Milford chronicle., 1918-10-18

!
Research Council and the United
States Hygienic Laboratory will fur
nish more certain way in which indi
J vidual cases Of this disease can be
recognized"
What is the course Of the disease
Do people die Of lt7
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 a com
plicatiOn."
What causes the disease and how ls
II spread7
"BacteriolOgists who have studied In
fiuenza epidemics In the past have
found In many Of the cases a very
small rod-shaped 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, 1t 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 mucus, from coughing ard
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 a mild attack OF
the disease himself may give a very
severe attack to others"
What should be done by those who
catch the disease?
1T is very important that every per
son who becomes sick with Influenza
should go home at once and 90 to bed /
This will help keep away dangerous
and will, at the same
time, keep the patient from scattering !
the disease far and wide. 1t is highly a
desirable that no one be allowed to c
sleep In the same room with the pa d
tent In fact no one but the nurse
should be allowed in the room.
IF there Is cough and sputum or
Of the eyes and nose. care
hould be taken that all such dis
harges are collected on bits of gauze
II rag or paper napkins and burned.
f the patient complains Of fever and
eadache, he should be given water to ~
rink, a cold compress to the forehead n
nd light sponge. Only such medi- u
inc should be given as is prescribed F
Y the doctor. 1t is foolish TO ask the
ruggist to prescribe and may be dan
erous to take the sO-called safe, sure -
nd harmless remedies advertised by D,
atent medicine manufacturers. m
"If the patient is SO situated that he
IA be attended only by some one who F.
lust also look after others in the fam IN
y, 1t IS advisable that such attendant
ear a wrapper, apron or gown over -
le ordinary house clothes while in the
ok room and slip this Off when leav-
g TO look after the others.
Nurses and attendants will do well !
guard against breathing in danger th'
IS disease germs by wearing a simple Sei
Id Of gauze OF mask while near the rel
ltient" vo'
49,, Sc
viii a person who has had Influenza
fore catch the disease aqaln7
1T is well known that an attack Of tbs
easles or scarlet fever or smallpox Wi
ually protects a person against an ioll
her attack Of the same disease. This 5
pears not to be true Of Spanish In FTC
lenza.' According to newspaper re- 'n''
rts the King Of Spain suffered an n
tack of Influenza during the cpl -
mic thirty years ago, and was again r.
'icken during the recent outbreak in
ain"
How can one guard against lnhu-
Ea7
In guarding against disease Of all
IDS, 1t Is important that the body be
pit strong and able to fight off dis
se germs. This can be done by hav-
proper proportion of work. play
j rest by keeping the body well
thed, and by eating sufficient whole
ne and properly selected food. In
lnection with diet, II is well to re-
mber that milk is one of the best
around foods Obtainable for adults
well as children. So far as a dis
e like influenza is concerned, health
horities everywhere recognize the
close relation between Its spread
overcrowded homes While II Is
always possible, especially in
es Ike the present, to avoid such
rcrowding, people should consider
health danger and make every
rt to reduce the home overcrowd-
to minimum. The value of fresh
through open windows cannot be II
r emphasized.
When crowding is unavoidable, as 'uuI
treet cars, care should be taken to
p the face so turned as not to In
dirqcflv fba afs hraothoa -. -