The Little River news., 1918-10-19

white corpuscles shows little or no in- crease above the normal It is possi- ble that the laboratory Investigations now being made through the National Research Council and the United States Hygienic Laboratory will fur nish more certain way in which intli- yidual cases of this disease can be recognized"
 What is the course of the disease? Do people die Of it?
 "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- CUTS it is usually the result of a com plication."
 What causes the disease and how is 1t spread?
 "BacteriolOgists who have studied in- fuenZa epidemics in the past have found in many of the cases 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.
 "NO matter what particular kind of germ causes the epidemic, it 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, Erom coughing and sneezing, or from careless people who spit on the floor and on the sidewalk. AS in most other catching diseases, q person who has only mild attack of the disease himself may give q very severe attack to others"
 What should be done by those who catch the disease?
 Tt is very important that every per son who becomes sick with intluenza should go home at once and go to bed. 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 ana 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 |
 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 wrapper, apron or gown over the ordinary house clothes while in the sick room and slip this eff 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 a simple fold of gauge or mask while near the patient"
 Will a person who has had influenza before catch the disease again?
 Ut is well known that an attack of 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 an attack of influenza during the epi- demic thirty years ago, and was again stricken during the recent outbreak in Spain."
 How can one guard against infiu- enza?
 "In guarding against disease of. all kinds, it is important that the body be kept strong and able to fight off dis ease germs. This can be done by hav- ing a proper proportion of work, play and rest, by keeping the body well clothed, and 5y eating sufficient whole some and I roperly selected food. In connection with diet, 1t is well to re- member that milk is one of the best all-arOund foods obtainable for adults as well as children. So far as dis ease like in luenza is concerned, health authorities everywhere recognize the very close relation between it's spread and overcrowded homes. While it is not always possible, especially in times like the present, to avoid such overcrowding, people should consider the health danger and make every effort to reduce the home overcrOwd- ing to minimum. The value of fresh air through open windows cannot be over emphasized.