Connecticut western news., 1918-10-17

"ffte SoIiluSCleS SHONS illlle UT uO ttl- crc se above the normal. It Is possi- lie hat laboratory Investigations nov hC'rS made thrC:Iril the National l:ts arrh t't ;ucil and the United StG rs TygiCi.ic Laboratory will fur n!Sh more certain way In which indi- viduaI cases of this disease can be recognized" What Is the course Of the dlseasef Do people die of lt7
 Ordinarily, the fever lasts from three to four days and the patient re- ] covers. But while the proportion of 1 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- CUTS 1t Is usually the result of com plicatio
 What causes the disease and how Is It spread2
 "Bacteriologists who have studied in- 1 fuenza epidemics in the past have l found in many of the cases very Small rod-shaped germ called, after its i discoverer, Pfeiffer's bacillus. In other cases of apparently the same kind of disease there were found pneumococci, 1 the germs of lobar pneumonia. Still ] others have been caused by strepto- l cocci, and by others germs with long names.
 No matter what particular kind of germ causes the epidemic, 1t is now | believed that influenza is always fn germs being carried with the air along with the very small droplets of mucus, expelled by coughing or sneeZing, 1 forceful talking, and the like by one i 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 and ! 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 disease7
 Tt is very important that every per { son who becomes sick with influenza should go home at once and go to bed. i This will help keep away dangerous complications and will, at the same time, keep the patient from scattering the disease far and wide. It Is highly desirable that no one be allowed to sleep In the same room with the pa tient In fact, no one but the nurse should be allowed in the room.
 "If there is cough and sputum or running of the eyes and nose, care should be taken that all such dis ! charges are collected on bits of gauge or rag or paper napkins and burned. If the patient complains of fever and headache, he should be given water to drink, a cold compress to the forehead and a light sponge. Only such medi- cine should be given as is prescribed by the doctor. It is foolish to ask the druggist to prescribe and may be dan- gerous to take the so-called safe, sure and harmless remedies advertised by patent medicine manufacturers.
 "ss If the patient Is so situated that he can be attended only by some one who must also look after others in the fam fly, it Is advisable that such attendant wear a wrapper, apron or gown over the ordinary house clothes while in the sick room and slip this off when leav- ing to look after the others.
 Nurses and attendants will do well to guard against breathing In danger ous disease germs by wearing simple fold of gauge or mask while near the patient"
 Will a person who has had influenza before catch the disease asain2
 "It is well known that an attack ot measles or scarlet fever or smallpox usually protects a person against an other attack of the same disease. This appears not to be true of Spanish in fiuenza.' According to newspaper re ports the King of Spain suffered ar attack of influenza during the cpl demic thirty years ago, and was agalr stricken during the recent outbreak lr Spain."
 How can one guard against Infiu enza7
 "In guarding against disease of all
 kinds, it Is important that the body bt
 kept strong and able to fight off dis
 ease germs. This can be done by hay
 ing a proper proportion of work, play and rest, by keeping the body vel clothed, and by eating sufficient whole some and properly selected food. IT connection with diet, it Is well to re
 member that milk Is one of the bes
 all-around foods obtainable for adulti as we'll as children. So far as q dis ease like influenza Is concerned, healtl authorities everywhere recognize th' very close relation between its spread and overcrowded homes While 1t fl not always possible, especially fl times like the present, to avoid suci overcrowding, people should consider the health danger and make ever