Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-07
SATURDAY. DECEMBER r. 1918
THE FLU PROBLEM.

In san Francisco, Denver and Chi
cago there are flare-ups of the flu
The health authorities are not quar-
notably San Francisco and Denver,
gauze masks are being employed
against the spread of the disease.
That is far more effective than clos
ing churches and theaters and other
places where people may gather.
The Journal published yesterday
some startling figures on the flu.
These figures cannot be denied, be-
cause they were prepared by actuaries
Of life insurance companies after in
vestigating all the data relative to
more than 1000 deaths in forty-four
Of the principal cities Of the United
States.
one thing discovered was that only
thirteen per cent of these deaths were
caused directly by flu. while eighty
seven per cent died from resulting
pneumonia.
Regarding pneumonia, DR.. W. A.
Evans, former chief of the depart
ment of public health of the city of
Chicago says;
Pneumonia is responsible for more
deaths than any other single disease.
In many localities it is responsible for
more than all forms of tuberculosis
Furthermore, the pneumonia death
rate has been rising year by year.
ne 10
has, not shown any Improvement over.
leeches, cupping and bleeding, so far
as the death rate indicates. Now light
is beginning to break on the pneumo-
mia question. thanks largely to studies
made by army surgeons. While we
are not out of the woods by a long
ways, there are indications of great
advances. The most promising bf
these are the bacteriologic studies, the
use of face masks. quarantining cases
of pneumonia, the use of vaccines
and sera'
The Journal is urging that the peo-
pie of Albuquerque be vaccinated
against pneumonia. without which as
n consequence, influenza is not more
dangerous than a bad cold.
OF course, there are doctors who
object, just as there were doctors who
objected only few years ago to the
use of anti-toxin for the cure of
diphtheria. Now and then you will
find one who will allow his name to
be used by the cranks who oppose
vaccination against smallpox.
No one would for a moment charge
that such doctors have It evenly re-
motely in mind that the longer the
flu lasts the better their practice.
That is not the history of the medical
fraternity. There is no more self
sacrificing profession than that of the
physician. But that does not preclude
the fact that quite a percentage of
that profession looks with distrust on
anything new.
We do not want preventable flu
cases in Albuquerque. We do not
want people to die when exercise of a
little foresight would avoid such ca
lamities. We do not want legitimate
business to suffer because of a quar-
antine which might have TO be re-
sorted to most of the time during the
next two or three years. Dr.. Evans
has no doubt of the value of vaccina-
ton against pneumonia. He says it is
at least nine-tenths effective, and is
considered good for eight months,
which would cover the most dreaded
period in this country.
ffsI--a ri.
have to be fought TO finish by the
people of this city, as we'll as by the
people of the state and the nation. 1t
cannot be allowed to bankrupt bust
masks would put it out of business.