so busy. This is a large camp, there being over 50,000 men here. It is fourteen miles from Des Moinep and is reached by rail and a fine cement and brick road. Being quarantined I am not seeing Des Maine sup to date. I hope the epidemic does not get to raging in Rensselaer. Rigid quarantine is the proper course to pursue. Otherwise there may be some sad results. I’ll be glad to get a Semi-Weekly. Yours very truly, I. M. WASHBURN.