Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-10-17

Wnal rs the course OF the oiSeaSeI
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-
ours it is usually the result of COM
plication.''
What causes the disease and how is
it spread?
"Bacteriologists who have studied in
fluenza epidemics in the past have
found in many of the cases very
Small rod-shaped germ called, after it's
,discoverer, Pfeiffer's 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
mo 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, 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 mild attack of
the disease himself may give very
severe attack to Others"
What should be done by those who
catch the disease?
"It is very important that every per-
son who becomes sick with influenza
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. 1t is highly
desirable that no one be allowed to
sleep in the same room with the pa
| tient. In faAt, 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 gauze
| or rag or paper napkins and burned.
| If the patient complains of fever and
headache, he should be given water to
drink, cold compress to the forehead
| and light sponge. Only such medi-
cine should be given as is prescribed
| by the doctor. 1t 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.
eff the patient is so situated that he
can be attended only by some one who
must also look after others in the fam
| lily, 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
| Gus disease germs by wearing simple
fold Of gauze or mask while near the
! patient"
Will person who has had influenza
before catch the disease again2
ut is well known that an attack OF
measles or scarlet fever or smallpox
usually protects person against an.
other attack of the same disease. This
| 20 Of nil oh in.
huenza.' According to newspaper re
ports the King of Spain suffered an
attack Of influenza during the cpl
demic thirty years ago, and was again
stricken during the recent outbreak In
Spain"
| How can one guard against inf,u
enza7
''In guarding against disease of all
kinds, 1t is important that the body be
kept strong and able to fight of dis
ease germs. This can be done by hav'
ing proper proportion of work, play
and rest, by keeping the body well
clothed, and by eating sufficient whole
some and properly selected food. Ii
connection with diet, it is well to re
member that milk is one Of the bes
all-around foods obtainable for adults
as we'll as children. So far as dis
ease like influenza is concerned, health
authorities everywhere recognize the
very close relation between it's spread
and overcrowded homes. While it Il
not always possible. especially il
times like the present, to avoid sucf
overcrowding, people should consider
the health danger and make every
effort to reduce the home overcrowd
ing to minimum. The value of fresl
air through open windows cannot b.
over emphasized.
when crowding is unavoidable, a!
in street cars, care should be taken tt
keep the face so turned as not to in
hale directly the air breathed out b.
another person.
ut is especially important to be
| p,oyo of fbo rorcop who oo,,rbc ~