New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-12-28
RECURRENCE OF INFLUENZA

lie UotdDlt luClSdSc VI SIlpi
colds and other respiratory dis
eases during the winter is not du
to cold weather, but to the arti
fetal conditions under which PEG
pie live. With closed doors anc
windows there is defective ventl
lation; rooms are too hot or toe
cold. Close. warm rooms, I'M
ventilated ears or other places
where people congregate, produce
an enfeebled condition. Warmt!
and impure air increase Susceptl-
biIity to disease. 1t is especially
important at all times not 10
breathe air that has been yitiated
by persons suffering from dis
eases Of the air passages.
Colds are contracted from per-
sons who are coughing, sneezing
and splitting; they should be
avoided. Children with these
symptoms should be excluded
from school. If there were no
colds to catch, they would not be
caught.
The recrudescence of influenza
in many sections is due largely to
the lack of cooperation. lnfor
nation has been widely published
that the influenza germ is trans
mitted by means of the minute
droplets. principally from the nose
and throat Of an individual suffer
ing from the disease. Sneezing
or coughing into the air is par
ticularly the method by which the
germ is given off. The organisms
may float in the atmosphere for
hours, but unless the infected ma
terial is kept warm and moist the
infection does not live long out
side the body. Overcrowding
means its spread. The warning
has not been taken seriously.
Advice to Schools.
The incubation period of inhn-
enza. it is conceded, is from ore
to four days. This fact can be
helpful to the schools. If on the
opening the pupils could be ex-
amined and those showing char
acteristics Of cold be sent hor
with the same procedure for sew
eral days, many, if not all, af-
fected, would be weeded out. A
constant watch on those in at
tendance would keep the schools
practically free from the disease.
The schools are more easily
controlled than other places where
people congregate.
Every one should try to re-
member and put into effect in the
home and office few simple
rules:
Not to shut all the windows
when the weather is cold.
To keep in the living rooms y
temperature Of 70 deorees or less.
To watch the ventilation. espec-
iallv where rooms are heated by
gas or oil stoves. ONE lighted gas
let in the room spoils more air
than five persons.
Sleep in the open air as much
as possible.
MMany persons who would be
shocked at the thought of bathing
IN water used bv another fill their
lungs freely with air that is loaded
with filth and disease. There is
far more danger in breathing bad
air than in bathing the skin in
dirty water.
The habit of living in over
heated rooms in winter is almost
universal in the South. It is
more pleasurable to many to feel
warm rather than cool. but if eff.
fort is made to get accustomed 70
1t the cooler air will become a
necessity. Generally, women wear
clothing too light for room that
is below 70 degrees.
The practice of shutting. out the
sun and air is all too common.
Air and sunshine are the bestI
germ killers. They PROMOTE
health.
Cold weather is favorable to
health: it stimulates appetite; ex-
prcise can be taken more agree
ably. and with less exhaustion.
There is none better than walking
OSCAR BOWLING,