The Farmington times., 1918-12-06
U. S. HEALTH SERVICE
ISSUES WARNING
Increase in All Respiratory Dis
eases After the Influenza
Epidemic Probable.
influenza Expected to Lurk for Months.
How to Guard Against Pneumonia.
Common Colds Highly catchino-in,-
portance of Suitable ciothIns-could
Save 100000 Lives.

Save 100000 Lives.
Washington, d. C.-Wfth the substd.
ence of the epidemic of influenza the
Il attention Of health officers is directed
to pneumonia, bronchitis aud 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
VIII be especially prevalent this win.
ter unless the people are particularly
careful to obey health instructions.
"The present epidemic" said Sur
{ geon General Blue, "has taught by bit
fser experience how readily condition
1eginning apparently as slight cold
4 may go on to pneumonia and death.
although the worst of the epidemic is
<0ver, there will continue to be large
inumber Of scattered cases, many of
them mild and unrecognIzed, which
Will be danger spots to be guarded
sAgainst" The Surgeon General lkened
The present situation to that after
dgreat fire, saying, mo fire chief who
understands his business stops playing
the hose on the charred debris as soon
Il as the flames and visible fire have dis
appeared. On the contrary, he con-
tinues the water for hours and even
days, for he knows that there is dam
ger of the fire rekindling from smol-
4 Herring embers."
s "Then you fear another outbreak OF
infiuenza?" he was asked. mot neces-
sarily another large epidemic" said
afhe Surgeon General, "but unless the
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.
g* '1t is encouraging TO observe that
people are beginning to learn that or
&dinary coughs and colds are highly |
scatching and are spread from person |
ITO person by means of droplets of
tgerm laden mucus. Such droplets are
sprayed into the air when careless or
ignorant people cough or sneeze with
sout covering their mouth and nose. II
Is also good to know that people have
4learned 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 infrequent; in the fall,
n ,nannln hauty tn
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 produc-
'tion of colds, pneumonia and other re-
spiratory diseases is carelessness or liz.
norance 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 be
comfortably warm. This Is a very In.
furious practice.
Gould Save 100000 Lives.
II believe we could easily save one {
4 ared thousand lives annually in /
the United States If all the people
would adopt the system of fresh air
living followed, for example, in tuber. ,
culosis sanatoria. There Is nothing I
mysterious about it--no specific medl- I
cine. no vaccine. The important thing &
is right living, good food and plenty of a
fresh air. ;
oropIet infection Explained In Pictures, q
"The Bureau of Public Health. =
Treasury Department., has just issued =
? striking poster drawn by Bergman, :,
ne well-known Washington cartoonist. :,
Ihe poster exempllfies the modern :.
nethod Of health education. A few
Sears ago, under similar circumstances.
Pc health authorities would have is- :. =
ped an official dry but scientifically y
accurate bulletin teaching the role of e
FOp1et infection In the spread of re- -
lpiratory diseases. The only ones who :,
Fould have understood the bnlletin ~
Fouid have been those who already =
Inew all about the subject. The man =
p the street, the plain citizen and the a.
many millions who toll for their living y
you'd have had no time and no desira
? wade through the technical phrase