The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1918-11-21
WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW
AND HEED.

This disease, which has been cpl
demic in the United States for the
past two months, is without doubt the
same from which the county suffer
ed in 1889 and in subsequent years :;
it was then called Russian inf1uen-
"a. In each case the name was taken
from the country in which the disease
which is always in existence some
where in the w0rld-first found con-
genial soil for its increase to epidemic
form. True influenza, or la grippe,
Is caused by very minute germ
known as Pfeiffer's bacillus, which
lodges and multiplies in the mucuous
membrane of the nose and the throat
The bacilli are often present without
giving rise to any symptoms, and the
persons who harbor them go about
coughing and sneezing OCCASIONALLY,
as well people sometimes do. By that
means they scatter the germs into the
air to be breathed in by more suscep-
tible persons, who -thereupon fall sick.
AS a rule Influenza begins suddenly
with a chill, fever, headache, limb
ache, eye ache, and a general feeling
Of Illness; there may or may not be
the symptoms of an ordinary cold in
the head or the chest in addition: If
not, those will come later. In the
epidemic of 1889 the symptoms of the
influenza were most pronounced in
the head, the ears especially being af-
fected; in the present epidemic the
lungs have borne the brunt of the at
tack, and most of the victims have
died from pneumonia or broncho-
pneumonia.
Influenza epidemics are usually most
severe at the beginning; they first at
oil
individuals; always found in a COM
munity that has been free from the
disease for a long time. Then they
subside; but, like a fire that has spent
it's force in a fierce blaze, they smoul-
der along, picking out. here and there
those who escaped at the beginning of
the outbreak. 1t is probable that af-
ter the first great danger has passed
we shall have occasional cases OF the
disease for several months, if not for
several years.
It is imperative, therefore, for ev
eryone to observe the necessary pre-
cautions not only for his own good
but to avoid endangering his neigh
bOrs. The germs are on the surface
of the moist mucous membranes, and
are expelled inclosed in minute drop
let's of fluid every time the person
sneezesS coughs, or even talks rapidly
and forcfbly. The obvious thing to do,
therefore, when coughing or sneezing,
is that which common decency always
demands-to hold your handkerchief
in front of your mouth and nose. In
talking, keep at a reasonable distance
and do not "sputtec" into your lis
tener's face. Splitting in public places
should be absolutely forbidden, and
the laws on that point should be rig
idly enforced. Any secretion that is
coughed up should be deposited in the
handkerchief or in a piece of soft pa
per; indeed, it would be we'll if every
cne used paper napkins, which can be
buried when soiled, instead Of hand
kerchiefs.
The things to remember are, that
influenza is a dangerous disease, and
that any person taken with the symp-
toms above mentioned should go to
bed and stay there until the doctor
gives him permission to get up; that
the disease is spread chiefly if not
wholly by germs thrown out into the
air by coughing, sneezing, expectorat-
ing and talking, and that the precau-
tions we have outlined should be OBJ
served by everyone, whether sick or
we'll