The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-02-02
FOR BENNINGTON lCOUATY
DEVElOPE EhEAT AND
BETTERMENT
This Department Edited by Secretary
Willard w. Bartlett Of the County
Improvement Association
Grippe Epidemic Strikes Bennington
County

we re AL huOtkSu out at our
households, you know 1t seems
to be the rule from Dan to Beersheba.
The grippe germ landed first in Mil
waukee and travelled eastward He
kept several thousand school children
at home in Chicago, caused fifty-three
deaths in three days in Cleveland,
1900 cases in Philadelphia, 10000
cases in Hartford, and now is found
in Bennington County Grippe is
everywhere.
Read the following extract from
the Monthly Health Letter published
by the Lite Extension Institute OF IS
West 45th St, New York in connec-
tion with their educational and Stand
ard Health Service.
Meeting Winter PeriIs.
Epidemic grippe is now causing
alarm. No doubt ii win AFFECT many
people and cause sickness and death
among those who invite ii by neglect.
We have regularly TO meet each Win
ter long range OF affections OF nose,
throat and lungs, from simple rhin-
tits, or common ccld. TO acute pneu-
monia 1t is probable that every com
mon cold leaves some damage behind,
even though ii may not lead to any
immediate fatal complication The
damage may be very slight. but re-
peated year after Year, 1t counts
among other Influences that gradual
~. M lnu
efficiency
How to protect ourselves, therefore,
not only from epidemic grippe but
from the long range of winter trou-
bles that annually affect The majority
OF the population IN temperate eli
mates. is one OF the large problems
in personal hygiene The proper
sanitation. ventilation and heating of
schools, public buildings places Of
amusement railroad cars and other
public vehicles. offer some measure
Of protection but proper home con
tiitions ard the personal care ofsthe
body nust be chiefly relied upon in
combating these acute and chronic
infections
oyer.crowding lack Of sunlight
lack of fresh air, and oyer-heating,
are often responsible for spreading
epidemic grippe and fer other infec
tive conditions of nose, throat and
lungs; also. as is wen known. for tu-
berculosis 1t is not alone the indus
trial classes that suffer from faulty
hcme conditions.
In every household there should he
an accurate Thermometer. II should
be someone's duty to watch the theI
mometer from time to time. and not
permit the temperature to rise above
40 degrees; preferably it should be
kent between G5 degrees and 6s de
greec
With the skin and circulation in
proper condition, drauehts may
usually be defed. unless they strike
some exposed portion OF the body,
such as extremides, or back OF neck
for a prolonged period.
Dust is the aeroplane Of the mic
robe. Old-fashioned sweeping meth
DDS are abominable Wood floors
should he wiped or mopped with oil
mops. Taeked.down carpets are not
hygienic Those who have them
should use vacuum cleaners, or sweep
after scattering bits OF moist news
paper or tea leaves to catch the dust.
During times OF epidemic colds and
grippe, 1t is better for those affected
to use squares of gauze or cheese
cloth, which can he destroyed, instead
CT handkerohiefs Soiled handker-
chiefs should be kept in bags and not
left exposed They should be boiled
before being put into general laundry.
Those who suffer from cough and eX
pectoration should use paper sputun
cups which can be burned. Spraying
of infectious secretions into the sur
rounding air by snee2ing should be
avoided Sneeze into handkerchief
or gauze.
Clothing.
Very heavy outer wraps should be
worn only in blizzard weather Med
ium weight overcoats or wraps are
less likely to create sensitive skin
conditions that soften" the individ-
ual and invite colds. Chest protec
tors are worse than useless, They
might better be worn on the feet.
Thin-soled shoes are often responsible
forNcolds. Rubbers should be worn
in wet weather as few shoes are
really waterproof, and the cold damp
soles may strike chill through the
extremities. Open-work stockings
and thin-soled shoes worn by women
offer cordial invitations to colds and
grippe.
Skin Training.
To render the skin resistant-con