The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-10-12

vidual cases of this disease can be |
recognized"
What is the course OF the disease?
Do people die of it?
Ordinarily, the fever lasts from |
three to four days and the patient re-
covers. But while the proportion of |
deaths in the present epidemic has
generally been low. in some places the
outbreak has been severe and deaths
have been numerous. When death oc-
ours it is usually the result of com
plication."
What causes the disease and how is
it spread?
"Bacteriologists who have studied in
fiuenza epidemics in the past have
found in many of the cases very
Small dshaped germ called, after its
diScOverer, Pfeiffers bacillus. In other
cases Of apparently the same kind Of
disease there were found pneumocOcci
the germs of lobar pneumonia. Still
others have been caused by strepto-
cocci, and by others germs with long
names.
mo matter what particular kind Of
germ causes the epidemic, it is now
| believed that influenza is always
spread from person to person. the
| germs being carried with the air along
with the very small droplets of mucus,
| expelled by coughing or sneezing,
| forceful talking and the like by one
who already has the germs of the dis
! ease. They may also be carried about
| in the air in the form of dust coming
from dried mucous, from coughing and
/ sneezing, or from careless people who
spit on the floor and on the sidewalk
as in most other catching diseases, a
/ person who has only q mild attack of
the disease himself may give a very
severe attack to others"
What should be done by those who
catch the disease?
at is very important that every per-
son who becomes sick with influenza
should 90 home at once and go to bed.
This will help keep away dangerous
complications and WILL at the same
time. keep the patient from scattering
the disease far and wide. 1t is highly
desirable that no one be allowed to
sleep in the same room with the pa
tent In fact, no one but the nurse
should be allowed in the room.
IF there is cough and sputum or
running of the eyes and nose, care
should be taken that all such dis
charges are collected on bits of gauze
or rag or paper napkins and burned.
If the patient complains Of fever and
headache. he should be given water to
drink, a cold compress TO the forehead
and a light sponge Only such medi-
cine should be given as is prescribed
by the doctor! Is foolish TO ask the
druggist to prescribe and may be dan
gerous to tal:e the so-called safe, sure
and harmless remedies advertised by
patent medicine manufacturers.
IF the patient IS SO situated that he
can be attended only by some one whC
must also lock after others In the fam
J lily, it is advisable that such attendan
: wear wrapper, apron or gown ovel
c the ordinary house clothes while in tht
|, sick room and slip this off when leav
e ing to look after the others.
: Nurses aud attendants will do vel
: to guard against breathing in danger
. GUS disease germs by wearing a simpf
!, fold of gauze or mask While near I'll,
patient"
= win a person who has had infuenz
before catch the disease again?
ut is well known that an attack 0
measles or scarlet fever or smallpo
usually protects a person against al
: other attack of the same disease. Thi
- appears not to be true of Spanish III
y fluen2a.' According TO newspaper re
y ports the King OF Spain suffered n
Z attack of Influenza during the ep
demic thirty years ago, and was agai
: stricken during the recent outbreak i
y Spain"
How can one guard against inf,
enza?
I'm guarding against disease of a
kinds, it is important that the body b
~ kept strong and able to fight off di:
u ease germs. This can be done by ha'
- ing a proper proportion of work, pla
ie and rest, by keeping the body we
- clothed, and by eating sufficient who'll
- some and properly selected food.
ie connection with diet, it is we'll to r
Z" member that milk is one of the be-
u. all-around foods obtainable for adul
- as we'll as children. So far as a di
lu ease like influenza is concerned, heali
u authorities everywhere recognize Il
iio very close relation between its sprea
no and overcrowded homes. While it
- not always possible, especially
~. times like the present, to avoid SUE
ao overcrOwding, people should consid
Ut the health danger and make eyel
effort to reduce the home overcrow
ch ing to a minimum. The value of fires
u air through open windows cannot
ne over emphasized.
~ When crowding- is unavoidable,
in street cars, care should be taken
=, keep the face so turned as not to i
-, ~ hale directly the air .breathed out
=, another person.
:" 1T is especially important TO x
ware of the person who coughSS,