The Red Cloud chief., 1918-12-05
U. s. HEALTH SERVICE
issues WARNING
Increase in Al Respiratory Dis.
eases After the Influenza
Epidemic Probable.
Influenza Expected to Lurk for Months.
How to Guard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly catchins-lm-
portance Of Suitable clothino-couId
Save 100000 Lives.

Washington, -. C.--With the subsid-
cncc of the epidemic of influenza the
attention of health officers is directed
to pneumonia, bronchitis and other
diseases OF the respiratory system
which regularly cause large number
of deaths, especially during the winter
season. According to Rupert Blue,
Surgeon General of the United States
Public Health Service, these diseases
will be especially prevalent this win
ter unless the people are particularly
careful TO obey health instructions.
"Thc present epidemic" said Sur
geon General Blue, "has taught by bit
ter experience how readily Il condition
beginning apparently as Il slight cold
may go on To pneumonia and death.
Although the worst of the cpidCmic is
over, there will continue TO be Il large
number of scattered cases, many of
them mild and unrecognzcd, which
will be danger spots to he guarded
against" The Surgeon General likcncd
the present situation TO that after
great fire, saying, mo fire chief who
understands his business stops playing
the hose on the charrCd debris as soon
as the flames and visible fire have dis
appeared. On the contrary. he con-
t.nues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dan
ger Of the fire rckindling from smol-
dcring cmbers."
"Thnn YOU fear another outbreak of
!" urn2ai" H." was asked Not neceS-
s.rily another lur,r epidemic said
IN" Surgeon General, but unless H."
people learn to realize the seriousness
Of the danger they will be compelled to
pay a heavy death toll from pneumo-
mia and other respiratory diseases.
Common Colds Highly Catching.
ut Is encouraging 10 observe that
people are beginning to le. on that or
binary coughs and colds are highly
catching and are spread from person
to person by means of drOpletS of
germ laden mucus. Such droplets are
sprayed into the air when careless or
ignorant people cough or sneeze with
out covering their mouth and nose. IL
is also good to know that people have
learned something about the value of
fresh air. In summer, when people
are largely out of doors. the respira-
tory diseases Coughs, colds, pneumo-
mia, etc.) are infrcquent; IN the fall,
ms people begin to remain indoors, the
respiratory diseases increase; in the
winter when people are prone to stay
in badly ventilated. Overheated rooms,
the respiratory diseases become very
prevalent.
Suitable Clothing important.
"Still another factor in the prOhuc-
ton of colds, pneumonia and-othrr re-
splatOry diseases is carelcSSncSS or ig-
norancc of the people regarding suit
| able clothing during the seasons when
the weather suddenly changes, sitting
| in warm rooms too heavily dressed or,
what Is even more common, especially
among women. dressing so lightly that
windows are kept closed in order TO he
comfortably warm This Is very in
! furious practice.
Could save 100000 Lives.
81 believe we could easily save one
| hundred thousand lives annually in
the United States If all the people
would adopt the system of fresh air
living followed, for example, i'm tuber-
culOsis sanatOria. There is nothing
mysterious about it-nO specific medi-
cine, no vaccine. The important thing
is right living good food and plenty of
| fresh air.
Droplet Infection Explained In Pictures.
THE Bureau of Public Health,
Treasury Department, has just issued
II striking poster drawn by Bergman,
the well-kn0wn Washington cartOOnist.
The poster exemplities the modern
method of health education. A few
years ago, under similar circumstances,
the health authorities would have is
sued an official dry but scientifically
accurate bulletin teaching the role OF
Groplet infection in the spread of re-
splratOry diseases. The only ones who
would have understood the bulletin
| would have been those who already
knew all about the subject. The man
in the street, the plain citizen and the