St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1918-11-22

has been epidemic IN the Unlteu
States for the past two months,
is without doubt the same from
which the country suffered in
1889 and in subsequent years
it was then called Russian"
influenza. In each case the
name was taken from the
country in which the disease
which is always in existence
somey here in the world - first
found a congenial soil for its
increase TO epidemic form.
True influenza, or la grippe, is
caused by very minute germ
known as PfeifTer's bacillus,
which lodges and multiplies in
the mucous membrane OF the
nose and the throat. The bacilli
are often present without Civ.
ing rise to any symptoms, and
the persons who harbor them 20
about coughing and sneezing
occasionally. as well people some
times do. BY that means they
scatter the germs into the air
to be breathed in by more sus-
ceptible persons. who thereupon
fall sick.
AS rule influenza begins sud.
denly with "A chill. fever. head
ache. limb ache, eye ache. and a
general feeling of illness; there
may or may not be the symptoms
Of an ordinary cold In the head
or the chest in addition; IL not,
those will come later. In the
epidemic of 1889 the symptoms
of the influenza were most pro.
nounced IN the head. the cars
especially being affected; IN the
present epidemic the lungs have
borne the brunt of the attack,
and most Of the victims have
died from pneumonia or broncho.
pneumonia. Influenza epidemics
are usually most severe at the
beginning: they first attack the
large number Of susceptible in
dividuals. always found in a
community that has been free
from the disease for a long time.
Then they subsid3: but, like a
fire that has spent its force IN "a
fierce blaze. they shoulder along.
picking out here and there
those who escaped at the begin
ming of the outbreak. IL is prob.
able that after the first great
danger has passed we shall
have occasional cases of the
disease for several months, III
not for several years.
IL is imperative. therefore.
for every one 90 observe the
necessary precautions not only
for his own good but 10 avoid
endangering his neighhOrs.
The germs are on the surface
Of the moist mucous membranes.
and are expelled inclosed In
minute droplets of fluid every
time the person sneezes. coughs.
or even talks rapidly and for
chilly. The obvious thing 90 do
therefore. when coughing or
sneezing, is that which common
decency always demands 10
hold your handkerchief in front
of your mouth and nose. In
tall Nc keep at a reasonable |
distance and do not "sputter"
into your listeners face. Spit. !
ting in public places should |
be absolutely forbidden. and |
the laws on that point should |
be rigidly enforced. Any secre-
tion that is coughed up should !
be deposited in the handkerchief |
or in a piece of soft paper; in
deed. it would be well if every |
one used paper napkins, which |
can be burned when soi,ed, ia.
stead of handkerchiefs.
The things to remember are. |
that influenza is a dangerous |
disease. and that any person
taken with the symptoms above |
mentioned should go TO bed and
stay there until the doctor gives
him permission to get up; that
the disease is spread chiefly if
not wholly by germs thrown out
into the air by coughing. sneez-
ing, expeetorating and talking,
and that the precautions we
have outlined should be observed /
by everyone, whether sick or
well. Youths Companion.