Evening star., 1916-01-04
People Urged to Safeguard
Against Influenza Infection,
Now Unusually Prevalent

The epidemic of influenza prevalent
in nearly every community in the
United States is approaching the status
| of a. pandemic, which means that it is
affecting nearly every individual, not
only those in weak physical condition,
but also the physically fit. The first
| epidemic of influenza known in the
United States, imported from Russia
In 1889, was pandemic; hardly an in
dividual in the country escaped.
To the person in fit condition in
fuenza is not a menace, and is likely
to pass without serious consequences
as soon as it has run its course. But
to the physically unfit, to the alcoholic,
and to the very young and those ad-
vanced in years the complications are
dangerous. There is pneumonia, a
dreadful and mortal disease, which may
follow. Also cardiac depression car
ries off those of weakened vitality, for
the cardiac depression that accom-
panies influenza is not at all commen-
surate with the importance of the dis
ease itself.
There are bad nerve affections. and
also an upsetting Of the gastro-intes-
tinaI system that has it's perils for
those who are not in good physical con-
dition when they contract the disease.
Advice Of Health officials.
go to bed; have the sick room at
| moderate temperature and fairly well
ventilated! Call a doctor!"
| This is the advice of the public health
| service to those infected with the in
fuenza bacillus. For. in their opinion.
in no other disease is the service of a
physician more invaluable Also to go
about business thinking to wear out
the physical ailment is unfair to the
sick man himself and to the general
public, for he increases the prospect OF
contracting the more dangerous COM
comes a factor in spreading the cpl
demic.
No one is immune to the influenza
bacillus. 1t is communicable disease
which will find a way through the
armor of robustness. Not every cold
spoken of as grip and influenza is
really the infection of the influenza
bacillus. but conditions that make a
cold possible are those that invite the
influenza infection.
Debilitating influences are a prime in
vitation to the influenza bacillus to
make lodgment in the individual.
Avoid fatigue.
Avoid an empty stomach. Especially
and above ali. avoid weariness and
hunger at one and the same time to
escape infection. Also avoid cold.
drafts, wet feet, overheating and ali
the commonly recognized causes of
colds.
All factors which favor the spread
of communicable diseases favor the
spread of influenza, one of the most
readily communicated. Crowded
rooms, street cars. theaters, assemblies
of people of all kinds, are sources of
contamination. Individual sanitation
is not especially effcacious, although
always a factor of the upkeep of in
dividual fitness.
Isolation Suggested as Precaution.
Isolation of those affected is a meas
ure of precaution for others. But the
proposition made of quarantine against
epidemic is impracticable, as it would
mean an enterprise of impossible mag
nitude. If the well individual could
isolate himself from others of his kind
he might possibly escape infection, but
even then he would not be free from
danger.
Unguarded coughing and sneezing by
those affected are great means of fill-
ing the atmosphere with influenza ba-
cilIi So it Is suggested that cough
ing and sneezing be done in a handker-
chief. What is known as "droplet in
fection" is brought about by this In
discriminate coughing and sneezing.
The bacilli in the moisture in which
they are expelled from the nose or
mouth become suspended in air and are
carried about to infect some innocent
bystander.
Phases of the Infection.
While a cold in the head is not neces-
sarily influenza, it may be symptom.
Tonsilitis, pharyngitis. bronchitis and
a moderate fever are other symptoms.
The fever seldom rises above a tenn
perature of 102 or 103 degrees. The
mortality of influenza in itself Is not
great 1t is, however. dangerous in its
complications.
The forms of the disease are respira-
tory, cardiac-or circulatory-gastro-
intestinal and nervous.
The gravest dangers are from complica- |
tions in the first two forms. Pneumonia, |
one of the most dangerous of diseases in
mortality of its victims, is one of these |
possible complications. Then the heart |
depression that comes from the cardiac |
form of the disease is nearly as mortal |
among certain ages. The disease is often |
by a, profound mental depression. |
This oftentimes takes weeks to wear of.