The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1918-12-07
U. s. HEALTH SERVICE
ISSUES WARNING
Increase in All Respiratory Dis
eases After the Influenza
Epidemic Probable.
Influenza Expected to Lurk for Months.
How to Guard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly Catchlno-lm-
portance Of Suitable CiothIn0-Couid
Save 10000 Lives.

Washington, d. C.-With the subsid-
ence Of the epidemic Of Influenza the
attention of health officers is directed
to pneumonia, bronchitis and other
diseases of the respiratory system
which regularly cause a large number
Of deaths, especially during the winter
season. According to Rupert Blue,
Surgeon General Of the United States
Public Health Service, these diseases
will be especially prevalent this win
ter unless the people are particularly
careful to obey health instructions.
''The present epidemic" said Sur
geOn General Blue, has taught by BIT
ter experience how readily condition
beginning apparently as slight cold
Although the worst Of the epidemic Is
over, there will continue to be large
number of scattered cases, many OF
them mild and unrecognized, which
will be danger spots to be guarded
against" The Surgeon General likened
great fire, saying, mo fire chief who
understands his business stops playing
the hose on the charred debris as soon
as the flames and visible fire have dis
appeared. On the contrary, he con-
tinues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dan
ger of the fire rekindling from smol
dering embers."
"Then you fear another outbreak Of
influenZa?" he was asked. Not neces-
sarily another large epidemic" said
the Surgeon General, but unless the
people learn to realize the seriousness
OF the danger they will be compelled to
pay heavy death toll from pneumO
MIA and other respiratory diseases.
Common Colds Highly Catching.
ut is encouraging to observe that
people are beginning to learn that or
dinary coughs and colds are highly
catching and are spread from person
to person by means OF drOplets OF
germ laden mucus. Such droplets are
sprayed into the air when careless or
ignorant people cough or sneeze with
out covering their mouth and nose. 1t
Is also good to know that people have
learned something about the value Of
fresh air. In summer. when people
are largely out OF doors, the resplra-
tory diseases Coughs, colds, pneumO-
MIA, etc. are infreQuent; In the fall,
as people begin to remain indoors, the
respiratory diseases increase; In the
winter, when people are prone to stay
In badly ventilated, Oyerheated rooms
the respiratory diseases become very
prevalent.
Suitable Clothing important.
"Still another factor In the produc
ton Of colds, pneumonia and other re
spiratory diseases Is carelessness or ig
nOrance Of the people regarding suit
able clothing during the seasons when
the weather suddenly changes, sitting
I'm warm rooms too heavily dressed or
what is even more common, especially
! among women. dressing so lightly thai
windows are kept closed In order to bs
comfortably warm. This Is a very In
furious practice.
Could Save 100000 Livea-
II believe we could easily save Ont
hundred thousand lives annually II
the United States II all the people
would adopt the system Of fresh ali
living followed, for example, In tuber
culosis sanatoria. There Is nothing
mysterious about it-nO specific medi
cine, no vaccine. The important thlni
IL right living, good food and plenty o
fresh air.
Droplet Infection Explained In Pictures
"The Bureau Of Public Health
Treasury Department, has just ISSUED
a striking poster drawn by Bergman
the well-known Washington cartoonist
The poster exempIifies the mOderr
method of health education. few
years ago, under similar circumstances
the health authorities would have Is
sued an official dry but scientificali!
| accurate bulletin teaching the rOfe o.
| drOplet infection In the spread OF re
spiratory diseases. The only ones wn'
would have understood the bulletin
| would have been those who already
knew all about the subject. The maj
in the street, the plain citizen and tn
many millions who toll for their livlni
| would have had no time fnd no deslr'
to wade through the technical phrase
ology."