On Oct. 15, 1918, another 800 influenza cases were added to the rolls, the highest number to-date. The total since the start of the epidemic now topped 3,000. City hospitals were overrun with patients; only large hospitals such as Herman Kiefer, which specialized in treating tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, had enough space to take new cases and to isolate them.

Many of the new cases were among the indigent, unable to care for themselves or to afford a physician’s fees.