Armstrong – Table of Contents

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Reports received by the Public Health Service in early 1918 indicated that
influenza was occurring in New England. On September 18, 1918, Surgeon General
Rupert Blue sent telegrams to all State Health Officers requesting information concerning
the prevalence of the disease in their respective states. Replies to this request indicated
that the disease was present in New England, along the Atlantic Coast as far as the
Virginia Capes, and in a few foci in states east of the Mississippi River.
On September 26, 1918 the State Health Officer of Massachusetts requested aid
from the Public Health Service because the disease was spreading very rapidly over the
entire state, and he was unable to furnish physicians and nurses to the involved
communities. This request prompted the September 28 letter (orders) from the Surgeon
General to Armstrong dispatching him to Massachusetts and to the epidemic raging in the
Fore River Ship Yard. The Surgeon General also sent a number of other medical officers
immediately to Massachusetts for duty in cooperation with the State Health authorities.
A major problem in combating the epidemic nationwide was the lack of medical
manpower, since many physicians and nurses were already serving in the Armed Forces.
The Public Health Service, likewise, had limited availability of medically trained
personnel. In addition, when the epidemic struck, there were no Federal funds to hire
additional physicians, nurses and ancillary professionals to help the states. To alleviate
the problem, the Congress, almost immediately, in the following resolution (1),
appropriated $1 million in an attempt to meet the need:


(Public Resolution No. 42 – 65th Congress)
(H.J. Res. 333)

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