The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-23
STUDY INFLUENZA
City Will Furnish Information
| About Epidemic to Public.
Results Obtained in Other
Places To Be Closely Watched.

Plans are now being pushed by
Commissioner w. L. Porter for the
establishment of reliable and extern
sive public information about Spanish
influenza. The plan. when adopted,
will feature preventive methods and
ideas and will be composed of whfG
has proved to be the most effective
methods adopted in other cities of the
United States. The public health de-
partment will gather data from all au
thentic sources available. 1t will take
the statistics and results obtained from
cities, and government reports will
also be utilized to whatever extent
they furnish information that is con-
sidered as desirable.
Since the recurrent epidemics of in
fluenza thruout the entire United
States have reached such a terrific
toll in deaths, the combating the
spread of the disease and study OF pre-
ventive measures have come to be fac
tors of supreme Importance in the
daily life of all persons in the country.
Every day, says Porter, there is some
new angle Of treatment coming up.
Altho doctors, the same as laymen.
disagree as to various methods sug-
gested to prevent the spread. of the
disease, there are certain things that
have been done in various parts of the
country that have proved effective.
Closing orders have been tried and
tested. While they undoubtedly assist
in cutting down the, spread of the dis
ease, they are accompanied by disad-
vantages that are apparent to every
one. In connection with closing re-
strictions,, the quarantine has been
found to prove highly effective.
Serum Widely Used.
| The latest thing in combating the
disease is the use of serums thru in
EQUATIONS. 1t has been proved, says
Commissioner Porter, that the typhoid
inoculations have been the greatest
medical asset known to the armies
fighting in France. AS compared with
the army camps during the mobiliza-
ton period Of the Spanish-American
war, the camps during the present
war were practically void of typhoid
fever due to the practice adopted of
! disease. Its value has been proved
without question, says Porter.
The government and hundreds of
highly skilled physicians turnout the
country have been working for some
time trying to find a serum. the in
| oculation with which would render
the person treated immune to Spanish
influenza. Some progress has been
| made along these lines altho none
have been found that are as effective
phoid serum. However, Porter says,
government authorities are using a
| serum that is expected to be a great
| improvement over all others. This
serum is to be investigated as are all
| others that are brought forth by the
| medical profession.
Use New Publicity Method.
| In connection with the information
bureau the city health department will
| endeavor to find a method of publicity
which will bring all the latest informa-
| ton, reliable and to be depended upon,
4 into the homes of all persons in To-
| peka. The information and educa-
| tional system has not been tried in
Topeka in any systematic way nor has
1t been tried along the lines contem-
| plated by the city authorities. 1t is
/ estimated that this method once it is
fully worked out will be the great.
1 est single method yet adopted for
fighting the disease.
The suggested plans as placed be-
fore business men of the city are
! highly approved Of 1t is felt that the
adoption Of the information system
| says Porter. will besa valuable feature
in aiding the aim of the public health
department in reducing the disease
to minimum and then keeping II
i there if possible, SO that a third series
l of closing orders may be avoided II
! possible should third epidemic occur
AS yet the arrangements have
reached no definite basis but thu
proposition is being worked on and
will be placed in operation as soon as
possible.