The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-17
DR. CUNN|NG M WRITES OF EPIDEMIC OF GRIPPE IN THE CITY Disease Prevails Sporadical- ly in All SeasOns-MOre
 Prevalent in Winter
IS USUALLY MILD
 AND NOT DANGEROUS
Old People and Those in Low State of Health Should Take Every Precaution as Serious Com
 plications May Develop

Is there an epidemic of grippe in the city?
 There is
 At least that's what everyone at the city hall is saving, including the com missioners, Half of the police force is
 sneezng while Commissioners Ward,
 weatherly and Barber are seen ire
 quently using their handkerchiefs, and looking extremely wearied of life. That's sure symptoms of grippe.
 ''Dr Cunningham" a reporter said to the city health officer, Ifs there an epi- denic of grippe?"
 Certainly, my boy replied the ge-
 nial civic medico, haven't you got it? Maybe I have What's it lilSe?" ques- tioned the scribe.
 'rll write you a letter about it. said pr. Cunningham, and he did. 1t follows: DIR. CUNNINGHAMS LETTER
 Grippe, or rather influenza, which is it's rightful name is caused by a small bacillus that grows and multiplies only in persons with the disease, and is dis charged from such persons in the nose, mouth. throat and bronchial dicharges. It is through these discharges that the
 disease is communicated to others. It is, therefore. contagious or nearly conta- gious, such as being exposed to a per son with the disease in a room, street car, theatre, or any other confined space. The bacillus does not grow and multiply on the outside, and under these circumstances, it's life is short. The dis ease is kept alive by means of ''car- riers"; that is to say, persons who have had the disease and entirely recovered, l or who have been exposed to the disease without contracting it, but carry the bacilli in their mouths Laboratory ex- l periments show the presence of the n- fluenza bacillus in the mouth secretions of the majority of people. whether there | is an epidemic of the disease or not. Therefore, external conditions such as the weather, particularly cold and damp, op- crate as a predisposing cause to the dis l ease when the germs become active owing to the diminished resisting power of the individual
 The disease prevails sporadically in all seasons; that is to say case here and l there. It may become, and usually does l in the winter season, epidemic, and in
 some years it becomes pandemic. that is throughout the world There are several types of the disease: The catarrhal type, consisting largely of inflammation of the
 mucous membrane of the upper air pas sages; the febrile type, in which there are more or less general symptoms such
 as chils fever, muscular pains, etc, and | the stomach and bowel types, in which there is vomiting and purging. IS USUALLY MILD During the prevalence of an epidemic, | no doubt many symptoms that a patient | may feel are due to the infection. Gen erally speaking, it is mild disease and | is without danger. There may be com 1 plcations, however, that will prove se- | rious; for example, broncho and lobar pneumonia. Persons in feeble health or who may have some chronic organic dis | ease. and in old people complications are more liable to occur, and often result | as the immediate cause of death.
 "The only method of preventing the dis | ease would be the isolation of the pa- tient and the dsinfection of towels nap pins, cups and everything else used by the patient. This is practical impos- | sibility, and is, therefore, not even at- tempted by the health department. Old 1 people, however, and persons in a low state of health, from whatsoever cause,
 should isolate themselves during cpl
 denies, and be particularly careful to use no towel. cup, etc, that is in common use by the family.
 l 'Furthermore, when the old and feeble
 contract the disease they should remain | in bed, and be under the observation of !, a doctor There are some who believe | that the disease is conveyed some dis
 tance by means of the atmosphere. The reason of this opinion is at times the | very rapid and almost simultaneous spread and appearance of the disease 1 throughout large areas. Everybody
 should take extra care of themselves dur 1 ing the presence of an epidemic of the
 disease. They should avoid exposure to
 the cold and damp as much as possible
 and when thus exposed should be pro- tected by adequate clothing
 "R. M. CUNNINGHAM, M D. City Health Officer"