The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-02
five CASES HERE.
More Influenza Reported to the
City Health Dept.
DIR. III. L. Clark Warns That
Crowds Are Dangerous.
AVOID ALL COMPLICATIONS
Disease Weakens BOdy's Re.
sistance Against Other Ills.
More Information About 1t Re.
ceived From Washington.

Five cases of influenza and suspect
ed cases were reported in Topeka
Monday and Tuesday. Two of them
came from Camp Funston.
More information as to the nature
of the so-called Spanish influenza has
just been received by the Topeka
health department foom the office of
Rupert Blue, surgeon general of the
United States public health service,
DR.. H. L. Clark, city health officer,
stated today.
| 1.-The latest information from Wash
| ington rather indicates that the So
called Spanish influenza IS similar to
| the epidemic of influenza, at that time
! also called Russian influenza or Rus
| sian grippe, which swept over the
United States in 1889 and $780," said
! Doctor Clark this morning. How
ever, this has not been definitely set
tied as yet. The germ causing the
] disease has not been definitely decid-
! cd upon, altho it seems to rest between
| the so-called influenza bacillus which
caused the epidemic of 1889 and 1890,
streptococcus, or virulent strain
of diplococcus catarrhalis. Swabs
which the Topeka health department
| has taken from the threats of those
supposed to be suffering with the dis
! ease have shown the catarrhalis Or
ganism chiefly, with a few small ba-
] GILL or rod-shaped organisms.
"Coughers, sneezers and spitters
are blamed chiefly by the United
States public health service experts for
the spread of the disease. Lack of
| good breeding is shown by any one
| who coughs or sneezes at large with
out placing handkerchief over the
I mouth ana nose, while a person who
spits on the sidewalk. in street car
4 or public building should almost be
classed as indecent"
Il Following are the principal symp-
toms of the disease as described by
| ice:
Acute onset, with pains, usually Sc
we're, in the head, eyes, back and all
over the body.
Prostitution, earlier and more pro-
nounced than with severe colds, with
marked bodily weakness.
Chills or chilly sensations early in
the attack
Fever from 100 to 1o4.
Profuse discharge from the nose,
Cough usually present, but not Sc
we're.
vomiting or nausea common at on
set.
Dizziness frequently noticed.
Swelling of glands of the neck oc-
ours in many cases.
Blood examination shows no 1euce-
D.
complications occur within that period
Must Avoid Complications.
III no complications occur, the cases
usually recover in seven days or less
but on account of the greatly lowered
bodily resistance, influenza cases
should be protected from exposure te
pneumonia, brochitis or streptococcit
infections of all kinds. Many of the
cases of pneumonia which caused sc
many deaths in the army camps las
winter were of the streptococcic type
Also, last winter and spring cases OF
pneumonia occurring in Topeka hat
an unusually high death rate, and this
also was due to the fact that many OF
them were of the streptococcic type.
Because of the tendency of the in
f1uenza to weaken the heart, all case
of influenza or suspected infiuenzs
should be put in a well VENTILATED
room, Doctor Clark stated. The,
should be kept in bed until recover,
is complete.
Few deaths from the disease can b,
expected If all cases go to bed and ar
properly cared for, Doctor Clark said
All visitors should be excluded from
the sick room, both to prevent tn
n spread of the influenza to well person
4 and TO protect influenza sufferer
from exposure to pneumonia, cold
and other diseases, which are the chic
causes of death in influenza cases.
Crowds are dangerous during out
breaks of influenza. Well person
should avoid crowds at all times. Thi
is especially important for those il
sons. Influenza is much more likely t
prove fatal to the very young, to elder
ly persons and all whose vitality is be
/ low normal for any cause