The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1918-12-05

Increase in An Respiratory Die
eases After the influenza
Epidemic Probable.
influenza Expected 20 Lurk for Months.
How to 0uard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly catchInp-In,-
portanceof Suitable ciothInu-co Could
Save 100000 Lives.

Washington, q. O.-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 large number
Of deaths, especially during the winter
season. According to Rupert Blue,
Surgeon General Of the United Statss
Public Health Service. these diseases
will be especially prevalent this win
ter unless the people are particularly
careful to obey health Instructions
B 1.-THE present epidemic" said Sur
geon General Blue. has taught by bit
ter experience how readily condition
beginning apparently as slight cold
may 60 on to pneumonia and death.
Although the worst Of the epidemic "a
over, there will continue to be i large
number Of scattered cases, many OF
them mild and unrecognized, which
will be danger spots to be guarded
against" The Surgeon General likened
the present situation to that after q
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
influenzaT' he was asked. "Not necee.
sarily another large epidemic" said
the Surgeon General, "but unless tho
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
binary 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. Is
is< also good to know that people have
learned something about the value oe
fresh air. In summer, when people
are largely out OF doors. the reupiRar
tory diseases coughs, coldae p4esnos
mia, etc. are infreQuent; Ii the fall,
as people begin to remain indoors, the
respiratory diseases increase: Is the
winter, when people are prone 10 stag
In badly ventilated. overheated roomA
the respiratory diseases become ve2
prevalent. ID
Suitable Clothing important
"Still smother factor In the produci
ton Of colds, pneumonia and other r.
spiratory diseases is carelessness or ie
norance OF the people regarding suit,
able clothing during the seasons when
the weather suddenly changes, sitting
in warm rooms too heavily dressed o.,
what is even more common, especially
among women, dressing 80 lightly that
windows are kept closed In order 10 b
comfortably warm. This IL q very In
furious practice.
Could Saw 100000 Lives.
II believe We could easily save ona
hundred thousand lives annually Il
the United States II all the peopl1
would adopt the system Of fresh 81
living followed, Tor example, II tuber.
.culosis sanatoria. There Is nothing
mysterious about it-no specific medi
cine, no vaccine. The important thlnd
is right living. good food and plenty q
fresh air.
Droplst Infection Explained In PIcture4
The Bureau Of Public Health,
Treasury Department has just issued
q striking poster drawn by Bergman,
the well-known Washington cartoonlSt,
The poster exemplifies the modern
method Of health education. a few
years ago, under similar circumstances,
the health authorities would have q
sued an ofllc1a1 dry but scientincAllJ
], accurate bulletin teaching the role -o1
sdroplet Infection ID the spread Of 70,
spiratory diseases. The only ones whq
would have understood the bulletin
would have been those WHO already
I knew al about the subject The nnaa
Ia the street, the plain citizen ana the
many millions who toll for thels livlnd
!! would have had no time and 10 6esir1
! 70 wade through tho technical phraeol
!ology." .,ss